When trainer Keith Desormeaux arrived at Churchill Downs in 2016 to prepare Exaggerator, his first starter in the Kentucky Derby, he admits he was on edge around his barn, unaccustomed to a stable area drawing so much activity from media and observers.

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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 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.

Seven years later, with more Kentucky Derby experience under Keith’s belt — Sonneteer ran 16th for him in 2017 and My Boy Jack was fifth in 2018 — the trainer is more understanding of the Derby spectacle, even appreciative of it. Time has mellowed the Louisiana native to an extent, or perhaps it is the talent of his prospect this year, Rebel Stakes winner Confidence Game, that has him more at ease.

Asked to assess his chances relative to past years — My Boy Jack arguably could have run better than fifth in the 2018 Derby if he had not run into traffic problems — Desormeaux first expressed his appreciation of Confidence Game as being one of 20 3-year-olds that earned their way into the Kentucky Derby starting gate by accumulating sufficient qualifying points and earnings.

“Getting here is the challenge, getting in this race is where the pressure is — the challenge, the fun challenge that we’re all up against,” he said. “Once you get there, maybe [with] Exaggerator, I remained pumped up the whole way.

Confidence Game winning Rebel Stakes. (Coady Photography)

“But after discovering the magnificent nature of this race — this beast called the Kentucky Derby — the experience is what you’re shooting for. To win is just totally icing on the cake. I don’t worry about winning anymore. ... This is a celebration, not only for us — my work team, my crew — but the sport, the whole sport. We’re all celebrating what we love.”

Confidence Game has a similar sales history as My Boy Jack, a son of Creative Cause and a $20,000 purchase on the recommendation of his trainer. Confidence Game, a Candy Ride colt out of the Bernardini mare Eblouissante — a half-sister (same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to Hall of Famer Zenyatta — was selected by Desormeaux for just $25,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Sonneteer (Midnight Lute), by comparison, was Calumet Farm homebred and Exaggerator, a son of Curlin, was a $110,000 yearling acquisition — a hefty sum for the trainer, but not by the standards of customary Derby participants.

“They were awesome horses, but you compare those to the kind of pedigree I have with this horse, a Candy Ride out of Zenyatta’s sister and being a Bernardini mare — those classic pedigrees, those classic lines, it seems pedigree-wise I have more of a chance,” Desormeaux said. “Physically, he matches up as well. I’m sure people have seen him out here; he’s a big, grand, sound horse.

“So, the pedigree and the looks, we’ve got. The only thing I question is he gets frazzled and I’ve used the word volatile. He’s a bit volatile. So, we’re going to do our best to create confidence, for lack of a better word, and if he holds it together, he just really has a legit chance.”

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Campaigned solely by Don’t Tell My Wife Stables through the Rebel, Confidence Game will also race in the Derby for Ocean Reef Racing. The latter group of 12 members bought into Confidence Game earlier in April for an undisclosed amount.

Desormeaux plans paddock schooling this week for his colt, who misbehaved in the paddock at Oaklawn Park before winning the Rebel, though he was professional during the race itself. Fifth early under James Graham in a fast-paced race, he rallied from off the pace to score a length victory on a sloppy track, leaving fellow Kentucky Derby hopefuls Reincarnate and Verifying behind with troubled trips in third and fourth. The victory in the $1 million race gave the colt his third win in seven starts and boosted his earnings to $785,525.

Graham, one of Desormeaux’s most-used riders in Kentucky, retains the mount. The trainer’s brother, based in Southern California, rode Keith’s other Kentucky Derby starters.

“James is goofy,” Keith said, referring to the jockey’s playful nature. “He’s a good horseman. He keeps me light. There’s nothing fake about James. He’s loyal, but the bottom line is a good little rider. He’s naturally light. Got good hands, good clock.”

Then, Desormeaux, unable to contain himself with all that praise, could not help but offer a friendly zinger.

“He’s getting old,” he quipped of Graham, 43. “I’m gonna have to replace him pretty soon. It’s a young man’s business, man.”

How old is Keith?

“I don’t ride ’em,” said the trainer, 56, drawing laughs. “Look at Lukas, he’s still going at (87). Trainers don’t count.”

But Desormeaux is aging, the stubble of his facial hair more gray than brown. He shakes his head at being a grandfather — “Twice!” he said.

Rebel Stakes celebration. (Coady Photography)

Some of his family will be at Churchill Downs for the Derby, though he does not expect his mother, Brenda, will attend after his father, Harris, died April 22 in Louisiana at age 80. A father to four other children besides Kent and Keith, his dad had a passion for horse racing that led him to create the Acadiana Downs bush track, according to a recent obituary. Numerous Cajun jockeys began riding at such unsanctioned tracks in Louisiana, including Kent.

While appreciative of condolences, Keith shrugged off the thought that his father’s death might leave him with an angel on his shoulder Saturday.

“These are Derby gods were working with, not daddy gods,” he quipped.

Though Confidence Game will race in the Kentucky Derby after a racing break of 70 days — no horse has won the Derby following more than 49 days off in the race’s modern history — Desormeaux and Graham express no worries about the colt’s fitness. Horses have been able to win other demanding races such as Breeders’ Cup events following relatively short, planned layoffs.

Arrogate won the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic 70 days after he won the Travers Stakes, and last year Flightline won the Breeders’ Cup Classic 63 days after taking the Pacific Classic.

“As Keith says, he’s not just training for one day. He’s training for the Triple Crown,” Graham told the Twinspires Racing social media team and reporters.