First-Yearlings Sire Exaggerator a “Throwback Horse”

With just a handful of first-crop yearlings in the recent Fasig-Tipton July Sale, Exaggerator's leading sales colt was a chestnut out of Radiant Ruby (Tale of the Cat), knocked down for $170,000 to North London Bloodstock. He has five yearlings entered in the upcoming Saratoga sale.

As a Classic winner who won or placed in nine graded stakes, five of them Grade I, there was never a doubt Exaggerator (Curlin) would look mighty good in a stallion barn. It was announced WinStar Farm acquired the horse's breeding rights soon after he'd won the 2016 GI Santa Anita Derby by open daylight. It was an inspired move as it turns out the big bay was just getting started. He would reward WinStar's faith in his ability with a runner-up finish in the GI Kentucky Derby prior to a 3 1/2-length score in the GI Preakness S. Exaggerator would later go on to take the GI Haskell Invitational S.

“We're very excited about that horse,” said WinStar's Director of Bloodstock Services, Sean Tugel. “He was just one of those great, sturdy, sound horses that showed up at every dance.”

Exaggerator gave a strong hint of that iron constitution as a juvenile when he shipped from coast-to-coast, winning at three of the five tracks he set foot on, breaking his maiden at Del Mar prior to notching victories in the GII Saratoga Special S. and GIII Delta Downs Jackpot S.

“He is a horse that, not only did he have the talent and the speed as a 2-year-old,” said Tugel, “but he continued to mature and became an elite 3-year-old, as well.”

By the time he retired, Exaggerator had competed at 10 different racetracks around the country and, after breaking his maiden, ran in 13 consecutive graded events before retiring sound. He is Curlin's highest earner and was one of only two horses in 2016 to compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown.

“He's got [this] unbelievable profile where he's kind of [a] throwback horse, and a rough, sturdy horse,” said Tugel.

Elite sire Curlin has had a number of young sons new to the stallion ranks in the past couple of years, but Tugel said Exaggerator has a refinement not often seen. That's showing up in his foals as well.

“They're nice-framed horses that stand over a lot of ground,” added Tugel. “They have great limbs on them.”