Texas Red gets unexpected company in six-furlong move

Texas Red continues to build toward his sophomore bow in the San Vicente (Breeders’ Cup Ltd. Photo) At Santa Anita on Saturday, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Texas Red (Afleet Alex) worked six furlongs from the gate as he prepares for his three-year-old debut in the San Vicente S. (G2) at seven furlongs on February 1. An Eclipse Award finalist for champion two-year-old male, Texas Red clocked 1:14, considerably quicker than last Saturday’s six-furlong gate work of 1:17 4/5. “He had a nice, strong, eventful work,” said trainer Keith Desormeaux, who gave his brother, three-time Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, Kent, a leg up for the drill. “Some horse joined the group at the half-mile pole and made it more exciting,” Keith said of Saturday’s escapade. “My horse finished real strong; this gets us where we want to be.”

Asked about the two works from the gate, Desormeaux said, “It was just a way
to pick his head up. The first work was slow, so this was more to re-familiarize
him with the gate.

“Today was the real thing.”

Another prominent sophomore on the worktab was the Simon Callaghan-trained
Firing Line (Line of David). Just touched off by Dortmund (Big Brown) in the Los
Alamitos Futurity (G1), he zipped five panels in :59 4/5 in advance of the
February 7 Robert B. Lewis (G2).

In other news from Santa Anita:

Two-time Eclipse Award champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) is back with Richard
Mandella at Santa Anita after a spell at Julie Adair-Stack’s facility in Chino,
California.

“She’s been here about a week, she’s galloping and doing great,” the Hall of
Fame trainer said of the five-year-old, who missed the Breeders’ Cup Distaff
(G1) last October 31 when she came down with a fever shortly before the race.
“She should be ready in a couple months.”

Jerry Hollendorfer has three more breezes scheduled at Golden Gate Fields
for Shared Belief (Candy Ride) before he ships in for the $500,000 San Antonio
(G2) on February 7.

“He’ll work Wednesday, then the following Tuesday, and the following Tuesday
after that,” the Hall of Fame trainer outlined.

Grazen’s Hope (Grazen) worked six furlongs Saturday morning in 1:12, exactly
a week ahead of the $150,000 California Cup Sprint.

“He worked great,” said Steve Miyadi, who conditions the four-year-old gray
for owner/breeder Nick Alexander.

Exercise rider Jacinto Munoz was aboard for the drill.

“He works all my horses,” Miyadi said. “He does a great job.”

Miyadi also plans to run “Miracle Horse” Tough Sunday (Grazen) in the
$250,000 California Cup Derby at 1 1/16 miles, against unbeaten and unchallenged
monster Acceptance (Vronsky).

Tough Sunday, also owned and bred by Alexander, broke his maiden by 6 3/4
lengths going seven furlongs at Santa Anita on December 28.

Heavens Stairway (Decarchy), winner of four of her last five races for
trainer Marty Jones, worked four furlongs in a bullet :46 1/5 for the $150,000
Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint at about 6 1/2 furlongs. Corey
Nakatani was aboard for the workout.

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