Texas Red to stand at Crestwood

Texas Red, whose biggest victory came in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, will begin his stallion career this year at Pope McLean’s Crestwood Farm in Lexington, Ky.

Hindered throughout his career by various ailments, Texas Red made his final start when fifth in the 2015 Travers Stakes; he was subsequently sidelined by cannon-bone bruising. His retirement was announced in December by his ownership group of trainer Keith Desormeaux and partners Erich Brehm, Wayne Detmar, Gene Voss, and Lee Michaels.

“His win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile gave us all the thrill of a lifetime,” Brehm said. “We are committed to seeing him succeed in his next career. Between the partners, we are looking to purchase a number of quality broodmares over the next few months in order to breed to Texas Red. We will aggressively buy and sell Texas Red babies and will be sending many of them to Keith for training.”

Texas Red finished his career with a record of 9-3-3-1 and earnings of $1,767,300. The colt came to the Breeders’ Cup off a third-place finish behind eventual Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita. Texas Red then scored his signature triumph by rallying from last to win the Juvenile by 6 1/2 lengths over Carpe Diem – the latter sent away as the favorite after American Pharoah was forced to miss the race due to foot problems.

Texas Red finished second in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes to open his 3-year-old season before a foot abscess forced him to miss the Triple Crown series. He returned five months later to finish second in the Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes before edging Frosted by half a length in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, the local prep for the Travers.

Texas Red joins 2015 Kentucky Derby runner-up Firing Line as new stallions on the Crestwood roster for 2017.