Lecomte Stakes (Grade 3) (KYD)- $200.000 Purse
FG- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
January 16, 2021

Even though points have already been accumulating for the 2021 KYD, the start of the new year means that prep race season is going to be getting a lot more intense. Nearly every week from here on out, we are going to have an important race somewhere across the country. We know who have been the top horses up to this point, but who is going to continue to develop and who is going to emerge onto the scene? FG is the place to be this weekend for these meaningful races, and the 16th running of the Lecomte Stakes figures to be a good one. Last year, Night Rider Stables picked up the win in this race with Notorious Temper, a horse that did go on to run in the KYD, as well as the BEL. However, he did not finish well in either. It is a race that saw Anoush Command finish second, Class Edge run third, Bound Bay fourth, and Chai Morning fifth. All of them had plenty of success during the TC season, and are horses that our field here hopes to emulate. Let’s take a look at them now!

#1- Proud Crown (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Starting on the rail, this gelding found his way to Mb Stables from Tiratzo at the beginning of October for $250.000, a little more then two weeks after he broke his maiden. He won his debut for Mb Stables at the $100.000 Display Stakes, and comes off a second place performance at the Grey Stakes. Looks like another promising one is in the cards for this stable, and we should expect nothing less.

#2- Familiar Moon (John Henry, ridden by S R Bahen)- Making his debut for John Henry after he was picked up for $300.000 last month from Aer Stables. That private sale came just four days after he finished third in the Remsen at AQU. Prior to that, he was eighth in the Grade 1 Champagne, but that was one of those races where many hit the line together, and he was still only a length from the win. We might be wondering if Aer let one get away in a few months, as there is plenty of upside with this one.

#3- Archduke Charles (Mb Stables, ridden by D Davis)- This WV bred has been beating up on his in-state rivals as a two year old, winning three statebred stakes during the fall. Those aren’t for the largest purses, but as the trainer has plenty of other options, there was no reason to not take what he could get there. Archduke Charles showed he could run in unrestricted company last month when he took an allowance, and is working quite well coming into the race.

#4- Caleb Toothpaste (Night Rider Stables, ridden by M E Smith)- Night Rider looks to win the Lecomte for the second year in a row, and he pins those hopes on this Winter Warrior gelding. After failing to break his maiden in the conventional manner, he would do so in the $100.000 Frost King, however he was unable to follow that up in the RP Springboard Mile. He was a non factor in that tenth place finish, and this makes me a little unsure what to think about him. I’ll be interested to see how his race goes.

#5- Get Set Gone (Serenity Stables, ridden by G Franco)- This gelding has become well noted for some excellent works, and on the track he has been able to turn them into three victories in seven starts. Just one of them is a stake, however, that being the $150.000 GS Juvenile for CA-breds in November. A problem that this horse has had is that when he has not won, he has not been a factor, at all. His last race saw him place seventh in the LA Futurity. He is still young, so we can’t write him off as inconsistent. It would be nice to see him step up here.

#6- Violative (La Rosa Stables, ridden by F Geroux)- La Rosa Stables takes his best chance here during the TC preps with his homebred by Aggravation. Thus far, he has raced three times, winning one of them. That has earned him this chance, which will be the first time he runs at the stake level. He’ll have to be better than he was in his last start, an allowance right there at FG, where he did run third, but did not threaten for the win.

#7- Creepy Havoc (Estero Farms, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Interestingly, this is the only horse in the field that ran in the BC Juvenile. For Creepy Havoc, it was a successful venture that led to a fourth place check, so on that alone you would have to consider him one of the top horses here in the Lecomte. Prior to the BC, he was second, by a neck, in the DMR Futurity. Now, he will embark on his three year old campaign hoping to carry the momentum he presently has.

#8- Breath Of The Wild (Smokey Stover, ridden by J R Velazquez)- The best part of this horse is probably the pedigree line, being by State Police and out of Distant Cousin, but he has been able to show that he is ready to make a name for himself as well. He’s won three of six so far in his career, and has been consistent with five in the money finishes. The highlight of those wins was the $150.000 Sleepy Hollow for NY-breds. This will be the first time he takes on unrestricted company at the stake level.

#9- Accountant (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by A Beschizza)- We last saw Accountant in the RP Springboard Mile, picking up the win in that race. Before that, he was another horse that hung around in NY-bred stakes, but yet never ended up running into Breath Of The Wild. During the summer, he ran in the Grade 1 Hopeful, which always seems to be a great race. His last work at GP showed a little bit of improvement from his last mile work, and that is very good to see. He should like running a little bit longer, as well, and with that, look for him to be one of the horses to beat here.

#10- Oleg (Arindel, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- After finishing sixth at FL in his debut, Oleg was entered into the $375.000 Great White Way for NY-breds. It is rare for maidens to win a race like this, but it does happen, and Oleg will go down as one of those special ones that was able to do it. Now, comes the point where we all see what kind of horse he is. Can he do that consistently? His works certainly grab your attention, and it would probably be foolish to think he can’t get it done. If he wins, then we might have to consider him one of the top threats right now on the derby trail.

#11- Dreams Of Men (Serenity Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- The colt is not as well known as his stablemate, but has earned his spot in this field thanks to a three-race winning streak. That is a streak that began when he was moved to the turf in August at ELP, and each of the wins are on the grass. For now, though, his turf career will be on hold as we see if he can translate that success to the main track. His works look good, and he will be good at this distance. Intriguing option in the field.

#12- No Change (Mb Stables, ridden by A Cedillo)- Starting on the outside, this Coin Flip gelding is set to run long for the first time. That should not be a problem based on his work at AQU before making the trip down here to FG. He’s won twice in his six starts, and has always managed a piece of the purse, but that will be much more difficult here in the Lecomte. Picked up a win here in his last start, the $75.000 Sugar Bowl.

Prediction: 9-10-7-5

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES