Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Lecomte Stakes

Jan 16, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A full field of 14 three-year-olds will run 1 1/16 miles over the Fair Grounds main surface in Saturday’s $250,000 Lecomte S. (G3). The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 structure.

The Wayne Catalano-trained Built led throughout in a facile, 6 3/4-length score in the Gun Runner S. on the oval when making his stakes debut on December 21, and I expect the Kentucky-bred to continue his winning ways in his initial graded stakes attempt. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Built was unveiled at Ellis Park on August 24 and was placed third in a maiden special weight dash behind subsequent Grade 1 winner East Avenue. In his second attempt, the son of Hard Spun pressed the early pace prior to registering a 1 1/2-length maiden tally over a solid field in the Bluegrass State.

#1 Built romps and earns 10 @KentuckyDerby points winning the 4th running of the Gun Runner Stakes @fairgroundsnola for trainer @CATRacingStable and ridden to victory by @jareth16. pic.twitter.com/V7OukZ6EDx

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 21, 2024

Purchased for $260,000 as a juvenile, the bay earned a healthy 106 Brisnet Late Pace number in his first offering going a route of ground, and I don’t feel that he will need to secure the early advantage in order to run well, either. He has posted a pair of useful morning moves in advance of this event and retains the services of Jareth Loveberry. Built will be forwardly placed from the break.

Trainer Brad Cox has a talented duo set for the race, including Gun Runner fourth Admiral Dennis. The chestnut son of Constitution burned a lot of money as the 4-5 choice when outrun in his stakes debut last time, but I will give him a pass for that outing and I expect the Albaugh Family color bearer to take a big step forward on this occasion. Joel Rosario inherits the ride atop the $450,000 yearling purchase.

Juddmonte homebred Disco Time, also for Cox, has posted two clear wins from as many tries to kickstart his career and seemingly has a high ceiling. The dark bay son of Not This Time has displayed the ability to run well from on, or off, the pace and the 1 1/16-mile distance seems to be well within his scope, as well. Regular pilot Florent Geroux will be in the stirrups.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #13 Built on top #3 Admiral Dennis and #11 Disco Time in the 2025 Lecomte Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.