Exaggerator heads Belmont Stakes field

American Pharoah made history last year when he dominated the Belmont Stakes before a crowd capped at 90,000 fans to end a 37-year wait for a Triple Crown champion. Exaggerator, this year’s favorite, seeks a historical footnote on Saturday.

Exaggerator can become the first Kentucky Derby runner-up to sweep the Preakness and Belmont Stakes since Nashua in 1955. That possibility will be compelling, at least for aficionados.

The son of Curlin, a Preakness winner and two-time horse of the year, appears to have pedigree on his side to tackle the mile-and-a-half Belmont, his third race in five weeks. The talents of the Desormeaux brothers, whose Cajun roots trace to Maurice, La., do not hurt, either.

Exaggerator is trained by Keith Desormeaux, 49, who recently emerged from the shadow cast by Kent, 46, a Hall of Fame rider who looks to win his eighth Triple Crown race. Kent boasts three victories apiece in the Derby and Preakness but only one in the Belmont, a contest that tests the patience of riders with its extraordinary distance.

Keith has exuded confidence since his colt drilled five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 seconds on Tuesday. “He should be sitting on a huge race,” he said.

About a week and a half after Kent guided Exaggerator to a 3½-length victory in the Preakness, he said he was admitted to Cirque Lodge in Sundance, Utah, to be treated for alcoholism. He spent eight days there before he was accompanied here by Kevin McLaughlin, his “sober companion.”

J.R. Pegram, Kent’s agent, said the jockey will return to Southern California after he completes his riding assignments on Sunday at Belmont Park and will continue rehabilitation.

“The program is not completed. There is more to it,” Pegram said. “I just don’t know all of the details.”

Weather may prove critical to the Belmont outcome. Forecasters call for a chance of severe afternoon thunderstorms. Exaggerator relished a sloppy surface when he rolled by 6¼ lengths in the Santa Anita Derby and again in the Preakness.

Despite the absence of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, the 13-horse Belmont field contains some intriguing starters. Trainer Todd Pletcher, in search of his third Belmont victory, sends out fourth-place Preakness finisher Stradivari and Destin.

Trainer Dale Romans saddles Preakness runner-up Cherry Wine as well as Brody’s Cause, who closed to finish seventh in the Derby.

Others are interesting for reasons beyond the ability, or lack of ability, they demonstrated. Well-traveled Lani, who journeyed from Japan to Dubai to win the UAE Derby and qualify for the Kentucky Derby, heads that list.

Lani improved from ninth in the Derby to fifth in the Preakness. He joins Exaggerator as the only horses to compete in all three Triple Crown races. His antics, though, have appealed to fans. The high-strung, studdish colt is such a handful that he has been maintained in a boarded-up stall in Barn 6 at Belmont Park.

The methods of his trainer, Mikio Matsunaga, also are curious. Lani stays on the mile-and-a-half track far longer than his counterparts for a combination of galloping and walking. “You would think the mile and a half would not be a problem since he trains five miles a day,” joked NBC analyst Randy Moss.

Then there is 30-1 Trojan Nation. Paddy Gallagher, his Santa Anita-based conditioner, is keeping the faith even though Trojan Nation struggled home 16th in the Kentucky Derby and remains winless through seven career starts. Gallagher must hope he sees something others are missing.