Texas Red blitzed down the home straight to blow away the field and claim an upset win in the $2 million Juvenile at the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.
Sired by the 2005 Preakness and Belmont Stakes winning Afleet Alex, Texas Red upstaged heavy favourites Carpe Diem and Daredevil to romp home by six and a half lengths clear at 13-1 odds and stamp himself a Kentucky Derby favourite.
"There is no doubt (we are thinking of the Derby)," trainer Keith Desormeaux said of the two-year-old.
"That's why we're in the game. He'll be the Derby favorite, at this point, I would think."
Japanese bred colt Karakontie continued the day's upset theme by surging to victory in the $2 million Mile.
The 30-1 long shot mounted a stirring charge when it counted to finish one length ahead of Irish colt Anodin (10-1) and two lengths in front of Britain's Trade Storm (20-1) in third.
It was the three-year-old's fifth career win in nine starts and came as little surprise to trainer Jonathan Pease.
"It's a great result. He was a brilliant two-year-old and was very good this spring," said Pease. "We gave him a break and he showed a great turn of foot today."
