Victory No. 3,000 in Reach for Desormeaux

Kent Desormeaux is on the verge of becoming the youngest thoroughbred rider to reach 3,000 victories.

With his victory on favored Offshore Pirate in Monday’s first race at Santa Anita, Desormeaux, who turned 25 Feb. 27, moved within four of the plateau. Chris McCarron, Sandy Hawley and Bill Shoemaker were the previous youngest. They all reached 3,000 when they were 27.

There’s a possibility Desormeaux will reach the milestone while racing out of town. After riding locally Thursday and Friday, he will be at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., Friday and at Golden Gate Fields in the Bay Area on Saturday. He has the mount on Wekiva Springs in the Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup Stakes on Friday and will ride Bee El Tee for trainer Craig Lewis in the California Derby on Saturday.

In his duel with Corey Nakatani for the Santa Anita riding title, Desormeaux fell behind Monday, 98-97. Nakatani had two winners--Ms. Moo Law in the second and favored Piratesleadinglady in the seventh.

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Eddie Delahoussaye will begin a five-day suspension Friday for an incident in Sunday’s sixth race.

Delahoussaye was disqualified from first and placed second when stewards ruled that he, riding favored Shoshana, altered course without proper clearance at the head of the stretch. That made a winner of Princess Afleet, who had finished a length behind.

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Houston Sunrise, who came back to the races with an impressive victory on March 16, is the even-money favorite against six opponents in the $75,000 San Pedro Stakes on Wednesday.

Venus Genus, Conquest, Candi’s Chairman, Score Quick, Oncefortheroad and Randi’s Man complete the San Pedro field.