January 18 is Fair Grounds’ turn to have some big stakes races including a Kentucky Derby points race as it hosts the Lecomte Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.
Not only does the race bring together some young American 3-year-olds seeking the successful navigate the journey to the legendary Derby, but there are two Canadian-breds entered who have the Queen’s Plate as a possible goal.
Led by Joseph W. Sutton’s Scabbard (previously named Noose), the maximum number of 14 three-year-olds are programmed to leave the starting gate in Saturday’s $200,000 Lecomte (G3), one of six stakes to be run on “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day presented by Hotel Monteleone”. The Lecomte offers 10-4-2-1 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve.
Installed as Mike Diliberto’s lukewarm 7/2 morning-line favourite from post four, the Eddie Kenneally-trained Scabbard was second in both the Saratoga Special (G2) at Saratoga and Iroquois (G3) at Churchill in advance of a fourth place run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita, a race in which he was the 5/1 third choice.
Undefeated HALO AGAIN, winner of the prestigious Coronation Futurity last fall at Woodbine in his second career race, kicks off his 3-year-old season for trainer Steve Asmussen and the Winchell Farms and Will Horton Racing. The $600,000 son of Speightstown was bred by Anderson Farms and this colt already has a leg up on many Queen’s Plate hopefuls.
Another Anderson-bred SYCAMORE RUN, an impressive debut winner in a sprint race at Fair Grounds for Scott and Evan Dilworth and trainer Joe Sharp, tries two turns for the first time and has a wide post. He is a son of Street Sense.
Also at Fair Grounds on Saturday, one of Canada’s top 3-year-old colts of 2019, TONE BROKE is crossed entered in the Louisiana Handicap and Colnel E R Bradley Stakes (turf).
And in a maiden allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on the grass, Grandview Farms and Cheyenne Bloodstock have the promising 3-year-old Ontario bred AUBURN HILLS in the field. The son of palace Malice from Timeless Silver bred by Shannondoe Farm, was a $225,000 yearling and he is trained by Josie Carroll.
Click here for an interesting ‘head to head’ handicapping match-up from Horse Racing Nation taking on each starter in the Lecomte.
More from Races:
