Texas Red takes Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by 6 1/2 lengths

As Texas Red, bought for a bargain $17,000 at a Keeneland yearling sale in 2013, circled the field Saturday and went from last to first in the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, its connections from Texas and Louisiana didn’t take long to start dreaming of a trip to the Kentucky Derby.

“I’m going to look for my hat,” said Janet Brehm, the wife of co-owner Erich Brehm. “It’s surreal, unbelievable. It’s crazy, crazy great.”

The Desormeaux brothers, Kent and Keith, were even more excited. Kent, a 44-year-old Hall of Fame jockey with three Kentucky Derby wins, gave his 47-year-old brother his biggest win as a trainer, turning loose Texas Red on the final turn and letting him pass horses as if they were statues en route to a 6 1/2-length victory. Texas Red went off at odds of 13-1 in the field of 11 and paid $29.80.

“He was so far back, there was nobody in his way until the quarter pole,” Kent Desormeaux said.

Carpe Diem, bought for $1.6 million, was second and Upstart finished third in the 1 1/16-mile race.

“We got him at Keeneland, and I’d tell anyone that wants to listen, I still don’t realize how we got him for such a price, because he was a physical masterpiece even then,” Keith Desormeaux said of the 2-year-old son of Afleet Alex. “Very correct, very confident, very intelligent looking. All of the things that we look for as horsemen in trying to acquire a good animal.”

The Desormeaux brothers are Cajun heroes in the horse racing business. Kent rode Real Quiet to victory in the 1998 Kentucky Derby, Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000 and Big Brown in 2008. Keith has been trying to make a name for himself as a trainer. It was his first Grade I victory.

“I think this goes without saying that this is just the culmination of a lifetime of horses in our backyard,” Kent said. “Our mom and dad, we owe a lot of credit to, besides Keith and his genius of acquiring these animals. But we’ve done it all our lives and this is what we know. I got to ride them and stayed small, and Keith has the eye and education. It’s great being on a brotherly loving team.”

The challenge ahead will be trying to keep Texas Red healthy and on a path to the Kentucky Derby next May. Of the 30 previous winners of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, only Street Sense went on to win the Kentucky Derby in 2007.

“He’s not small and speedy,” Keith said. “He’s big and growing into himself every day. And what you’re seeing is a culmination of semi-maturity. He’s going to get better.”

With two wins in five starts, Texas Red will get a few months’ rest before beginning his 3-year-old campaign.

“The first thing that comes to mind is that the horse has done above and beyond what we asked of him this year, and yes, he’ll be the Derby favorite, at this point, I would think,” Keith said.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Twitter: LATSondheimer