By Steve Sherack
ELMONT, NY – Exaggerator (Curlin)–led out of Barn 29 with assistant trainer Julie Clark on the shank–made his way through the scenic backstretch and took his usual route to the paddock under ideal conditions at 8:50 a.m a day out from the 148th renewal of the GI Belmont S.
Trainer Christophe Clement gave the GI Preakness S. hero and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up a long look as he passed by his shedrow while a group of his own horses were getting ready to head out after the break. Clement, of course, will be represented by GII Peter Pan S. runner-up Governor Malibu (Malibu Moon) in the Belmont after capturing the 2014 renewal with Tonalist (Tapit).
A throng of photographers and media, meanwhile, were awaiting the 9-5 morning-line favorite's arrival near the famed Secretariat statue in the paddock.
Exaggerator briefly stood to take in his surroundings as a sextet of Clement-trained horses circled by near the saddling area. One even briefly acted up a bit, but the high-energy Exaggerator never even blinked.
“I need to keep reminding myself that this stuff is supposed to be fun and take it all in,” said trainer Keith Desormeaux, who is quick to admit how intense he is during training hours leading up to any race, Triple Crown or not.
“It's pretty cool for a guy like me who has worked hard to get to this. So, to be walking up and having an entourage is pretty cool.”
It was hard not to think of last year's champion 2-year-old Nyquist (Uncle Mo) and what could've been if not for an untimely fever for the Derby winner following his third-place finish in the Preakness as Doug O'Neill assistant trainer Jack Sisterson passed by aboard a stable pony.
“Looking good guys–good luck,” the affable Sisterson said to Clark with a big smile as Exaggerator set up shop near the wire before getting down to business with another spirited gallop.
The dark bay, already boasting wins over five different racetracks, continues to glide over the surface here just as he did in the mornings in Louisville and Baltimore. A throwback in every sense, Exaggerator will be only one of two runners to compete in all three legs of this year's Triple Crown series. The other is G2 UAE Derby hero and Preakness fifth Lani (Tapit).
“I told [exercise rider] Peedy [Landry] after the gallop that's about as strong as I've ever seen him in Peedy's hands,” Desormeaux, sporting a Big Chief Racing polo shirt, said while meeting the press on the backstretch later Friday morning.
“I really can't ask my horse to be doing any better,” continued Desormeaux, adding that Exaggerator will be kept in New York this summer with a long-term eye on the GI Travers S. “He doesn't seem to be having or showing the rigors of three top races in five weeks. That's usually the number one concern, right? It looks like he's thriving off it… He's loaded with class.”
And Desormeaux isn't one to exaggerate.
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