Texas Red set to revive campaign in Dwyer

ELMONT, N.Y. – When Texas Red boarded a Tex Sutton flight Wednesday morning, bound for New York from Southern California, he had just a one-way ticket.

The California-based Texas Red, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner who missed this year’s Triple Crown series due to a foot injury, will call New York home for at least the next two months, trainer Keith Desormeaux said Wednesday. He’ll attempt to jump-start his career in Saturday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park, with the ultimate summer objective being the $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 29 at Saratoga.

Texas Red drew post 4 in a seven-horse field entered Wednesday for the Dwyer, which has been shortened to a one-turn mile this year after typically being run at 1 1/16 miles since 1994.

“It seems like the best way to bring these horses around is to give them some sort of sprint first time back,” said Desormeaux, explaining his rationale for choosing the Dwyer Stakes. “With our ambition of getting him to the Travers, this seemed like a logical spot.”

After his 6 1/2-length victory in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Texas Red seemed like a logical contender for the 2015 Kentucky Derby and the remainder of the Triple Crown races. But following a neck defeat in the seven-furlong San Vicente at Santa Anita in February, Texas Red developed a foot abscess that couldn’t be healed in time to make those races. He was given ample time to recover and to be trained for a summer and fall campaign.

“I’m the type of guy that will always say I need a race,” Desormeaux said. “I just don’t drill a horse in the morning. With that being said, I’ve done a little bit more with this one. I think he’s fit enough to win off the layoff.”

Desormeaux said it wasn’t hard to miss the Triple Crown, considering American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, sweeping the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.

“I was a fan of American Pharoah, just like everybody else,” Desormeaux said. “He’s a good son of a gun. He made history. It was fun. He brought in outside enthusiasm, so no, it wasn’t hard. Maybe I was a little blessed because I didn’t have to face that son of a gun. He’s going to be a terror to beat. I don’t want no part of him right now, but it’ll be fun to give him a try later on down the line.”

For now, the Dwyer looks like a good spot for Texas Red, a son of Afleet Alex who finished 4 3/4 lengths behind American Pharoah in last year’s Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 27. In the Dwyer, Texas Red will face Blofeld and Tommy Macho – both from the Todd Pletcher barn – as well as Speightster, Smart Transition, Bridget’s Big Luvy, and Hollywood Angel.