The 18th Running of the Lecomte Stakes
Saturday, January 21, 2023
FG Race #11 $200.000
3YOs 122 Lbs (plus penalties) 11/16
KYD POINTS RACE (20-8-6-4-2)
Course Record-1:39.97 (Phuneios-2013)
Stakes Record-1:41.33 (Shadow Police-2022)
Is it already that time of year? Kicking-off the 2023 KYD prep season, in earnest, Saturday’s G3 Lecomte (KYD points on a 20-8-6-4-2 basis) gives us our first glimpse at sophomore hopefuls as they begin the 3.5-month marathon to the First Saturday in May. With prep races virtually every weekend between now and then, these guys will probably get other shots at earning their way into the starting gate at CD; however, all of them would like to show their trainers they are worthy of staying on the trail.
Seven stakes-winners are included in the group of 12 that have signed on for this and there could be eight black-type winners included should More Twist draw into the field off of the AE list. It will be interesting, to say the least, to see how last year’s form transfers for these runners in their first out on the new engine. It’s a wide-open affair, so let’s meet the runners for this year’s $200.000 Lecomte Stakes:
#1 Kentucky Pharoah (Arindel/E. Jaramillo 122): G3 winner on turf may not have appreciated the “good” surface he faced at AQU. Always been an impressive worker, he’s drawn well for this assignment.
#2 Cheyenne Lame Foot (Tockyocky/F.T. Alvarado 122): Lone win came in $500.000 KD stake, but winless on the main track. Wasn’t the best breaker on the old engine, so it will be interesting to see what he does when the gates spring open.
#3 Night Raider (Mb Stables/M. Franco 122): Winner of The Jack at HST, he took three unsuccessful swings at the graded level last year. Another that didn’t break so well last year, could be anywhere when they ring the bell.
#4 Smokin Secret (Mb Stables/P. Lopez 122): ELP Juvenile winner was a much better break horse than his stablemate next door. Tries graded foes for the first time since flopping in the slop at SAR. Looms the more logical half of the entry.
#5 Timeless (D J C Racing Stables/Ru. Silvera 122): Gelded in September and has taken three straight since. Last two were vs NY-bred stake foes, so talent is apparent. Versatility on the old engine may help his cause here.
#6 Big Papa Pump (Dmc Racing/Jo. Ruiz 122): Our 3rd turf stakes winner, he’s another that is winless on the dirt. Last out was a DH 3rd in a local N1X effort over this strip. Must stretch-out and show he has a better grasp on the break.
#7 Leaderfromhell (TwinTowersRacing/J.R. Velazquez 122): Colt broke the maiden on the SAR lawn, and we last saw him at KEE in the BC Juv Turf. Dirt tries were going much shorter, but he was able to show some serious early foot on numerous occasions.
#8 Vieux Jeu (Acber Farms/L. Saez 122): Beat winners at this same trip back at CD after taking his maiden over the WO lawn. Ran well in $500.000 NY-bred event where he was 4th, beaten only two lengths. Showed some versatility on the old engine, so he’s another that bears watching at the break.
#9 Duke Of Satire (Nakamura Stables/D.E. Centeno 122): Broke his maiden at FP before moving to the lawn where he earned his keep versus graded company. Didn’t favor a set style last year, but showed he could compete with these types multiple times on the grass.
#10 Dominant (Wood Duck Stables/A. Cedillo 122): Gelding broke his maiden in a KEE MSW before running 3rd at CD in a $200.000 stake. Has to show that he can stretch-out effectively, but there was no doubting his tactical speed on the old engine.
#11 Lunar Victory (Fractious/D. Moran 122): Broke his maiden first-out at WO before just missing against CAN-bred runners in the Coronation Futurity. G2 try at AQU can be tossed if you choose and nothing wrong with the work tab.
#12 Loko Moto (South Shore Stables/R.M. Hernandez 122): Gelding won his first three, culminating in a LS $150.000 stake; however, he finished-up his juvenile campaign on a five-race losing streak. Multiple graded stakes-placed runner just has to transfer his form to the new engine to factor.
ALSO ELIGIBLE
#13 More Twist (Team 7 Illusions/TBD 122)
#14 Blue Duck (Barcelona Stables/TBD 122)
#15 Bahamut (Ashwood Farms/TBD 122)
#16 Orion Syndicate (Alydar Stables/TBD 122)
Final Analysis: No clue! Just a total crapshoot and you’ll have to lean on those you think have the best grasp on what the current RE is at this moment in time. That being said, we’ll call it 4-10-1 with the lowest amount of confidence we could have. Good luck to everyone in the G3 Lecomte Stakes!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
