Trainer Keith Desormeaux outlined his plans for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Texas Red
(Afleet Alex), mention the $200,000 San Vicente S. (G2) going seven furlongs at
Santa Anita Park and Fair Grounds $400,000 Risen Star S. (G2) at 1 1/16 miles
prior to a start in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1) scheduled for nine
furlongs on April 4.
Recently second in the voting for an Eclipse Award as the 2014 champion
two-year-old male, the bay colt has been working steadily at Santa Anita Park
for his conditioner, who co-owns the colt with a partnership that includes Erich Brehm, Wayne Detmar and Lee Michaels et al.
On Saturday morning, Texas Red worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5. Regular rider and three-time Kentucky Derby
(G1)-winning jockey Kent Desormeaux posted to Twitter afterward, “Silky smooth. Great enthusiasm. Happy horse!”
“He’s growing, getting stronger and smarter,” Kent Desormeaux
remarked Sunday. “He’s maturing wisely.”
“What we’re leaning toward now is the San Vicente on the first (of February),”
Keith Desormeaux said on TVG Network. “I’m thinking about wheeling him back
pretty quickly in the Risen Star on (February 21) and then we’ll have a little
gap between the Risen Star and the $1 million Santa Anita Derby.”
Having a seven-furlong starting point and wheeling back
quickly for a three-race Kentucky Derby (G1) prep schedule is a format that has been
used by Triple Crown runners effectively in the past. In 1997, Silver Charm won the San Vicente and was second in both the 1
1/16-mile San Felipe (G2) and Santa Anita Derby within an eight-week
span before winning the Derby and Preakness S. (G1) and finishing second in the
Belmont S. (G1)
In 1989, Easy Goer won the seven-furlong Swale S., the one-mile Gotham S.
(G2) and 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial Invitational (G1) in a seven-week span before finishing second
in both the Derby and Preakness and then winning the Belmont. More
recently, Curlin won his seven-furlong debut in early February 2007 before
taking both the 1 1/16-mile Rebel S. (G3) and nine-furlong Arkansas Derby (G1) within
a 10-week span before finishing third in the Derby, winning the
Preakness and posting a head second in the Belmont.
“It’s still on schedule,” Desormeaux said via telephone on
Sunday afternoon. “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.”
In five career starts, the $17,000 Keeneland September
Yearling Sale bargain has earned $1,192,300 and never finished worse than
fourth. After a debut loss by a neck in a five-furlong Arlington maiden in July, the Kentucky-bred was fourth in a six-furlong
Del Mar maiden before graduating in his first start around two turns in a
one-mile maiden back at Del Mar.
Texas Red returned to finish a flying third
to eventual Eclipse champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the FrontRunner
S. (G1) one race prior to romping in the Breeders’ Cup by 6 1/2
lengths, both at Santa Anita. Earning a 101 BRIS Speed figure in the latter,
he left Grade 1 victor Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway) and Upstart (Flatter) — who
made his sophomore bow a 105 BRIS Speed-earning romp in Saturday’s Holy Bull S.
(G2) — behind in second and third, respectively.
“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 continued. “If he can do what he did as a juvenile, what
can he accomplish as a three-year-old?”
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