Expert Pick of the Week: 2024 Lecomte Stakes

Jan 18, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A solid field of three-year-olds will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Fair Grounds dirt in Saturday’s $200,000 Lecomte S. (G3). The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby series tussle will offer a total of 42 qualifying points (20-10-6-4-2) to the top five finishers towards the Run for the Roses.

Trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle recent Gun Runner S. victor Track Phantom in hopes of having him notch his third win in succession. By Quality Road, the talented colt was a good third on debut at Churchill Downs on Oct. 1 prior to improving with a runner-up showing in his second career engagement.

The Kentucky-bred bay was a decisive maiden winner in his third lifetime try beneath the Twin Spires, which preceded his excellent black-type victory last time out. Purchased for $500,000 as a yearling, Track Phantom established swift early splits in his local bow and stayed on well in the stretch, and the sophomore has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in each race to date, as well. He has an ideal post to enjoy a clear trip throughout with the other speedy types drawn to his inside, and I expect him to continue his winning ways with Joel Rosario taking over the mount.

FULL RACE REPLAY 🎥

The 2023 Gun Runner Stakes @fairgroundsnola is won by #8 TRACK PHANTOM and jockey @cristiantorr64 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. #FG152

Track Phantom earns 10 @kentuckyderby points.

🎙️ @JohnGDooley
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/GbOYWw4Hl1

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 23, 2023

Conditioner Brad Cox entered a trio, but reportedly will run two, led by Nash, third as the 1-2 choice in the Gun Runner. The Godolphin homebred was a powerful maiden winner two starts prior and has a lot of room going forward as a colt bred to improve with experience. The son of Medaglia d’Oro has posted a pair of very good morning drills in anticipation of Saturday, and he will be forwardly placed, if not on the lead, going into the first turn. Regular pilot Florent Geroux will be in the stirrups.

Ethan Energy, also trained by Cox, was a strong maiden winner on the course in his second career assignment and gives the impression of a nice prospect going forward. The son of Uncle Mo closed with a lot of energy in his tally and has come back to record a pair of useful morning drills in the interim. The Stonestreet homebred will doing his best work from off the pace with Luis Saez in the silks.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #7 Track Phantom on top of #2 Nash and #5 Ethan Energy in the Lecomte Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.