After slow start to year, Desormeaux barn hits its stride

When the calendar flipped to August, trainer Keith Desormeaux was muddling through 2025. From Jan. 1 through July 31, the Desormeaux stable scratched out 12 winners from 128 runners for earnings of about $654,0000.

“We weren’t necessarily in a funk, but just getting so close all the time,” Desormeaux said. “You got to stop on a horse right when it’s ready – things like that. We’re right there, but it’s just not happening.”

Since August, it’s been happening. Giocoso finished second Saturday in the Gun Runner Stakes, but that race was worth $2 million, and Giocoso earned $373,000. On Aug. 9, Giocoso won the Grade 2, $500,000 Secretariat at Colonial Downs, where, on Aug. 6, the Desormeaux-trained Casa Cielo won the $126,000 Kitten’s Joy. Bear River on Aug. 3 won a $250,000 Ellis Park prep race for the Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs, and then he won the $2 million Turf Sprint itself.

Since Aug. 1, Desormeaux has gone 8 for 40 overall and 8-4-1-0 in stakes, with $2.28 million in stable earnings.

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“It’s what we work for. You never expect it, but you know it can happen,” Desormeaux said.

The Turf Sprint is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. Desormeaux said he and owner Charles Marquis plan to take advantage of the fees-paid entry Bear River earned into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, though that five-furlong race won’t suit the 4-year-old as well as the six-furlong Turf Sprint.

Giocoso broke from the rail in the one-mile Gun Runner and raced just behind a strong pace, making multiple moves before being tagged by late-running winner Plensa. Giocoso was the only horse anywhere near lead during the early and middle stages to stick around to the finish.

Desormeaux views Giocoso as a Grade 1-level horse. Time will tell. Since August, he’s been right about a lot of things.

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