Exaggerator, Brody's Cause turn in final Derby works at Churchill

Edited press release

As a little drizzle began to fall, major Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders Exaggerator and Brody's Cause turned in five-furlong works Saturday morning at Churchill Downs

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Exaggerator worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 with three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard for his brother, trainer Keith Desormeaux.

"The track was a little loose, but he had a good work," said a slightly breathless Kent Desormeaux, who jumped off the Curlin colt and into a car for a dash to the airport and a 9:30 flight back to his California base where he was scheduled to ride Saturday afternoon at Los Alamitos.

Churchill clockers caught Exaggerator in splits of :12.80, :25.20, :37.80 and :50.40 en route to his final time. They followed him on the gallop out with fractions of 1:15.60 and 1:29.60.

Kent had jetted in from California Friday night and crashed on brother Keith's couch in Louisville. They spoke by phone Saturday after the work as Kent was airport bound.

"Kent told me he thought the track was a little loose and that the horse labored just a bit getting started," the older Desormeaux brother said at Barn 25 afterward. "But he also said he got into a good rhythm and he finished up very strong. He said he never asked him but that the colt had good energy from the eighth pole to the seven-eighths; that he did it all on his own. Then he galloped out well and finished up the way you'd like him to."

Keith likened the drill to a similar one his charge had just prior to winning the Santa Anita Derby on April 9.

"He worked at Santa Anita in a similar time (1:02.80) and fashion before winning their big race," he said. "That tells me he's still at least at the level he was before his big effort in that one. I don't work my horses fast; I prefer to go the stamina route. I know that goes against the general grain, but that's what I prefer to do. I want them to go on and I train them that way. I think he's in a good place right now and I'm glad to have this last (work) done."

Brody's Cause, winner of the Blue Grass (G1), worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 under Tammy Fox for trainer Dale Romans. Churchill Downs' clockers caught the son of Giant's Causeway in eighth-mile splits of :11.60, :23.40, :35.40, :50.40, galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.60 and seven furlongs in 1:29.60.