Texas Red Recovering, SA Derby Remains Goal
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Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Texas Red remains on course for the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) as he swims his way back from an abscess on his right front foot following a sharp second in his 3-year-old debut in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 1.
The ultimate goal for the son of Afleet Alex , of course, is the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
"He'll continue swimming and doing Aqua Tred, probably until the end of the month," trainer Keith Desormeaux said the morning of Feb. 20. "We'll try to get him in (to Santa Anita) around March 1 and crank him up again."
Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Texas Red was purchased by Erich Brehm for $17,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale out of the Three Chimneys Sales consignment. He is co-owned by Brehm, Desormeaux, Lee Michaels, Wayne Detmar, and Gene Voss.
"The reports are all good; the thing's still draining, but he's always been sound on it," Desormeaux said of the injury. "Since it popped, it's drained, but he's good. I just want to give him plenty of time to recover.
"He missed the race we were pointing for anyway," Desormeaux said in referenc to the grade II Risen Star Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, "so the Santa Anita Derby's the goal now.
"I just don't need to rush him back; that's the mindset."
Texas Red is currently rehabbing at Premier Equine Center, which is located in Oakdale, Calif., about five hours north of Santa Anita in California's Central Valley.