Steven and Brandi Nicholson's Exclamation Point (Concord Point), a half-brother to champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), will likely make his next start around two turns following a front-running 2 1/2-length debut victory in Saturday's fourth race at Oaklawn Park, trainer Brad Cox said Sunday.
“The goal for him is to be a route horse,” said Cox. “We'll see what happens.”
Cox noted Exclamation Point won despite being “a touch worked up in the post parade” and switching to his left lead inside the sixteenth pole after being hit right-handed.
“He's got talent, there's no doubt about it,” Cox said. “He displayed that late summer, early fall, before he went on the shelf with shins.”
A homebred for the Nicholsons, who bred Classic Empire before selling him for $475,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, Exclamation Point returned to Cox ahead of the winter racing season.
“I told Brandi last night that he was telling us in the fall that he needed a break,” Cox said. “He got his break and he came back and responded well. A lot of it goes to great clients that are patient and listen to what you have to say. That's what it comes down to.”
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