Lord Nelson outmaneuvers Texas Red in San Vicente

Lord Nelson got up by a neck over Texas Red in a pleasing performance on the part of both Derby hopefuls (Benoit Photos)

Peachtree Stable’s Lord Nelson (Pulpit) foiled Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)
winner Texas Red (Afleet Alex) on the cutback to one turn in Sunday’s $200,250
San
Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita. But Texas Red fans should take great heart from
his near-miss effort at seven furlongs. Conceding five pounds as the 123-pound
highweight, the 3-5 favorite came up only a neck short of Lord Nelson, a
Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful himself who was better suited by this distance.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Lord Nelson brought a two-for-two mark
in sprints — a 6 3/4-length conquest of the six-furlong Speakeasy here on
October 13 as well as his July 19 unveiling over five furlongs at Del Mar. Both
of his losses came in routes. Lord Nelson was fourth to champion stablemate
American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the September 27 FrontRunner (G1), in
which Texas Red was third, and he was most recently fifth in the November 29
Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs.

In contrast, both of Texas Red’s career victories have come around two turns.
Their varying strengths were on display in the San Vicente, enabling Lord Nelson
to turn the tables as the 9-5 second choice.

The speedy Serbian Syclone (Wildcat Heir) went to the lead, pressed by Jazzy
Josh (Kantharos) through splits of :23 and :45 4/5. Sir Samson (Smart Strike)
was prominent throughout, loomed up to challenge turning for home, and edged
ahead in midstretch.

Texas Red (far right) made a nifty move from last, setting himself up perfectly for the Risen Star (Benoit Photos)

Texas Red’s band of brothers, trainer Keith and jockey Kent Desormeaux,
commented on his gallant effort in defeat.

“It was a tough beat because he flew home,” his Hall of Fame rider said. “I
had to carry another horse around the turn, there was a little bumping and
shoving. That horse was trying to keep getting in my line and I was just trying
to move forward in my line so I’d say that was the difference today.

“He had a real rally at the end. The pace wasn’t much so they had something
left. He was trying to catch horses with gas in the tank still.

“There’s no love lost here.”

“Oh, absolutely,” his trainer said when asked if Texas Red got what he needed
from the race. “It’s a little disappointing, you know, ’cause it’s so close to
winning, but the long-term goal is well within reach.

“The pace was slow. They go faster for maiden 30s ($30,000), so you’d have
seen a more visible cut if the pace was quicker. Still, to do what he did, you
can’t be disappointed.

“Right now, the plans are still as I’ve been saying. He’s probably going to
go to the Risen Star ([G2] at Fair Grounds on February 21) and then we’ll come
back for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4.”