Exaggerator Stubborn in the Delta Downs Jackpot

Fresh off of a fourth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Exaggerator held off a determined Sunny Ridge to earn a victory in the million dollar Delta Downs Jackpot.  

Breaking on the outside with jockey Kent Desormeaux in the irons, Exaggerator took a ¼ mile to find his best stride over a muddy and sealed Delta Downs track, and settled in fourth place sitting six wide outside a group of horses. Three lengths ahead, longshot Iron Dome led Memories Of Winter, Whitmore, and  Forevamo through the first panel in 23.49.

Just past the quarter pole, Exaggerator moved to the flank of Iron Dome and the pair raced as a team through a half in 47.53.  Rounding the turn, Exaggerator moved to the lead with the rest of the field hot on his heels. As Iron Dome backed out of it, Whitmore took the first shot at Exaggerator with Sunny Ridge moving up on the far outside.  Passing the six furlong mark in 1:14.47, Whitmore backed out while Sunny Ridge made a challenge, and for a brief moment, Harlan Punch made a bold move.

A determined Exaggerator, racing a bit greenly, refused to let Sunny Ridge by, winning the grade 3 Jackpot by a stubborn neck in a final time of 1:46.48.  That one was 4 ¾ lengths clear of Harlan Punch in third. Found Money was 9 ½ lengths back in fourth place.

Sent off as the favorite, Exaggerator paid $3.80, $2.60, $2.20 for the victory. Sunny Ridge returned $4.00, $3.20 for place, while Harlan Punch offered $5.00 to show. The $1 exacta was $6.80, the $0.50 trifecta paid $19.75 and the $0.10 superfecta was $15.80.

Exaggerator (Curlin - Dawn Raid, by Vindication) was bred by Joseph B. Murphy and sold for $110,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale to Big Chief Racing. Keith Desormeaux trains the leggy, dark bay colt. Exaggerator has a 6-3-1-0 ($983,120) race record, including a victory in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G-2) and a runner-up performance in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G-1).  His victory in the Delta Jackpot earned Exaggerator ten points towards the 2016 Kentucky Derby.

Exaggerator’s dam, Dawn Raid, placed third in the Fanfreluche Stakes at Woodbine as a two year old.  Dawn Raid is a half sister to Embur's Song, the 2011 Champion Older Female in Canada. Exaggerator’s second dam Embur Sunshine is multiple stakes placed. By a Champion and Horse of the Year out of a precocious distaff line, Exaggerator may find up to 1 1/16 miles as his comfort zone, but perhaps with his running style and maturity the colt could handle 1 1/8 miles.