Decked Out looks for comeback in Rodeo Drive
Keith Desormeaux will be a busy man Saturday. The 50-year-old trainer plans to enter horses in four of the five Grade I, $300,000 “Win and You’re In” stakes at Santa Anita, none likely to be favored, but with Keith’s reputation as a giant killer, that’s not necessarily a precursor of defeat.
His marquee stakes upsets have included Texas Red at 13-1 in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in 2014; Crucero, back in a week to win the 2015 San Juan Capistrano at 23-1; and the 2013 Risen Star, with stunner I’ve Struck a Nerve, who lit up the tote board at a $272.40 win payoff.
Desormeaux will enter Decked Out in Saturday’s Rodeo Drive Stakes; Ayacara in the FrontRunner; Dancing Belle in the Chandelier; and Motown Lady in the Zenyatta.
“Hopefully, Decked Out can improve in her second race this year,” Desormeaux said of the four-year-old Street Boss filly that was an eventful fifth in the Grade II John C. Mabee at Del Mar Sept. 2, her first race since Dec. 31, 2016, when she won the Grade I American Oaks by a nose at odds of 9-2.
“Her first race (fifth by five lengths while steadying near the eighth pole) wasn’t bad.”
Ayacara, a chestnut son by the Medaglia d’Oro sire Violence out of the Pulpit dam Pacifica Highway bred in Great Britain, broke his maiden on Aug. 25, winning by a nose at 7-1 going a mile on dirt.
“Ayacara broke his maiden impressively,” Desormeaux said. “He has some turf pedigree, so I’m wondering what surface he’ll be better on at the moment. I’m kind of conflicted about it, but we’ll keep him on the dirt for now.”
As for Dancing Belle, a maiden that was fourth by 7 ½ lengths behind Moonshine Memories in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs Sept. 2, Desormeaux said, “I just hope she progresses a little going two turns. She’s been right in there running seconds (twice) and third (once in five starts).
“If two turns can help her, then we’ll be right there.”
As to Motown Lady, who was fourth behind champion Stellar Wind in the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch and third behind Shenandoah Queen in the restricted Tranquility Lake, Desormeaux recognizes she’ll have to step up.
“It’s a little tough for her,” he said, “but she’s pretty consistent and pays her way.”
In 17 career starts, the four-year-old daughter of UncleMo has a 3-1-4 record with earnings of $143,279.
Source: Santa Anita Park