Texas Red (Afleet Alex), second in voting for Eclipse champion juvenile, worked five furlongs at Santa Anita Saturday in 1:01.40 and is on target to make his sophomore debut in the Feb. 1 GII San Vicente S. Plans for the colt also include the Feb. 21 GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds and the Apr. 4 GI Santa Anita Derby, trainer Keith Desormeaux told TVG.
“It's always been kind of a tentative schedule, like with all things concerning racehorses,” Desormeaux told the Fair Grounds publicity department. “It seems like the best plan for me at this point. It's kind of quick, but I like the way it feels.”
Texas Red has been off since romping home in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November. The colt was also third behind 2-year-old champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI FrontRunner S.
“For him to overcome the fact that he's not really built to be an early horse–that's what makes him great and that's also what makes us so excited about this year,” Desormeaux said. “If he can do what he did as a juvenile, what can he accomplish as a 3-year-old?”
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