November 22, 2024

Texas Red on comeback trail at Santa Anita

Last updated: 3/9/15 7:07 PM











Texas Red is set to return to the worktab Saturday
(Charles Bernhardt/Horsephotos.com)

Daily Racing Form‘s Jay Privman reports that Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
(G1) winner Texas Red (Afleet Alex) rejoined trainer Keith Desormeaux at Santa
Anita Monday, and the Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful could still get ready in time
to make either the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (G1) or April 11 Arkansas Derby
(G1).

Texas Red is in a race against time, having missed several weeks of training.
Following his close second in the February 1 San Vicente (G2) in his sophomore
debut, he sustained an abscess in his right front hoof.

The colt was transported
from Santa Anita to Premier Equine Center near Oakdale, California, where he
tried to maintain some fitness by swimming and exercising on the Aqua Tred.

Desormeaux issued an upbeat bulletin later last month.

“The reports are all good; the thing’s still draining, but he’s always been
sound on it. Since it popped, it’s drained, but he’s good,” the trainer said
February 20.

Texas Red is scheduled to return to the worktab with a half-mile move on
Saturday, according to the DRF report. His last work came prior to the
San Vicente, a five-furlong drill January 24.

“We’re pushing it,” Desormeaux told Privman Monday. “It’s not the best
situation, but it’s the hand we’ve been dealt.”

Aside from trying to play catch-up physically, Texas Red also has to ensure
that he has enough Derby points to make the field. He currently has 12 — 10
from the Juvenile and two from his third in last September’s FrontRunner (G1).
Texas Red sits 14th on the list now, with the biggest points races still to
come.

Speculation about Texas Red’s status intensified over the weekend. His Hall
of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux, the trainer’s brother, also has the mount on the
Cliff Sise-trained Prospect Park (Tapit), who ran second to unbeaten Dortmund
(Big Brown) in Saturday’s San Felipe (G2). Earlier that day, Sise reportedly
said in an interview that Kent Desormeaux had committed to ride Prospect Park
through the Kentucky Derby, fueling rumors about whether Texas Red was
officially off the trail.

Kent Desormeaux took to Twitter Monday and counseled fans to watch as the
prep season unfolds.

“People people, Derby is coming. Let the horses talk.”



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