​Exaggerator edges Sunny Ridge in Delta Jackpot, jumps to second on Kentucky Derby Leaderboard

Nov 21, 2015 by James Scully

Big Chief Racing LLC’s Exaggerator took the leading rounding the first turn and gamely proved best in Saturday’s $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (G3), winning by a neck over runner-up Sunny Ridge in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series race.

With the 10-point prize, Exaggerator jumped to second in the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with a total of 16 points. The dark bay son of 2007 Kentucky Derby third-placer and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin had previously earned four points finishing second in the October 3 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and two points for a fourth in the October 31 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), both races coming at Keeneland.

Conditioned by Keith Desormeaux, the 2-year-old colt was ridden by the trainer’s younger brother, three-time Kentucky Derby winner Kent Desormeaux. Exaggerator completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.48 on the muddy track at Delta Downs.

Winner of the Saratoga Special (G2) during the summer, Exaggerator has now earned $983,120 from a 6-3-1-0 career record. He was favored at 4-5 in the Delta Jackpot.

Sunny Ridge, who also picked up four points finishing second in the October 3 Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, doubled his total with the runner-up placing. It was another 4 ¾ lengths back to Harlan Punch in third and another 9 1/2-length gap to Found Money in fourth.

Whitmore, Forevamo, Texas Jambalaya, Memories of Winter, Cowboy Classic and Iron Dome completed the order of finish.

Bred in Kentucky by Joseph B. Murphy, Exaggerator sold for $110,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale.