Takeaways from 2023 Lecomte Stakes

Jan 24, 2023 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

The first of three Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifiers at Fair
Grounds in 2023, Saturday’s Lecomte (G3) awarded points on a 20-8-6-4-2 scale
to the top five finishers. Instant Coffee rallied to win going away by a 2 1/2-length
margin, moving to second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 32 total points.

1. Encouraging
return for classy colt

Freshened two months following a 1 1/4-length win in the
Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in late November, Instant Coffee progressed
nicely in the Lecomte, displaying professionalism after a pair
of uneven stakes performances as a juvenile. The late runner confirmed himself
as one of the top Kentucky Derby contenders in a deep Brad Cox stable.

The dark bay was far from a finished product in his career
debut at Saratoga last summer, failing to maintain a straight course in the
stretch, but Instant Coffee delivered a glimpse of his potential, rallying from
far back to prevail. However, he wasn’t prepared for the break and lacked focus
recording a closing fourth in his stakes debut, the Breeders’ Futurity (G1).

His win in the Kentucky Jockey Club wasn’t pretty, traveling
way wide on both turns, and he came under an early ride from Luis Saez while trailing
behind a ridiculously slow pace (six furlongs in 1:15.02). The long-striding colt
eventually got it into gear, grinding his way to the front, but questions
remained about Instant Coffee’s effectiveness moving forward.

As the Lecomte revealed, Instant Coffee has advanced as a
three-year-old. It was the performance connections hoped for, and the
convincing triumph may wind up being a springboard to bigger goals.

2. Much
faster performance

Instant Coffee entered his three-year-old season with upside,
but his Brisnet Speed ratings needed to improve to be
considered a legitimate Kentucky Derby (G1) contender. His 84 figure from the Kentucky
Jockey Club won’t get it done this year.

The son of top freshman sire Bolt d’Oro alleviated concerns
in the Lecomte, earning a career-best 96 rating. And his numbers are eligible
to keep rising.

3. Two
Phil's clear second

Two Phil’s
offered a good run to reach the lead in upper stretch. And while he could not
withstand the charge of Instant Coffee, he kept trying all the way to the wire,
winding up more than five lengths clear of Confidence
Game in third.

The runner-up distinguished himself among Lecomte also-rans.
And that’s not been bad company in recent years. Epicenter, runner-up in last
year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1), finished second in the 2022 Lecomte,
and Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun was third in the 2021 edition.

Unraced nearly three months, Two Phil’s was making his first
appearance since easily winning the Street Sense (G3) over a sloppy track at
Churchill Downs in late October. The chestnut son of Hard Spun looked promising
at sprint distances when capturing the six-furlong Shakopee Juvenile S. at Canterbury
Park by nearly 10 lengths last summer, but Two Phil’s has shown his versatility
by performing well in a two-turn stakes for trainer Larray Rivelli.

Instant Coffee and Two Phil’s may have more to offer in
upcoming starts.