Lecomte Stakes (Grade 3) (KYD)- $200.000 Purse
FG- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and Seventy Yards on the Dirt
January 19, 2019
A good field has assembled for Saturday’s running of the Lecomte Stakes, which features valuable KYD points, but will probably be raced on an off track. Right now, weather forecasters have placed the chance of rain at FG for 90% on Saturday, and while HRP weather is always unpredictable regardless of forecasts, let’s just say that we should have the umbrellas handy and those with an entry better hope that they like the off going. This is a star studded field, as several BC Juvenile runners clash with up and comers. A good recipe for success in this race would be to have S X Bridgmohan aboard, as he was won this race an incredible five times! Music to Opus Force’s ears! Let’s meet the field!
#1- Questionable (Mb Stables, ridden by C J Lanerie)- Things were going great for Questionable during the fall. He ran second in the Grade 1 Pharoah, and then put forth an excellent performance in the BC Juvenile, running second, beaten in a close photo that day. When all was looking good, he was absolutely flat in the RP Springboard Mile, running tenth and a complete dud. Was that a questionable performance that he can springboard from here, or is it cause for more concern? That is the choice to make when deciding wether to support him. Has never raced an off track.
#2- Storming (John Henry, ridden by J Valdivia Jr)- While the name may be appropriate for the day, it is concerning that Storming was even worse then Questionable in the Springboard Mile. Though, unlike Questionable, who was a dud from gate to wire, Storming at least ran decently for a while. It was his first race with John Henry, so now with that behind him, we will see what adjustments were made.
#3- Quenched (Aer Stables, ridden by A Beschizza)- Let’s just keep talking about that Springboard Mile, because Quenched comes out of that race as well. In fact, the first three in the gate are the only three in this field who ran there. Quenched didn’t cash in either, but was at least, fifth. That followed a three race winning streak, which included the Grade 3 Nashua. He has a couple of good works coming in, and looks consistent.
#4- Bo Knows (Smokey Stover, ridden by J Bravo)- Bo knows a lot of things, and with that we can include running in the rain. His three career off track starts are more then anyone here, and he has never failed to be a part of the exacta in those races. The Grade 2 Remsen, his last start, was a good example of that, where he placed second. Bo Knows making money in the BC Juvenile as well, where he placed fourth. That all may add up to Bo Knows Lecomte Win. There’s a recap headline in advance if it happens.
#5- Clueless Joe (Allinthegate, ridden by C Hall)- Won the Grade 1 Summer Stakes, always a tough race to win, at WO last September. This allowed him to compete in the BC Juvenile Turf, but he was never a contender in the race. He returned to the main track afterwards but tired late in the LA Futurity. This seems like an important time for him to step up, to get some positive momentum, once again. Doesn’t need to be a win, but a good result is needed.
#6- Get Jiggy With It (Serenity Stables, ridden by J Lermyte)- After being the Prince of the Breeders Futurity (Grade 1) at KEE in October, Get Jiggy With It went to CD for the BC Juvenile. However, that did not go according to plan, and Get Jiggy With It failed to beat any of his opponents. He recovered well, though, taking a TP optional claimer in his last start. I’ll have to see a big race against the level again to regain trust, though.
#7- Scarlet Ninja (Joshua Stables, ridden by J Graham)- He took on Get Jiggy With It in the aforementioned Breeders Futurity, and ran second. Like his rival, this got him to the BC Juvenile. For Scarlet Ninja, he was able to finish ahead of a few horses, but his ninth place showing was not much more then that. He recovered too, but did it in a stake, winning the $100.000 King Glorious Stakes. I like him more then Get Jiggy With It, but neither are one of my picks.
#8- Commanding Bee (John Henry, ridden by M Mena)- On New Year’s Eve, John Henry had more to celebrate then just a New Year, but also in the arrival of another KYD contender in his barn. This cost him $500.000 to do so, buying him from Serenity Stables, and getting jiggy with it in his own right. Second in the Grade 1 DMR Futurity and third in the Grade 1 Champagne, each being in a photo with the winner is what created the high price tag. Ran tenth in the BC Juvenile, but is working well for the race.
#9- Cherokee Reward (Estero Farms, ridden by F Geroux)- Estero has several contenders on the KYD trail as he looks to win the race once again, and this race will provide a good look at where Cherokee Reward fits with those contenders. He’s looked good in NY-bred stakes, highlighted by the NY Breeders Futurity victory, but each of those races were sprints. His last race, the LA Futurity, was his first going long, and he led early before tiring late. Estero can figure out how to solve that issue, so I am interested to see how he fares here.
#10- Opus Force (Mb Stables, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- All the talk about this one having fast works when he was still unraced created pages of forum chatter, but now with a couple starts to his credit, Opus Force has proven that he is worth the hype. Doesn’t always happen that way with forum hype, but Mb Stables has made it work. He’s two-for-two, and those works, as you expect, are pretty darn good. Throw in S X Bridgmohan, the five time winner of the Lecomte, and Opus Force will be tough to beat. I don’t think he will be.
#11- Zero Risque (Mb Stables, ridden by R Santana Jr)- The third of the trainer’s entries in this race, and he paid a big price for this one. After one race, he was acquired from Keikowin Racing in private sales for $200.000, and proceeded to break his maiden the first time running for Mb. He has also won a FL-bred race in the slop, which is something to keep in mind since we will likely have an off track here. Between those races though, he was a bit flat in the KY Jockey Club (Grade 2). I prefer the trainer’s other two horses.
#12- Fear The Dragon- Scratched
#13- Digital Fraud (Nakamura Stables, ridden by Mar Pedroza)- With the scratch of Fear The Dragon, Digital Fraud was able to draw into the field, and be able to start from the outside post. This is a horse that so far has not been able to step it up against higher levels of competition. He has a sharp maiden win and an allowance win on his resume, but has otherwise struggled in stakes. Nakamura will hope for a momentum shift here. It probably isn’t that relevant to this race, but he did break that maiden convincingly on an off track.
Prediction: 10-4-9-3
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
