Barn Tour: Call Me Midnight has Desormeaux Derby dreaming
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Photo:
Hodges Photography
Trainer Keith Desormeaux could be just a few days away from locking up a bid to his fourth Kentucky Derby and first since 2018 if Call Me Midnight can perform to expectations in Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Upset winner of the Jan. 22 Lecomte (G3) in his only start this year, Call Me Midnight was installed as the 6-1 third choice on the morning line for the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby. Qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby are awarded on a scale of 100-40-20-10 to the top-four finishers, meaning a board hit would likely be enough to get Call Me Midnight into the classic.
In his first Kentucky Derby try in 2016, Desormeaux came up just short when Exaggerator finished second to Nyquist. Exaggerator avenged the loss two weeks later in the Preakness to give Desormeaux a first classic win.
Following the near miss with Exaggerator, Desormeaux returned for the 2017 Derby with Sonneteer and finished 16th. The following year, he was fifth with My Boy Jack. The 54-year-old native of Maurice, La., is hoping it’s the fourth time that's the charm at the Kentucky Derby.
“I don't need the Kentucky Derby in order to still love what I do. I love horse racing and horses period,” Desormeaux said. “But the Kentucky Derby, that is in a class all its own as far as tradition and just its significance. That’s why we as horsemen, and the public in general, view the Kentucky Derby as the ultimate experience in horse racing.”
He also reflected on the near-miss with Exaggerator.
“When Exaggerator ran second, I was like, man, this is about as good as it gets,” said Desormeaux, who typically has 30 to 40 horses split between Southern California and the Midwest. “There was no head down or depression after the race. Just to get there and be a part of it was very gratifying. It’s just a fun challenge. It’s very stressful, sometimes demanding, but man, it’s a lot of fun.”
On Wednesday,
Horse Racing Nation caught up with Desormeaux for more on Call Me Midnight and other top talents.
Call Me Midnight. The son of Midnight Lute closed out his juvenile campaign with an off-the-board finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in late November. In his return in the Jan. 22 Lecomte, Call Me Midnight launched from second-to-last after the opening half mile under James Graham and ran down pacesetter Epicenter to win by a head at 28-1.
Call Me Midnight bypassed last month’s Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, which Epicenter returned to win. Now those two will renew acquaintances on Saturday.
“I thought his Lecomte was pretty awesome because I think Epicenter is as good as it gets,” Desormeaux said. “I think Epicenter is right behind Classic Causeway as far as the Derby contenders at this point. So for him to run a horse of that caliber down, it makes my assessment very much glowing.
“Now, (Epicenter) did go a little quicker probably than he wanted to. So the pace scenario set up for me,” Desormeaux continued. “But the facts are still he was run down. So I’m very proud of my horse.”
He added that the decision to bypass the Risen Star with Call Me Midnight creates “a perfect scenario” timing-wise for the Kentucky Derby.
“It is not typical of me to give so much time between races, but I just thought the way he responded with a two-month break between the Kentucky Jockey Club and Lecomte, we should duplicate that,” Desormeaux said. “This means if he runs well Saturday, the Kentucky Derby will be his third race back off the layoff with a six-week break in between. It just creates a perfect scenario.”
Owned by Petter Cantrell and Benjamin Gase, Call Me Midnight has worked six times since the Lecomte. The drills include a six-furlong move on March 12 that Desormeaux touted. Officially, Call Me Midnight was timed in 1:14 flat for six furlongs. Desormeaux timed him going more than a second faster.
“I caught him in 1:12 and (four-fifths),” he said. “Those clockers do a great job, so maybe I’m the one who missed it, I don’t know. But it began right where I was watching on the backside and they finished at the wire, which was directly across from me. So I couldn’t really miss it.
“To do that on that track, that was impressive and very encouraging.”
Graham once again will be in the irons for the Louisiana Derby. He and Call Me Midnight will break from post 3 in the nine-horse field. In the Risen Star, Epicenter was able to secure an easy lead and took the field gate to wire. The pace scenario figures to be key Saturday.
“I hope someone puts some pressure on (Epicenter),” Desormeaux noted. “But the perfect way to get yourself beat is to worry about the competition more than yourself.
“It does look like Brad Cox’s horse (Zozos) has a little speed and he’s in the 2 hole, so hopefully he can give Epicenter a little bit of a push,” he continued. “If not, we’ll just be closer to the pace and will need to run him down from a shorter distance.”
Surveillance. The son of Constitution made one start as a 2-year-old in 2019 and then went to the sidelines for the next 23 months because of a troubled tibia. Upon his return last spring, he went winless in eight starts in 2021.
Desormeaux, co-breeder of Surveillance, described him as being a “rogue” who “refused to go to the track.” It was finally decided Surveillance would need to be gelded. The result? Three straight wins at Fair Grounds this winter, including a second-level allowance on March 10 that returned a 101 Equibase Speed Figure.
“Crazy horse,” Desormeaux said with a laugh. “I’m just proud of the patience we showed. He always showed some massive talent. His problem was his mind. He was a rogue. Basically he didn’t want to train, he’d refuse to go to the track.
"Then once I brought him back, he was still ornery. He performed, but wasn’t giving it his best. We finally made the ultimate decision (to geld), which we didn’t want to do. It bothers me that my horsemanship couldn’t get him to perform to his capabilities.”
That’s all in the past now, as Surveillance has suddenly become a win machine. Next up could be his stakes debut in the $300,000 Commonwealth (G3) going seven furlongs at Keeneland on April 9.
“That may be back a little quicker than I want because we have to ship. If it was at the same track it would be no problem,” Desormeaux said. “It will depend how how he ships and settles. But we may give the Commonwealth a try. If not, we’ll just hit him with another allowance race.”
Miss Everything. The talented daughter of Tiznow was put on the Kentucky Oaks trail while still a maiden at Santa Anita and finished third in the Las Virgenes (G3) followed by a sixth in the March 6 Santa Ysabel (G3). Desormeaux said Miss Everything bled in the Santa Ysabel and would be given time off before returning for a summer campaign.
“Miss Everything is awesome. She probably ranks in the top two or three fillies I’ve ever trained,” said Desormeaux, who co-owns the filly with Don’t Tell My Wife Stable. “Now, I don’t exactly know what that means, but she’s a good horse. I knew something was up in her last race for her to put up such a dull performance. She bled. So we sent her to the farm for a month to six weeks to let her get some sun and R&R.”
Candy Raid. The Candy Ride filly has gone from former claimer to a long-shot Kentucky Oaks prospect this winter for Desormeaux and Don’t Tell My Wife Stable.
After winning an allowance at Delta Downs on New Year’s Eve, Candy Raid was put on the Oaks trail and checked in fourth in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds. She returned in last month’s Rachel Alexandra and was never a factor.
Desormeaux said next up likely will be a start in the April 2 Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park, which awards Oaks points on a 50-20-10-5 scale to the top four finishers.
“I’ll probably run her and give her some class relief in the Bourbonette,” Desormeaux said. “If that doesn’t work out, then maybe an allowance. She’s scratched her way to the top. She’s a late bloomer and very well bred. I think there’s more in the tank. We’ll just see how her career progresses.”
Oviatt Class. The 3-year-old Bernardini colt, who was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, exited a third-place finish in the Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita on Jan. 1 with an injured hock and was sent to a farm in Southern California to recover.
Desormeaux said Oviatt Class is progressing nicely and should be back for the second half of the season.
“One of my buddies just went out, took some pictures, and he looks great,” he said “The hock issue is nothing major. It's not one of those injuries that you worry about if it's career shortening or career ending. I don't know how to describe it, but its’ a developmental thing that he's going to get through.
“We're looking forward to a big fall,” Desormeaux continued. “Maybe it's one of those things where it's probably better for his career long term. Let the 3-year-olds beat themselves up in the spring and summer. He’s going to come along later and hopefully pick up the pieces.”
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