​Exaggerator tops $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot field

Nov 19, 2015 by James Scully

The Road to the 2016 Kentucky Derby makes a stop at Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana this Saturday as 2-year-olds will square off in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (G3). The 1 1/16-mile race will award points toward a Kentucky Derby berth on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four respective finishers.

Exaggerator, who currently sits sixth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with six points, heads a solid field of 10. Winner of the Saratoga Special (G2) during the summer, Exaggerator earned four points for a runner-up finish in the October 3 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and two points for a fourth most recently in the October 31 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) over the same track.

Conditioner by Keith Desormeaux, Exaggerator is a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, the third-place finisher in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, and the dark bay colt will be ridden by the trainer’s brother, three-time Kentucky Derby winner and Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux.

Exaggerator will break from post 9 and is listed as the 2-1 favorite on the morning line.

Sunny Ridge, the 7-2 early second choice, is the only member of the field with points, pocketing four for his runner-up finish in the October 3 Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park last time out. Winner of the Sa[ling (G3) at Monmouth Park two starts back, the Jason Servis-trained gelding will start from post 3 with new rider Irad Ortiz Jr.

Forevamo will enter the Jackpot on the upswing for trainer Al Stall Jr., capturing the local prep for the Jackpot, the October 24 Jean Lafitte. By leading freshman sire Uncle Mo, the bay colt will break from innermost post with Colby Hernandez and has been installed as the 4-1 third choice on the morning line.

Whitmore (8-1 on the morning line) jumps straight to stakes company off a 7 ¼-length debut score over maiden special weight rivals at Churchill Downs on November 6. Robby Albrado picks up the mount for Ron Moquett. Stakes winner Found Money (6-1), who is trained by 2012 Kentucky Derby winner Doug O’Neill, merits respect in his first attempt outside of California. Mario Gutierrez rides.

Completing the Jackpot field are Harlan Punch (10-1), Memories of Winter (10-1), Iron Dome (20-1), Texas Jambalaya (20-1) and Cowboy Classic (30-1).