Desormeaux Sets Derby Path for Texas Red
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Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Texas Red is likely to have three starts on the early Triple Crown trail, according to trainer Keith Desormeaux, beginning with the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 1.
Also on the radar for the Eclipse Award runner-up as champion 2-year-old male is the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 21, and the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 4, Desormeaux said.
"It's still on schedule," Desormeaux said via telephone the afternoon of Jan. 25. "It's always been kind of a tentative schedule, like with all things concerning racehorses. It seems like the best plan for me at this point. It's kind of quick, but I like the way it feels. If I can get him (to Fair Grounds) a week early, that would be perfect. I'll be at the mercy of whoever is going to fly us and their schedule."
Texas Red is to get started at seven furlongs in the San Vicente at Santa Anita Park Sunday.
The son of Afleet Alex , owned by a partnership that includes Erich Brehm, Wayne Detmar, and Lee Michaels, has been working weekly at Santa Anita since Jan. 3. His most recent drill, five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 Jan. 24, was met with enthusiasm by regular rider Kent Desormeaux, Keith's younger brother and a three-time Kentucky Derby winner.
"He's growing, getting stronger and smarter," said the jockey. "He's maturing wisely."
Having a seven-furlong starting point and wheeling back quickly for a three-race Kentucky Derby prep schedule is a format that has been used by Triple Crown runners effectively in the past. In 1997, Robert and Beverly Lewis' Silver Charm won the San Vicente and was second in both the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe (gr. II) and 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby within an eight-week span before winning the Derby and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and finishing second in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
In five career starts for Texas Red, the $17,000 Keeneland September yearling bargain has earned $1,192,300 and never finished worse than fourth.
After a debut loss by a neck in a five-furlong Arlington International Race Course maiden in July, the robust Kentucky-bred was fourth in a six-furlong Del Mar maiden before graduating in his first start around two turns in a one-mile test at Del Mar.
He returned to finish a flying third to eventual Eclipse champion American Pharoah in the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I), one race prior to pummeling his Breeders' Cup Juvenile rivals by 6 1/2 lengths—both at Santa Anita. Among those he defeated in the Juvenile were Upstart, who returned with a romp in Saturday's Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II), and grade I winner Carpe Diem.
"For him to overcome the fact that he's not really built to be an early horse—that's what makes him great and that's also what makes us so excited about this year," Desormeaux said. "If he can do what he did as a juvenile, what can he accomplish as a 3-year-old?"