Texas Red Rolls in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Coming into the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, there were many that did not give Texas Red enough credit for his 3rd place finish in the FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita Park. After today, many more, including myself, applaud the son of Afleet Alex for a brilliant effort and a masterful performance.
After breaking from post position number 8, Kent Desormeaux placed Texas Red where he felt was the best possible spot. Contrary to the what you may have assumed at the opening quarter and half mile markers, last place was right where he needed to be.
Leading the field through opening fractions of 22.37, 45.66 and 1:10.17 was Blue Dancer. Along side of him was Souper Colossal with Mr. Z stalking a close third. Through the entire backstretch and around the final turn the race looked to be shaping up nicely for the Todd Pletcher favorites, Daredevil who was racing mid pack, and Carpe Diem, who was also hanging back a few lengths ahead of Texas Red in 10th.
With three furlongs left to run, Kent Desormeaux asked and Texas Red answered. By the time they reached the top of the lane Texas Red had gained on the leaders as he swung five wide and took command. Once he officially grabbed the lead the race was over as Texas Red simply drew away from the field with ease to win by 6 1/2 lengths.
Although it was not as aggressive, or impressive, the deep stalker approach for Carpe Diem also paid off. John Velazquez was aboard for the runner-up finish. Rounding out the top three was Upstart with Jose Ortiz in the irons. The Richard Violette trainee looked like a horse that will be game for longer distances in the future. He was running hot after Carpe Diem but his bid was too little, too late and short by only a nose. Completing the superfecta by finishing 4th was The Great War.
The final time was a stellar 1:41.91, the fastest since 2008. In his long career this was actually Kent Desoremeaux's first Juvenile victory and the first for his brother Keith as well. At 13-1 the win also paid handsomely for those that stuck with their colt. A return to Santa Anita also proved that Texas Red benefited from home field advantage.
Absent from this race were the two horses that finished ahead of Texas Red in the FrontRunner Stakes, American Pharoah and Calculator. To put things into perspective Kent Desormeaux wasn't shy to speak so highly of the original favorite that was scratched due to injury earlier this week.
The first thing I thought when he was drawing away was ‘How good is American Pharoah?’ You never want to see a defection, but it had to help.”
Following the race trainer Todd Pletcher offered this with respect to the favorite Carpe Diem and Daredevil who finished last. “It was disappointing with Daredevil for sure. He got hung very wide in the first turn. That might have accounted for some of it. It would have been impossible for him to win from where he was on the first turn, but it doesn’t account for the poor performance.
“The other horse (Carpe Diem) got a big education, a lot of dirt and a different scenario than he’s been in. It took him a while to get untracked. I think he finished really well. He’s a promising horse for the future.”
The win moves Texas Red into 2nd place on the Kentucky Derby point’s leader board (10 BC Juvenile, 2 Frontrunner) behind Carpe Diem who added 4 points today to the 10 he earned with a win in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont.