the next pass, behind the line, I think he is a good, good,

Neither Keith Desormeaux nor Bob Baffert was on the scene at Monmouth Park last Sunday when Exaggerator beat American Freedom in the Haskell Invitational. Del Mar is a hard place to leave in the summer -- all that beach traffic -- and besides, its the horses who do the real work.I was back there all the week before, said Desormeaux, referring to Saratoga, where Exaggerator trained for the Haskell. Why didnt I go back? Im lazy.Right, and hes also got a full barn at Del Mar that trains from sunrise to track closing every day, and being where he can see and touch his horses helps Desormeaux sleep at night. Julie Clark, the trainers assistant and significant other, did the honors in New Jersey.As for Baffert, he had assistant Jim Barnes on the job at Monmouth, which has worked just fine in the past. Anyway, cross-country air travel with a quick turnaround isnt exactly high among Bafferts lifestyle priorities these days, especially after his heart attack in Dubai four years ago.Still, watching from afar is no guarantee of immunity. Planted in view of a Del Mar big screen, Baffert saw Rafael Bejarano ride American Freedom to a very game second to Exaggerator and Kent Desormeaux, after which he hustled off to saddle American Pharoahs little sister, American Cleopatra, in Del Mars third race (she won). On his way back to the box, Baffert was accosted, as he often is, by someone with something on his mind.What do you think, Bob? came the question. Did they get it right?What are you talking about? Baffert replied.The inquiry. With your horse.I didnt even know there was one, Baffert said a couple of days later. My first thought was, Oh, no, dont take second away from me. When I saw it was my rider claiming against the winner, I could see there was nothing there. I told the jock later he shouldnt have wasted one. You need to save those for when youve got a shot.Keith Desormeaux didnt see anything either because there really wasnt much to see in terms of an objection, unless it was the dollar signs disappearing from the thought bubble over Bejaranos head as Exaggerator blew past him inside the eighth pole. At that point, Exaggerators trainer was still chuckling at his own Hamlet moment that could have sent history in a whole different direction.I can show you the text to Elliott Walden the night before the entries, Desormeaux said, referring to the general manager of WinStar Farm, where Exaggerator will stand.The way to win the Travers is to train at Saratoga and run in the Jim Dandy, so what am I doing going to the Haskell? Desormeaux said, reciting the substance of the message. Then, when I saw the race on paper and the way the pace laid out, I knew I was going to the right place. That and $400,000 more in the purse, plus a Win and Youre In to the Breeders Cup. Actually, it was kind of a no-brainer.The contortions required for Desormeaux to come up with his no-brainer tell you a lot about the guy. Hell chew on every detail until theres nothing left but gristle and bone. What to do with Exaggerator -- the Santa Anita Derby and Preakness winner -- after his dismal effort in the Belmont Stakes was a question he was asked often. And in the modern world of constant communication and fitful transparency, he was required to deliver an answer, even if he didnt have one.There was a time trainers didnt say much at all, Desormeaux noted. And nobody asked.Bill Mott once was asked to name the toughest part of his job.Saying no, he replied.This is easy to understand, given the relentlessly forward momentum of racing, the pressure from heavily invested patrons, and the required participation of four-legged creatures who dont always get with the program.At some point, though, a trainer must say yes. Decisions come easier to trainers who have talented 3-year-olds in January. The path is preordained, with a few variations along the way but all leading toward the same set of Triple Crown goals.Once the Belmont is in the books, all bets are off. The goals become a little more hazy. Haskell, Travers, Gold Cup, Breeders Cup: Theyre all in the mix, along with the very real option of putting a hard-used young horse away for a few recuperative months and bringing him back as a more mature 4-year-old.Desormeaux has been faced with such decisions when it comes to Exaggerator. When he said the Curlin colt was heading for the Travers through the Jim Dandy, his word was taken for gospel. When he changed his mind, the media -- both social and otherwise -- were flummoxed. They did not have a good line on this Desormeaux fellow yet, and here he was changing races in midstream. He said he did not like the way his horse was training at Saratoga, where he won the Saratoga Special the year before, and yet he said his horse was doing well physically and could simply train up to the Travers. Or not. He might as well have been speaking Esperanto.I know, Desormeaux said. Sometimes it takes a little time to figure things out.And this time, it was worth the wait. Cheap Custom Senators Jersey . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Cheap Senators Jerseys . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. http://www.customsenatorsjersey.com/ . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Custom Frank Finnigan Jersey .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. Authentic Custom Senators Jersey . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since injuring his ankle on Aug. 6 during the franchises mock game at Ford Field.Ebron was not spotted doing much during the limited viewing period of individual drills at the teams practice facility, but it is another step in the right direction for the tight end. He was spotted jogging to the Jugs machine and then catching passes on it last week.The No. 10 pick in the 2014 draft was carted off the field during that mock game, frustration clear on his face. He hasnt spoken to the media since the injury, declining multiple requests for comment. A source told ESPN Insider Adam Caplan on Tuesday morning that Ebron will play Week 1 against Indianapolis.His return to practice Tuesday would be another strong indicator of that.Ebron is slated to be Detroits top tight end this fall. He had been having a strong camp leading up to the injury. Now entering his third season, he called this year a make it or break it year for him. He caughtt 47 passes for 537 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games last season.ddddddddddddThe Lions need him back at tight end as Brandon Pettigrew (ACL) remains on the PUP list and Tim Wright (ACL) is out for the season on injured reserve.Lions coach Jim Caldwell declined to give a timeline on Pettigrews return Tuesday, saying well see when asked if hell start the season on the PUP list.What can you expect in terms of when hell be ready, well see, Caldwell said. What do you expect in terms of what he can do, hes big, strong, hes proven he can block you on the run game. He can catch passes for you. Hes caught a number of passes around here. Hes effective in that area and hes a very good pass protector, so theres certainly a lot of things he can do for us.The Lions got some more good news in Tuesdays practice as receiver Golden Tate also returned to practice after sitting out both practices during the weekend. ' ' '