“We’re all celebrating what we love,” Desormeaux said.
When trainer Keith Desormeaux arrived at Churchill Downs in 2016 to prepare Exaggerator , his first starter in the Kentucky Derby (G1), he admits he was on edge around his barn, unaccustomed to a stable area drawing so much activity from media and observers.
Desormeaux grew frustrated when he felt they infringed upon his colt’s space, though he and his horse weathered the circus. Exaggerator performed well on Derby Day before a crowd of 167,227, running second to Nyquist .
Two weeks later, Exaggerator captured the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course under the trainer’s brother, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux. The colt would then complete the Triple Crown series for 3-year-olds with an 11th-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
