Lecomte

Jan 16, 2020

A full field of 14 sophomores will take aim at the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds on Saturday. A strong field of prospects will run in the 1 1/16-mile endeavor, which is a qualifying race in the “2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby” challenge series. The top four finishers will be rewarded with points on a 10-4-2-1 structure. 

FINNICK THE FIERCE
Total 3 start(s)
Wins:
1
Place:
1
Show:
0
Top Speed Rating:
(89) in runner-up performance in Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2)
Total Earnings:
$82,890
Owner:
Arnaldo Monge and Rey Hernandez
Breeder:
Blue Sky Stables, Jillian Page
Trainer:
Rey Hernandez
Jockey:
Sonny Leon
Sire:
Dialed In
Dam:
Southern Classic
Color:
Chestnut

Improving gelding put in a steady late run to be second at 87-1 odds in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) last time out. The chestnut 3-year-old has fired bullet morning drills in the interim, and he will be saving ground from the rail beneath Sonny Leon.

Photo Credit: Coady Photography/Indiana Grand

MR. MONOMOY
Total 3 start(s)
Wins:
1
Place:
1
Show:
0
Top Speed Rating:
(88) in allowance second at Fair Grounds
Total Earnings:
$67,162
Owner:
Madaket Stables et al
Breeder:
FPF, LLC and Highland Ranch
Trainer:
Brad Cox
Jockey:
Florent Geroux
Sire:
Palace Malice
Dam:
Drumette
Color:
Bay

This well-bred half-brother to champion Monomoy Girl ran well in his route debut when a close second on this course in advance of today. The son of Palace Malice will be forwardly placed from this post while making his stakes debut. Florent Geroux will guide the win contender.

PERFECT STAR
Total 4 start(s)
Wins:
2
Place:
0
Show:
0
Top Speed Rating:
(82) in maiden tally on the turf at Keeneland
Total Earnings:
$68,523
Owner:
Anton Kubacak
Breeder:
S D Brille, LP
Trainer:
Scott Geiner
Jockey:
Robby Albarado
Sire:
Into Mischief
Dam:
Chic Dancer
Color:
Bay

This bargain $20,000 juvenile purchase has won two of his last three races, both on the turf, in preparation of his initial outing with stakes foes. The son of Into Mischief has shown a good measure of early foot since stretching out, and the Kentucky-bred will be forcing the pace early on in his turf-to-dirt transition.

Photo Credit: Coady Photography/Keeneland

SCABBARD
Total 4 start(s)
Wins:
1
Place:
2
Show:
0
Top Speed Rating:
(96) in 2019 Iroquois S. (G3) runner-up finish
Total Earnings:
$232,848
Owner:
Joseph W Sutton
Breeder:
Joseph W Sutton
Trainer:
Eddie Kenneally
Jockey:
Corey Lanerie
Sire:
More Than Ready
Dam:
Cowgirl Mally
Color:
Chestnut

Consistently good sophomore closed out his juvenile season with a respectable fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita. The chestnut son of More Than Ready has faced graded competition in three straight, and he is training well in preparation of his three-year-old debut. The colt will be rallying from off the pace under Corey Lanerie.

EXCESSION
Total 6 start(s)
Wins:
1
Place:
0
Show:
3
Top Speed Rating:
(89) in maiden third at Churchill Downs
Total Earnings:
$82,612
Owner:
Calumet Farm
Breeder:
Randal Family Trust
Trainer:
Steve Asmussen
Jockey:
Colby Hernandez
Sire:
Union Rags
Dam:
Draw It
Color:
Bay

This son of Union Rags ran evenly in the slop when an allowance third on this surface most recently. The $150,000 yearling purchase has a solid turn of foot and will be stalking the pace early on with Colby Hernandez in the stirrups.

Photo Credit: Coady Photo/Churchill Downs

NEW EAGLE
Total 4 start(s)
Wins:
1
Place:
1
Show:
0
Top Speed Rating:
(87) when fifth in Kentucky Jockey Club (G2)
Total Earnings:
$33,950
Owner:
Calumet Farm
Breeder:
Joe, John P, and Karen Mulholland
Trainer:
Mike Maker
Jockey:
Gabe Saez
Sire:
Street Boss
Dam:
One Fell Swoop
Color:
Dark Bay

Dark bay colt led to midstretch before finishing fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club in his 2019 finale. The Mike Maker trainee has improved his BRIS Speed figure in each lifetime performance, and he rates a top-three chance today with another forward move beneath Gabe Saez.

Photo Credit: Coady Photo/Indiana Grand

HALO AGAIN
Total 2 start(s)
Wins:
2
Place:
0
Show:
0
Top Speed Rating:
(86) in Coronation Futurity S. tally at Woodbine
Total Earnings:
$137,725
Owner:
Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC and Willis Horton
Breeder:
Anderson Farms Ontario, Inc.
Trainer:
Steve Asmussen
Jockey:
Joe Talamo
Sire:
Speightstown
Dam:
Halo’s Verse
Color:
Bay

Expensive son of Speightstown is unbeaten from two career outings, and he showed his class with a game victory on the Tapeta at Woodbine last time out. The versatile bay is working well in advance of his 3-year-old bow, and he could be among the best prospects in this big field with further development. Joe Talamo inherits the mount.

Photo Credit: Michael Burns

JACK THE UMPIRE
Total 4 start(s)
Wins:
3
Place:
0
Show:
0
Top Speed Rating:
(83) in allowance victory at Delta Downs
Total Earnings:
$102,800
Owner:
Dale Ladner
Breeder:
Brett Brinkman and Dale Ladner
Trainer:
Brett Brinkman
Jockey:
Shaun Bridgmohan
Sire:
Bodemeister
Dam:
Sittin at the Bar
Color:
Bay

Recent stakes romper improved to 2-for-2 since the addition of blinkers with a clear win at Delta Downs last time out. The Kentucky-bred son of Bodemeister has been dominant in three of his four starts to date, but he will receive a class test on Saturday. Shaun Bridgmohan will guide the wildcard.

SILVER STATE
Total 2 start(s)
Wins:
1
Place:
1
Show:
0
Top Speed Rating:
(93) in allowance second at Churchill Downs
Total Earnings:
$56,106
Owner:
Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC and Willis Horton
Breeder:
Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, LLC
Trainer:
Steve Asmussen
Jockey:
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Sire:
Hard Spun
Dam:
Supreme
Color:
Bay

This Asmussen charge ran a pair of excellent races at Churchill Downs as a juvenile, and he seems poised for a strong 2020 campaign. The $450,000 son of Hard Spun is bred to run a route of ground, and he could be the one to hold off in the stretch with improvement while making his sophomore debut. The colt will have go-to pilot Santana in the stirrups once again.

ENFORCEABLE
Total 6 start(s)
Wins:
1
Place:
1
Show:
2
Top Speed Rating:
(92) when third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland
Total Earnings:
$147,150
Owner:
John C Oxley
Breeder:
Clearsky Farms
Trainer:
Mark Casse
Jockey:
Julien Leparoux
Sire:
Tapit
Dam:
Justwhistledixie
Color:
Gray/Roan

This well-bred colt showed marked improvement with the addition of blinkers three races back for conditioner Mark Casse. The Kentucky-bred son of Tapit is Grade-1 placed and comes off a solid fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club in his 2-year-old finale. Julien Leparoux has the call atop the late runner.

BANGO
Total 5 start(s)
Wins:
1
Place:
2
Show:
1
Top Speed Rating:
(90) in maiden score at Churchill Downs
Total Earnings:
$97,812
Owner:
Tamaroak Partners, LLC
Breeder:
Tamaroak Stable
Trainer:
Greg Foley
Jockey:
Marcelino Pedroza
Sire:
Congrats
Dam:
Josaka
Color:
Dark Bay

This son of Congrats will make his two-turn and stakes debut following five sprint races to kick off his career. The Greg Foley trainee could add pace to the field with a clean break from this post under Marcelino Pedroza.

Photo Credit: Coady Photo/Churchill Downs

SHASHASHAKEMEUP
Total 2 start(s)
Wins:
1
Place:
1
Show:
0
Top Speed Rating:
(90) in debut win at Churchill Downs
Total Earnings:
$34,760
Owner:
Calumet Farm
Breeder:
Larkspur Thoroughbreds and Darby Dan
Trainer:
Keith Desormeaux
Jockey:
James Graham
Sire:
Shackleford
Dam:
Churchflower
Color:
Dark Bay

The son of Shackleford was a fine debut winner at Churchill Downs, and was then unplaced over a sloppy oval here in the Sugar Bowl S. Trained by Keith Desormeaux, the $45,000 yearling buy shows a pair of nice morning drills as of late, and he could be an interesting contender while making his two-turn bow. Regular rider James Graham stays.

SYCAMORE RUN
Total 1 start(s)
Wins:
1
Place:
0
Show:
0
Top Speed Rating:
(96) in debut romp at Fair Grounds
Total Earnings:
$27,000
Owner:
Scott Dilworth and Evan Dilworth
Breeder:
Anderson Farms Ontario, Inc.
Trainer:
Joe Sharp
Jockey:
Adam Beschizza
Sire:
Street Sense
Dam:
Dattt Echo
Color:
Bay

This Joe Sharp pupil left little doubt at first asking with a stylish score in gate-to-wire fashion at Fair Grounds. The bay son of Street Sense has worked swiftly in advance of this assignment, and he could be almost any kind on the class hike. Adam Beschizza will send the prospect from the start despite the wide post draw.

LYNN’S MAP
Total 3 start(s)
Wins:
2
Place:
0
Show:
1
Top Speed Rating:
(88) in allowance victory at Fair Grounds
Total Earnings:
$91,512
Owner:
HRH Prince Sultan bin Mishal al Saud
Breeder:
Alastar Thoroughbred Company, LLC
Trainer:
Mark Casse
Jockey:
Miguel Mena
Sire:
Liam’s Map
Dam:
Puxa Saco
Color:
Dark Bay

Mark Casse trainee draws widest of all in the cast for his stakes debut. $285,000 son of Liam’s Map has won two races in succession, including a game allowance race here most recently, and he gets respect as an improving youngster in the field. The dark bay colt will have Miguel Mena in the silks.

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