Do I think any differently of Exaggerator after seeing his last work?
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A year ago, American Pharoah rocked the house in winning the Belmont to give racing its first Triple Crown champion in 37 years. “It’s a realization of many years of trying to get the best out of a horse so that we could reach this goal”.
Nyquist and his blood count have been out of the Belmont for more than two weeks. That has provided plenty of time for the transition to Preakness victor Exaggerator as the 3-year-old of choice, although the large herd entered against him indicates there are still those who need convincing. While the Belmont won’t have the excitement of a re-match between Nyquist and Exaggerator, it will include a field of talented colts to challenge the Preakness victor. With or without the presence of the Derby victor, adding the Belmont to the Preakness is no mean feat.
Creator, one of four Belmont starters to race at Oaklawn Park, skipped the Preakness after running 13th in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby. He has won three times in six starts including two graded stakes this year at Tampa Bay Downs.
For the record, the others of the era who had to settle for the Preakness and Belmont were Tabasco Cat, Hansel, Risen Star, Little Current, Capot, Bimelech, and Pillory.
Lani will join as Exaggerator as the only participants in all three jewels of the 2016 Triple Crown.
“When you look at the pace of the Preakness and the Santa Anita Derby, it was so hot up front it contributed to the fact that the leaders, and the second flight for that matter, are going to collapse”, he said. Both trainers announced their intent to send their runners to NY for the Belmont. I am 74, the same number of years Ali had on this Earth, and as Ali surely noticed, sometimes the memories do not come so quickly to mind as they should.
Gary Stevens can tell you all about it.
Because of its massive circumference and sandy racing surface, Belmont is known as “Big Sandy”. In the heartbreak of 1997, Stevens and Silver Charm had their Triple Crown dreams dashed in the Belmont by Touch Gold. As I said, I would have to spread pretty deep in the Belmont and I’m not sure that’s in my bankroll’s best interests.
In terms of the Belmont, however, Stevens always will hold Point Given closest to his soul.
Exaggerator finished second by 1.25 lengths to Nyquist in the Kentucky Derby on May 7.
Once the job was done and the immediate thrill had worn off, reality hit with a vengeance.
“I totally blocked it out during the race”, Stevens said.
Who is the Wizard selecting to upset the favorite in the Belmont Stakes and how is he wagering on the race? It carries its own weight.
Governor Malibu will have to improve a bit from a speed figure standpoint, but this 12-1 shot has a lot going for him in this race. So, do you focus on the first part of his work or the last?
It remains to be seen if the Exaggerator camp will have to swallow that reality at the end of a Belmont Stakes that he should not lose.
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The controversial scratch of Private Zone (Macho Uno) in the GII True North S. and trainer Brian Lynch’s marijuana drug test positive were a very popular topic of discussion throughout the morning, including several off-color punchlines-think brownies-from those taking in the action from Belmont’s Champagne Room. As Exaggerator went into the clubhouse turn, Desormeaux looked at his watch and said simply, “Wow”. So, did he spot something that distracted him, which in turn caused him to switch to his right lead so early and start bearing out, or shying from whatever it was? Another step forward puts him in the mix here.
