Fair Grounds: A field of 14 seeks valuable Derby points in Grade 3 LeComte

By Rick Francis —-

Fourteen 3-year-olds begin the hunt for valuable Kentucky Derby points with the running of the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes from Fair Grounds Race Course. The 74th edition headlines a six stakes card that also features the Grade 3 Col. E.R. Bradley for older turf runners and the Silverbulletday for sophomore fillies; it should be a chilly but sunny afternoon.

Principe Guilherme formidable in LeComte; All photos by Hodges Photography

Fair Grounds

Race 9), 1m70yds. LeComte S. Grade III. Purse $200,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS
Post Time: 6:03/( 5:03)/ 4:03/ 3:03

Lone Sailor (1), Amoss/Mena; colt had put together three straight solid outings prior to last go; however since, he’s put in a quick worktab and with the addition of first time blinkers, will be ready to run.

Snapper Sinclair (2), Asmussen/Beschizza; the first of three offerings from the Asmussen barn, he’s been a strong turf player, winning two of last three starts, so the switch to the main is an interesting angle, one that Asmussen hits at 20 percent.

Wonder Gadot (3), Casse/Velazquez; field’s lone filly is cross-entered in the Silverbulletday, a more than likely spot for this multiple Graded Stakes winner to land.

Analyze This Jet (4), Eoff/Risenhoover; has shown little against lesser.

Kowboy Karma (5), Jones/Hernandez, B; the first of the Jones trio entered here has won or placed in four of his five career starts; the lone out of the money try came two back in the Grade 1 Champagne, an effort that saw him close from well back to finish fourth; hot works.

Believe in Royalty (6), Jones/Albarado; after back-to-back wins at Laurel, Tapit colt failed to fire in the Springboard Mile last out finishing mid-pack of twelve; logged a very quick work here to end the year.

Night Strike (7), Calhoun/Borel; racing in tight quarters, Oklahoma-bred filled out the Springboard Mile super but was of no threat to the top three; jock change helps.

Zing Zang (8), Asmussen/Bridgmohan; after a couple of disappointing starts to open his career, Tapit colt took to the Fair Grounds main closing from well back to best maidens last month; you can’t overlook this barn or Tapit’s.

Zeke (9), Stidham/Bravo; is 2-for-2, his last a nose victory here over the Stall-Wilson turf course; last out winners and surface switch plays for trainer Stidham are over 20 percent.

Instilled Regard (10), Hollendorfer/Castellano; Cal-shipper enters off a DQ upgrade to second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity, Arch colt has been running with some tough company and today gets one of the best in Javier Castellano for the ride.

Ciaran (11), SCRATCHED

Principe Guilherme (12), Asmussen/Geroux; has won his first two starts in impressive fashion, the last an eleven length win here over OC’s; pricey Tapit is rolling.

Prince Lucky (13), Jones/Leparoux; has won 3-of-4, the last two in hand rides; today the last of the Jones trio gets the services of always dangerous rider Julien Leparoux.

Ebben (14), Margolis/Lanerie; off since drawing away from Churchill Optional Claimers back in November; solid workouts.

Trigger Warning (15), Lejzerowicz/Doyle; drew in with the scratch of Ciaran; sprinter speed.

Selections: 12, 13, 5, 11, add 1 for multi-race plays