Racing fans don't need the overnight to learn the jockey on the Keith Desormeaux-trained Oviatt Class in the $2 million TVG Breeder's Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) Nov. 5 at Del Mar. It's Keith's brother, Kent.
"As I told you and I tell everybody else, I've got no choice while my mother's still living," quipped Keith.
One liners aside, Keith wouldn't want it differently. Ask him to comment on Kent, and he is quick to praise his younger sibling, who resumed riding over the winter after addressing repeat alcohol abuse. Last summer in the Del Mar area, he was involved in a physical altercation after drinking and was also accused of using a racial epithet—actions that led the track to bar him from riding for the rest of its summer meet.
Since going into rehab and returning during the winter meet at Santa Anita Park, Kent has experienced a bounce-back of sorts, winning 42 races from 295 mounts this year, higher than his full-year totals in 2020 and 2019. His mounts have also made more than $2.6 million, also his highest tally over the past three years.
Though those figures do not rival his numbers from his Eclipse Award-winning years in 1989 and 1992 or during the seasons when he won Triple Crown events, they are a move back in the right direction for the 51-year-old Cajun-born rider.
"He's in the Hall of Fame for a reason," Keith said. "He's got impeccable timing and a gift for horses giving him their best. I don't know, I think that's an innate thing that you can't just develop, or you can't just pick up. He's blessed with that. But he's also cursed with alcoholism.
"He knows it; we all know it. It's a constant battle. I'm proud of him for trying to address those demons. He does seem to be on a bit of a comeback right now."
WATCH: Keith Desormeaux Seeks Another Juvenile Victory with Oviatt Class
It isn't just his brother that has taken notice. Kent has four rides (one that is also eligible) in the Breeders' Cup between the event's two days, the first time he has ridden in the two-day event since 2018. He has won six Breeders' Cup races over his career, the last of his winners coming in 2017 on Peter Miller-trained Roy H in the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
Kent expressed reluctance to discuss his recovery in an interview.
"It is what it is. I've got that under control," he said. "I've not even going to talk about it. I'm just going to act upon it. All you can do is look at me, and you can see the difference."
He is more eager to look toward the future and his return to Breeders' Cup competition.
"This is the level you want to play the game at," he said. "Being a competitor on Breeders' Cup weekend provides proof that you still have that proper status."
Win or lose in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where Oviatt Class is a 20-1 longshot on the morning line, that race is proof of something else —that Keith has a shrewd eye at horse auctions. Keith said he bought Oviatt Class for $60,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale last year. DC Racing was the buyer of record from the Stuart Morris consignment.
Oviatt Class, a son of Bernardini owned by James Downey and bred by Godolphin and Morgan's Ford Farm in Virginia, has already made back his purchase price, having made $87,620 in compiling a 1-0-2 record in four starts. After breaking his maiden at a mile Aug. 27 at Del Mar, he closed from last to be third in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita last month behind fellow Juvenile entrants Corniche and Pappacap .
"That Santa Anita track was playing to speed, very much so—not only in my opinion (but) from the pundits and other trainers—that the track was hard to close on," Keith said. "And he made a hell of a kick in grade 1 race. To make up that kind of ground on good horses, and we're adding a little more distance here."
Keith's 2016 Preakness (G1) winner Exaggerator was also a reasonably priced yearling buy at the Keeneland September sale for $110,000; Texas Red , his 2014 Juvenile winner, a fraction of that at $17,000.
"My mission has always been getting the ones under the radar," Keith said.
Kent also teamed with Keith and rode Exaggerator and Texas Red, guiding them to their signature victories.
"Kent's in a good place, and he loves 'Oviatt,'" Keith said. "He loves the fact that we get to work together, especially at this time in our lives. And it's fun. It adds to the intrigue."
"Every horse is a 'house horse' when we race together. I feel like they're mine," added Kent.
