Track Phantom dictates throughout in Lecomte

Jan 21, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

The Steve Asmussen-trained Track Phantom made it two straight wins on the Fair Grounds Road to the Kentucky Derby, and extended his streak to three overall, in Saturday’s $194,000 Lecomte (G3).

But the dynamics were a bit different from the Dec. 23 Gun Runner S. Last time out, Track Phantom forced a fast pace established by a longshot before taking over and repelling odds-on favorite Nash.

On Saturday, Nash employed different tactics to challenge Track Phantom right out of the gate. Yet he couldn’t beat Track Phantom to the lead. Once Nash conceded the point, Track Phantom dictated as he pleased in the 1 1/16-mile event.

Bettors had the Lecomte pegged as essentially a match race between them. Track Phantom went off as the slight second choice at 7-5, with the 11-10 Nash favored to turn the tables for Brad Cox. The red-hot Cox barn had sent out four winners earlier on the banner card, including Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopeful West Omaha in the Silverbulletday S. and older star Saudi Crown in the Louisiana (G3). But Cox’s bid to make it five ran into an insuperable obstacle in Track Phantom.

Breaking from the outside post 6 with Joel Rosario, Track Phantom showed his trademark speed. Nash, drawn on the inside, attempted to go with him and leverage his advantageous position into the first turn. Track Phantom asserted himself, though, and cleared Nash by the time they covered an opening quarter in :24.01.

Nash kept tabs in second through the half in :48.36. He took another run at Track Phantom, only to be rebuffed again passing six furlongs in 1:13.15.

Track Phantom spurted away down the lane to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:44.73. Collecting 20 more Kentucky Derby (G1) points, the son of Quality Road now has 30 in all. He joins Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) hero Fierceness atop the leaderboard, although the tiebreaker (of non-restricted stakes earnings) keeps Fierceness as number one.

#7 Track Phantom takes them gate-to-wire in the G3 Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds under @jrosariojockey for trainer Steve Asmussen! 🏆

It's 20 Kentucky Derby points for the son of Quality Road! 🌹

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/oJquMo3E4O

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 21, 2024

Nash, second-best at every call, added 10 points to increase his tally to 13. Lat Long checked in third to open his account with six points. Ethan Energy, Cox’s other runner, faded to fourth (four points), and Tizzy Indy picked up two points in fifth. Can Group trailed, while Awesome Road and Next Level were withdrawn.

Campaigned by L and N Racing, Clark Brewster, Jerry Caroom, and breeder Breeze Easy, Track Phantom sports a record of 5-3-1-1, $285,000. The $500,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase is unbeaten since stretching out to two turns, having broken his maiden going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs Nov. 25. His first two outings also came beneath the Twin Spires, where he placed twice around a one-turn mile.

Track Phantom’s dam (mother), Miss Sunset, was a nine-time stakes winner who spent nearly all of her career sprinting. By leading sire Into Mischief, Miss Sunset scored her signature victory in the 2017 Raven Run (G2), and she missed by a nose in the 2018 Madison (G1) over the same Keeneland circuit.