Study Guide: 2024 Lecomte Stakes

Jan 18, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson

The Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up on Saturday with the running of the $200,000 Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds. Following a bevy of qualifiers worth 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers, the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte doubles the stakes to 20-10-6-4-2.

Eight horses have been entered in the 2024 Lecomte, but a couple are expected to scratch. Let’s meet the field:

Next Level -- SCR

Start(s): 6

Wins: 1

Place: 1

Show: 1

 

Owner: Don’t Tell My Wife Stables

Breeder: White Fox Farm

Trainer: Keith Desormeaux

Jockey: David Cohen

 

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at Del Mar.

Total Earnings: $87,100

 

Sire: Vino Rosso

Dam: Devious d’Oro

Color: Bay

Note that Next Level will reportedly scratch, according to Daily Racing Form. Next Level showed enough talent to run third in the 2023 Del Mar Futurity (G1), but after dueling for the lead in the Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds last month, he gave way to finish last out of seven.

Nash

Start(s): 3

Wins: 1

Place: 1

Show: 1

 

Owner: Godolphin

Breeder: Godolphin

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

 

Top Speed Rating: (97) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs.

Total Earnings: $97,500

 

Sire: Medaglia d’Oro

Dam: Sara Louise

Color: Bay

Nash was terrific in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last fall, leading all the way to win by 10 1/4 lengths with a 97 Brisnet Speed rating that tops the Lecomte field. But the Brad Cox trainee subsequently came down to earth in the Gun Runner, dropping off the early pace and unleashing a midrace challenge before flattening out to finish third behind Track Phantom. There isn’t much pace in the Lecomte field, so Nash should be able to stick closer to the early lead and possibly bounce back to peak form. It’s worth noting hot jockey Florent Geroux is sticking with Nash for the Lecomte, and Geroux and Cox have teamed up to win at a 37% rate over the last two months.

Tizzy Indy

Start(s): 6

Wins: 1

Place: 1

Show: 1

 

Owner: Calumet Farm

Breeder: Calumet Farm

Trainer: Keith Desormeaux

Jockey: James Graham

 

Top Speed Rating: (78) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs.

Total Earnings: $49,750

 

Sire: Take Charge Indy

Dam: Tizzy Fever

Color: Dark bay/brown

Tizzy Indy has shown versatility competing on both dirt and turf, but he’s been facing easier competition than he’ll encounter on Saturday. His career-best 78 Brisnet Speed rating indicates Tizzy Indy needs a step forward to factor in his stakes debut.

Can Group

Start(s): 5

Wins: 2

Place: 0

Show: 2

 

Owner: D. J. Stable and Cash Is King

Breeder: Wynnstay and H. Allen Poindexter

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Jareth Loveberry

 

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.

Total Earnings: $357,013

 

Sire: Good Samaritan

Dam: Blue Gallina

Color: Bay

Can Group has shown a high level of form on turf, winning the Bourbon (G2) and finishing fourth against international competition in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). But can he translate that turf form to dirt at Fair Grounds? It’s not out of the question; in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Ellis Park last summer, Can Group finished third behind future Champagne (G1) winner Timberlake and eventual Iroquois (G3) winner West Saratoga, two prominent names on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Ethan Energy

Start(s): 2

Wins: 1

Place: 0

Show: 0

 

Owner: Stonestreet Stables

Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Luis Saez

 

Top Speed Rating: (89) when breaking his maiden at Fair Grounds.

Total Earnings: $34,250

 

Sire: Uncle Mo

Dam: Sass and Class

Color: Bay

The second Brad Cox trainee in this field is Ethan Energy, who rallied strongly to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Fair Grounds last month by 5 1/4 lengths. He’s not the fastest Lecomte entrant from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective, but Ethan Energy is progressing in the right direction and can’t be counted out of the mix for a top-three finish.

Lat Long

 

Start(s): 5

Wins: 1

Place: 1

Show: 3

 

Owner: Walking L Thoroughbreds

Breeder: Town and Country Horse Farms

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

 

Top Speed Rating: (88) when breaking his maiden at Oaklawn Park.

Total Earnings: $123,750

 

Sire: Liam’s Map

Dam: Amen Sista

Color: Dark bay/brown

Lat Long needed five starts to break his maiden, but along the way he squared off against talented horses like Remsen (G2) winner Dornoch and Gun Runner winner Track Phantom. His maiden victory racing 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park came at the expense of next-out winner Common Defense, so Lat Long has a chance to pick up Kentucky Derby qualification points this Saturday.

Track Phantom

Start(s): 4

Wins: 2

Place: 1

Show: 1

 

Owner: L and N Racing, Clark O. Brewster, Jerry Caroom, and Breeze Easy

Breeder: Breeze Easy

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Joel Rosario

 

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds.

Total Earnings: $165,000

 

Sire: Quality Road

Dam: Miss Sunset

Color: Bay

After trouncing Lat Long by 4 1/4 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, Track Phantom survived a speed duel with Next Level to win the Gun Runner by 1 1/4 lengths. Having already gotten the better of Nash on one occasion, Track Phantom is shaping up as the horse to beat in the Lecomte. There’s a good chance Track Phantom will shake loose on an uncontested lead this Saturday, setting the stage for a third straight victory.

Awesome Road -- SCR

Start(s): 3

Wins: 1

Place: 0

Show: 0

 

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables and Donegal Racing

Breeder: Claiborne Farm

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Axel Concepcion

 

Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning his debut at Ellis Park.

Total Earnings: $59,808

 

Sire: Quality Road

Dam: Orate

Color: Bay

The third and final Brad Cox trainee in the Lecomte, Awesome Road, is reportedly going to scratch. He broke his maiden impressively sprinting six furlongs at Ellis Park before finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.