My Girl Red scores dominant win in Sorrento Stakes
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Keith Desormeaux calls Texas Red the horse who “changed my life.” He won the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, earned $1.7 million, and helped Desormeaux establish strong presence in Southern California.
That gift is going to keep on giving, by the looks My Girl Red, from Texas Red’s first crop. She dominated her five rivals in the Grade 2, $150,500 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Friday at Del Mar, coasting to 4 3/4-length victory.
Erich Brehm was a co-owner of Texas Red, and he bred and owns My Girl Red. She was offered at auction, did not meet her reserve, and is proving Brehm right for setting a high bar. She’s now 2 for 2, having previously defeated maidens on debut June 14 at Santa Anita.
Desormeaux isn’t known for having his horses cranked up first time out, and the fact My Girl Red won her first start was not lost on bettors, who hammered her down to the 4-5 favorite. She paid $3.80 for $2 to win.
Flavien Prat, who rode My Girl Red first time out, was back aboard Friday and had a similar game plan – get to the front and improve his position. My Girl Red split pace rivals in the opening furlong of the six-furlong race, began to widen on her opposition on the far turn, and poured it on down the lane.
Get On the Bus, making her first start, ran on for second, five lengths clear of third-place Exchange Vows. Scat’s Choice, September Secret, and Scaterra were next, in that order. Trip to Seoul was scratched earlier.
“Flavien told me she was not even interested the last eighth,” Desormeaux said, noting My Girl Red’s ears were forward both then and early in the race, indicating she was doing it well within herself.
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“Pretty impressive,” Desormeaux said, adding, with honesty, “time was average.”
My Girl Red covered six furlongs in 1:12.12, following fractions of 22.17 seconds for the quarter and 45.88 for the half.
“I think she can go even quicker and I sure don’t want to complain,” he said, smiling. “She’s always shown signs of class, and it’s nice to see one duplicate in the afternoon what we see in the mornings.”
Desormeaux said Texas Red “didn’t want you to touch him,” but My Girl Red is “the loveable type.”
There will be more reasons to love her if she continues to progress this summer. The Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 6 is next.