Texas Red gets more time to heal

ARCADIA, Calif. – Texas Red, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November, will remain at a Northern California farm until March 7 while recovering from an abscess in a foot, trainer Keith Desormeaux said on Thursday.

Desormeaux had planned to bring Texas Red to Santa Anita this weekend. Desormeaux said he has opted for an additional week for further recuperation and to continue a program of swimming Texas Red at the farm.

Desormeaux is targeting the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4 for Texas Red’s next start.

“I’ll give him an extra week, and I think with three works, he’ll be fine,” Desormeaux said.

Desormeaux said the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 11 is a backup plan.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

“The options are good,” Desormeaux said. “He’s got the experience and the races. The extra week will do a lot for his freshness. Then, he’ll have to get back here and get down to business.”

Texas Red has won 2 of 6 starts and earned $1,232,300. In his lone start this year, Texas Red was second in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 1.