Exaggerator seeks slice of history

NEW YORK — Even without a Triple Crown on the line, there’s always a bit of history waiting at the finish line of the Belmont Stakes.

Where Exaggerator ends up in the record books will be determined just before 6 p.m. CDT today, when the Preakness winner takes on a dozen rivals in the 148th running of the final leg of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park.

A year ago, American Pharoah captured racing’s ultimate prize by becoming the first horse in 37 years to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.

Nyquist beat Exaggerator by 1½ lengths in the Derby last month, but the determined runnerup came back two weeks later and splashed his way to victory in the Preakness. Nyquist is skipping the Belmont following a recent fever, so Exaggerator comes into the 1½-mile race known as the “Test of the Champion” as the early 9-5 favorite leaving from the No. 11 post.

With Hall of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux aboard the 3-year-old colt trained by his brother Keith, Exaggerator will attempt to become the 12th horse to take the Preakness and Belmont after falling short in the Derby, and the first since Afleet Alex in 2005.

A win and Exaggerator would join a select group of Derby runners-up who went on and won the Preakness and Belmont, the last being Nashua in 1955. The others were Native Dancer (1953), Capot (1949) and Bimelech (1940).

This is all new for Keith Desormeaux, whose brother is one of the most successful riders in the sport. He’s been training for more than a quartercentury. Finally, he’s made it to the top. And his horse is allowing him to feel confident.

“What’s cool for me? There’s no issues with this horse,” the trainer said Friday morning after Exaggerator returned from a gallop. “He’s eating well, the energy’s there, the color is good. As far as my preparation and the expectations of what we’ve done through the horse, I really can’t ask my horse to be doing any better. He doesn’t seem to be showing the rigors of three top races in five weeks.

“That’s usually the No. 1 concern, right? It looks like he’s thriving off of it, so that’s pretty cool.”

Today’s weather forecast calls for a 30-40-percent chance of rain with scattered thunderstorms and a wet track would be welcomed by the favorite. Exaggerator thrives in the slop, romping by 6¼ lengths in the Santa Anita Derby and by 3½ lengths in the Preakness.