Texas Red is cool customer in workout

ARCADIA, Calif. – The behavior of Texas Red before and during a six-furlong workout at Santa Anita on Saturday left trainer Keith Desormeaux encouraged about the start of the 3-year-old’s 2015 season in less than two weeks.

The winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here Nov. 1, Texas Red worked from the gate in 1:14. The exercise was delayed several minutes while the 3-year-old filly Lady Tapit was vanned off after falling at the end of a workout. Lady Tapit was not seriously injured.

Through the delay, Texas Red remained composed, Desormeaux said.

“He didn’t turn a hair,” Desormeaux said.

Desormeaux timed Texas Red in a much-quicker 1:11.80 and considered Saturday’s workout progress toward the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds over seven furlongs Feb. 1. Desormeaux’s brother, Kent, the Hall of Fame jockey, rode Texas Red in the BC Juvenile and was aboard for the workout.

Texas Red has had four workouts since returning to serious training in December. Texas Red was given an official time of 1:17.80 from the gate Jan. 10. Keith Desormeaux wanted a faster workout Saturday.

“We wanted to go a bit quicker than last time,” Desormeaux said. “He was good today.”

Texas Red has two wins from five starts and earnings of $1,192,300 for a partnership that includes Erich Brehm, Wayne Detmar, Lee Michaels, and Desormeaux. The Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes is considered a launching pad for two-turn races in the coming months.

“We’re totally prepared,” Desormeaux said. “I couldn’t ask him to be better.”

One possible race for Texas Red after the San Vicente is the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles March 7. The Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes could attract Firing Line, the runner-up in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 20.

On Saturday, Firing Line worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds.

Lady Tapit, a sharp maiden-race winner at Los Alamitos in December, fell while galloping out after her six-furlong workout in 1:12.40.

Trainer John Sadler said an hour after the incident that Lady Tapit had been inspected by veterinarians, who found no injury. Sadler said further tests will be conducted in the coming days. He said the incident caused a scare.

“There will be no stone left unturned,” Sadler said.

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stable, Lady Tapit won her second start in a maiden race over a mile by 4 1/4 lengths Dec. 12.

Micks Miracle has bruised foot

Micks Miracle, who won his debut in a maiden race for 2-year-olds by 5 1/4 lengths Dec. 26, has been bothered by a bruised foot that has interrupted recent exercise, trainer Phil D’Amato said Saturday.

Owned by John Liviakis, Micks Miracle is scheduled to resume racetrack training Monday after undergoing a series of tests to diagnose the bruise. The setback has led D’Amato to postpone plans for a major stakes appearance in the coming weeks.

“We’re behind the eight ball,” he said.

Acceptance, Alert Bay run Saturday

The December stakes winners Acceptance and Alert Bay will be favored to win $250,000 races for California-breds next Saturday.

Acceptance, unbeaten in three starts, runs in the California Cup Derby over 1 1/16 miles, a race won in 2014 by California Chrome. Acceptance won the King Glorious Stakes over a mile at Los Alamitos on Dec. 14.

Alert Bay will start in the California Cup Turf Classic over 1 1/8 miles on turf and can extend his winning streak to five races. The streak began in September and includes races at Hastings Park in Canada, Zia Park in New Mexico, and the Grade 2 Mathis Bros. Mile for 3-year-olds over a mile on turf here Dec. 26.

◗ There is no live racing at Santa Anita until Friday because of the Monday racing program.