Derby Points a Concern for Texas Red Trainer
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Trainer Keith Desormeaux said Feb. 13 that if Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) champion Texas Red didn't need additional points to make the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) field, he would not race him until the Louisville classic.
The 3-year-old Kentucky-bred Afleet Alex colt—owned by Erich Brehm, Wayne Detmar, Lee Michaels, and Desormeaux—is recovering from a right front-foot abscess that was discovered after a second-place finish to Lord Nelson by a neck in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 1.
Texas Red is in sixth place in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 12 points, 13 behind leader El Kabeir. Earned points are used to determine the field if more than 20 horses are entered.
"I wouldn't even be concerned with having another race at all (before the Kentucky Derby) if we weren't at the mercy of this point system," Desormeaux said. "I'd go straight to the Derby, but you have to run now.
"You've got a horse with $1.2 million in earnings and he's the Breeders' Cup champion. He shouldn't have to prove anything more to get into the Kentucky Derby."
Still, the trainer is optimistic about the colt's relatively near future as he recovers from the injury.
"We have a positive outlook," Desormeaux said. "It's something that we've dealt with before and we're hoping he's done with it in a couple weeks."