April 09--When Exaggerator finished third in the San Felipe Stakes about a month ago, trainer Keith Desormeaux wondered if his horse was really more suited for a mile rather than longer distances.
He's not wondering anymore.
The colt surprised favorites Mor Spirit and Danzing Candy to easily win the $1-million Santa Anita Derby on Saturday. It was Keith Desormeaux first Santa Anita starter but for jockey Kent Desormeaux, Keith's younger brother, it was his second win in 11 tries.
The wet track obviously was not a hindrance to the winning effort as he bested the field of nine over 1 1/8 miles. The next step will be to see how he handles the 1 1/4 miles at the Kentucky Derby in four weeks.
Mor Spirit finished second, 6 1/2 lengths behind Exaggerator, and Uncle Lino was third. Danzing Candy came in fourth.
Prestigious as the win was on Saturday, the Kentucky Derby favorite remains Nyquist, whose performance last week in the Florida Derby makes him a near odds-on favorite on the first Saturday in May.
Coincidentally, Nyquist also won over a wet track at Gulfstream to remain unbeaten in seven races. He beat Mohaymen, who was unbeaten before that race, and was considered the best horse on the East Coast.
Despite all the interest in the 3-year-old colt race, some say the best horse of that age isn't even going to be in the Kentucky Derby.
Songbird, unbeaten in seven races, cruised to win in the Santa Anita Oaks earlier on Saturday in a race for 3-year-old fillies.
The Kentucky Derby field is determined by a points system on a series of prep races basically set up for colts. Songbird has been running in the filly races so even if her owner wanted to make a late change and go for the Kentucky Derby, she wouldn't qualify. Songbird will, however, be the favorite for the Kentucky Oaks.
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