Desormeaux has the stakes ammunition to end meet with a bang

DEL MAR, Calif. – A Labor Day weekend of stakes runners at Del Mar may be the catalyst for an excellent fall for trainer Keith Desormeaux.

Desormeaux, known for winning the 2016 Preakness Stakes with Exaggerator, has yet to win a stakes race this year. He won the Grade 1 American Oaks with Decked Out at Santa Anita on New Year’s Eve, but is winless in 22 stakes tries in 2017.

The streak could easily end this weekend, when Desormeaux has runners in five of the six stakes worth $100,000 or more at Del Mar.

“It will be a fun closing weekend for us,” Desormeaux said last weekend. “Hopefully, we can pull off a win or two.”

If that sounds like confidence, it should.

Desormeaux’s Saturday lineup includes Dancing Belle in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs and Decked Out in the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes on turf.

On Sunday, he runs Sorry Erik in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby and My Boy Jack and Bombardeo in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. For Monday’s closing day, he starts the maiden Fleetwood in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.

Dancing Belle is a maiden after four races. She was second in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes on Aug. 5 to Spectator, a rival she will face in the $300,000 Debutante. Dancing Belle’s winless status does not deter Desormeaux.

“She’s a monster,” he said.

Sorry Erik won an optional claimer on turf July 22 and was scratched from the Aug. 19 Pacific Classic on the morning of the race. Desormeaux said he entered Sorry Erik in case trainer Bob Baffert withdrew Arrogate, who eventually finished second to Collected in the $1 million race.

“I wanted to see if Baffert was playing poker,” Desormeaux said.

Sorry Erik has yet to win a stakes. To win the $250,000 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles, Sorry Erik must beat Sharp Samurai, winner of the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap here Aug. 6.

Desormeaux has spoken highly of his 2-year-olds. Aside from Dancing Belle and Fleetwood, there are high expectations for Data Central, who has finished fourth and second in maiden races at a mile on turf this summer. Data Central was beaten a half-length Aug. 12 after racing in traffic on the turn. His determination has endeared him to his trainer.

“He’s one of my favorite horses,” Desormeaux said.

Away from California, Desormeaux will be busy in early September. Sonneteer, who was 16th in the Kentucky Derby as a maiden and won a maiden race on turf July 23, is being pointed to the $200,000 Super Derby on Sept. 9 at Louisiana Downs.

The Super Derby has been switched to turf for the first time this year, which Desormeaux said gave the race added appeal.