Texas Red to make two starts in February on road to Kentucky Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Texas Red is scheduled to have two starts in February as he resumes his career following a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita last November.

On Saturday, trainer Keith Desormeaux said Texas Red will start Feb. 1 in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita and could make a relatively quick turnaround for the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds.

Desormeaux said the Risen Star Stakes has appeal because it allows six weeks of time before a potential start April 4 in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby for Texas Red.

“I’m thinking I’ll wheel him back in the Risen Star,” Desormeaux said. “That will give me a six-week break to the Santa Anita Derby. The Santa Anita Derby to the Kentucky Derby has been so successful.”

Two of the last three Kentucky Derby winners have won the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby – I’ll Have Another in 2012 and California Chrome last year.

On Saturday at Santa Anita, Texas Red worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 in company with a stablemate. Texas Red was ridden by Keith’s brother, Kent, the Hall of Fame jockey. Kent Desormeaux had Texas Red two lengths behind on the backstretch and alongside the workmate as the two entered the stretch. Texas Red pulled clear to finish about two lengths in front and galloped out strong.

Kent Desormeaux timed Texas Red in 1:01. Keith Desormeaux timed Texas Red through the last furlong in 11.20 seconds and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.

“He’s ready to go,” Keith Desormeaux said as he watched Texas Red cool out at his barn. “He’s not even blowing.”

Texas Red has won 2 of 5 starts and earned $1,192,300 for a partnership that includes Erich Brehm, Wayne Detmar, Lee Michaels, and Keith Desormeaux.

Desormeaux said the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs is designed to get Texas Red a prep race for two-turn races but that the colt is capable of winning at a shorter distance.

“I’m prepared not to win,” he said. “It gets us prepared for the ultimate goal. I do think he’s fit and capable. Just thinking if he does it, if he does win, that would be awesome.”

The San Vicente Stakes candidates include Bench Warrant, Conquest Harlanday, Lord Nelson, and Serbian Syclone.

The San Vicente is one of four graded stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

The list of candidates for the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes at a mile on turf Jan. 31 is led by Kaigun, who won the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar on Nov. 28. Other candidates are Avanzare, Home Run Kitten, Talco, and Za Approval.

The $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile Jan. 31 will include Maybellene, who was third Dec. 13 in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos. Achiever’s Legacy, Lady Lake, Majestic Presence, and Suva Harbor are other probable runners.

Trainer John Sadler said Lady Tapit will not start. Lady Tapit fell after a six-furlong workout Jan. 17 at Santa Anita but was not seriously injured. Sadler said the filly is undergoing precautionary tests in recent days to ensure she can return to training.

Big Macher, scratched from Saturday’s California Cup Sprint, is a leading contender for the $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs Jan. 31. Big Macher is part of a field likely to include Chief Lion, Chitu, Conquest Two Step, Distinctiv Passion, Secret Circle, and Wild Dude.