SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Texas Red took the lead from Japan with an eighth of a mile left and held off Frosted to win the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy by a half-length Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by his Hall of Fame brother, Kent, Texas Red won for the first time since capping his 2-year-old season with an upset victory in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Texas Red ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.77 over a fast main track in the prep for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 29. The 3-year-old son of Afleet Alex finished second in both his previous starts this year, the Grade 2 San Vicente on Feb. 1 and Grade 3 Dwyer on July 4.
Favored at 3-5 in a field reduced to four by the scratches of Upstart, Competitive Edge and Tekton, Frosted was 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Japan, and Frammento followed.
Tekton finished second Friday in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga, while Competitive Edge and Upstart are scheduled to take on Triple Crown champion American Pharoah in the Grade 1 Haskell on Sunday at Monmouth Park.
Texas Red returned $5.70 and $2.40, and Frosted paid $2.20. There was no show wagering.
On the undercard, Rock Fall edged The Big Beast by a nose in the Grade 1 $300,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, and Holy Boss cruised in the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam, both for sprinters. Red Rifle split horses in mid-stretch to win the Grade 2 $250,000 Bowling Green for older turf horses.
Sports on 08/02/2015