Desormeaux takes shot with maiden in Tremont

Last year, trainer Keith Desormeaux won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with Texas Red, who finished a close second to American Pharoah in the voting for champion 2-year-old male. So, when Desormeaux ships a maiden across the country for a stakes race and names his brother Kent to ride, it merits attention.

On Friday, Desormeaux will start Swipe in the $250,000 Tremont Stakes. Swipe finished second in his first start May 22 at Santa Anita and figures as one of the longer prices in the Tremont.

“First thing I have to say is that he probably wouldn’t be criss-crossing the country if I wasn’t sending Decked Out back for the Astoria on Thursday,” Keith Desormeaux said. “But the money’s pretty good, and we decided to send him along.”

Swipe broke slowly in his 4 1/2-furlong debut, was taken wide into the stretch, and finished with interest to get up for second while lugging inward several times.

“I think he probably has to demand a little respect the way he ran first out,” Desormeaux said. “He broke so badly and then showed a nice closing kick. It was a 4 1/2-furlong race, and I thought of it more as a training race than anything else. I didn’t expect him to run so well.”

Desormeaux bought Swipe for $5,000 at the Keeneland September sale last year. He is a son of Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone.

“He’s not bred, built, or trained for speed, and I expect him to come from off the pace again,” Desormeaux said. “The extra furlong Friday should help.”