Texas Red Works Toward San Vicente

Erich Brehm, Wayne Detmar, Lee Michaels and J Keith Desmormeaux’s Texas Red (Afleet Alex), winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 1, worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:14 flat yesterday morning at Santa Anita. Desormeaux, who also trains the colt, has previously stated that his charge will likely make his sophomore debut in the GII San Vicente S. at seven furlongs here Feb. 1. 

“He had a nice, strong, eventful work,” noted Desormeaux. “Some horse joined the group at the half-mile pole and made it more exciting. My horse finished real strong–this gets us to where we want to be.” 

The conditioner explained that his colt’s six-panel gate work one week ago was a mere precursor to today’s more focused effort.

“It was just a way to pick his head up,” Desormeaux added. “The first work was slow, so this was more to re-familiarize him with the gate. Today was the real thing.” 

Texas Red was runner-up to American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in Eclipse Award voting for 2014 champion juvenile honors. He also finished third behind that rival in the GI Frontrunner S. here Sept. 27.