Texas Red rocketed to stardom with his sensational, 6 1/2-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita. He offers a compelling storyline revolving around his trainer/jockey tandem, brothers Keith and Kent Desormeaux. While Keith has trained few major winners, Kent is a Hall of Fame rider with three Kentucky Derby (G1) wins on his resume.
Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings in Kentucky, Texas Red was a bargain $17,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September. He races for a partnership including Erich Brehm, Wayne Detmar, Lee Michaels, trainer Desormeaux and Dr. Gene Voss.
Texas Red is a son of champion Afleet Alex, who was third in the 2005 Kentucky Derby before roaring to big wins in both the Preakness (G1) and Belmont S. (G1). He is out of the Grade 3-placed Ramautelle, a Chilean-bred mare from a solid family.
After two useful efforts in maiden sprints to start his career, Texas Red blossomed when stretching out to two turns. He rolled to a good-looking maiden win over a mile at Del Mar and closed for third behind front runner American Pharoah in the Front Runner (G1), where the soft pace scenario didn’t play to his strengths. Overlooked at 13-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Texas Red got the fast pace he needs to set up his closing kick, and sparked a $29.80 win payout.
A close second in the Eclipse Award voting to American Pharoah, Texas Red kicked off his three-year-old campaign with an excellent second to Lord Nelson in the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2).
Unfortunately, Texas Red subsequently developed an abscess in his right front foot. Connections hoped that he could resume training after convalescing for several weeks at Premier Equine Center. Upon rejoining Desormeaux at Santa Anita, however, he wasn’t ready for serious training. In mid-March, Texas Red was officially ruled out of the Kentucky Derby, with a view toward getting him back to peak condition later in the season.