Kentucky Derby Roundup: 14 horses seek double points in Lecomte

The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 110 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

Full field of 14 enters Lecomte

The Road to the Kentucky Derby is heating up in a big way with Saturday’s running of the $250,000 Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds.

The 1 1/16-mile race is the first of eight Kentucky Derby preps taking place between now and Feb. 22 that award qualification points to the top five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis, double the 10-5-3-2-1 points most preps have offered since the Road to the Kentucky Derby kicked off in September.

The promise of double points has drawn a strong field to the Lecomte. Five of the entrants have previously earned Kentucky Derby qualification points: Built, runaway winner of the Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds last month; Magnitude and Admiral Dennis, second and fourth in the Gun Runner; Dapper Moon, fourth in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1), Street Sense (G3), and Kentucky Jockey Club (G2); and Jolly Samurai, fifth in the Remington Springboard Mile.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Built

The remainder of the field is comprised of Sugar Bowl S. conqueror Tough Catch; allowance optional claiming winners Disco Time and Golden Afternoon; $50,000 starter allowance victor Optical; and maiden winners Innovator, Maximum Promise, Calling Card, Mobetterthangood, and Seattle Road.

Owen Almighty disqualified from Pasco triumph

Owen Almighty ran well in the very first 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier, finishing second in the Sept. 14 Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs. But according to Bloodhorse.com, a gastrointestinal infection prevented Owen Almighty from racing again at age two.

Fortunately, Owen Almighty has bounced back in fine form. He made his three-year-old debut in the seven-furlong Pasco S. at Tampa Bay Downs last Saturday and ran strongly off the layoff, dueling for the lead through stiff fractions of :21.92 and :44.53 before edging away to cross the wire in front by one length in 1:22.50.

The race was not without incident, as Owen Almighty shifted inward at one point and caused a rival to check severely. The stewards ultimately disqualified Owen Almighty from first to fifth place, leaving original runner-up Naughty Rascal as the winner, but this doesn’t change the fact Owen Almighty ran well in his return. He appears poised to rejoin the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby contender workouts

Here are the latest workouts recorded by Road to the Kentucky Derby points earners:

Admiral Dennis: Wrapped up his Lecomte preparations with five furlongs in 1:03.00 on Sunday at Fair Grounds.

Built: Gearing up for the Lecomte, Built worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 on Thursday at Fair Grounds.

Citizen Bull: The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) conqueror sped five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Chris's Revenge: The Gun Runner fifth-place finisher breezed half a mile in :50.00 on Sunday at Fair Grounds.

Dapper Moon: Worked four furlongs in :50.60 on Sunday at Fair Grounds in preparation for the Lecomte.

Dominant Spirit: Third in the Remington Springboard Mile, Dominant Spirit clocked an easy half-mile in :51.00 on Saturday at Sam Houston.

Dr Ruben M: The Remington Springboard Mile fourth-place finisher worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

East Avenue: On Thursday at Fair Grounds, Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner East Avenue posted his second workout of the year, traveling half a mile in :49.20. The Feb. 15 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds is his intended comeback spot.

Gaming: The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up turned in a blazing five-furlong workout on Saturday at Santa Anita, getting the distance in a bullet :58.60.

Giocoso: The Iroquois third-place finisher went half a mile in :50.60 over a good track at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

Jolly Samurai: With an eye on the Lecomte, Jolly Samurai worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 on Saturday at Sam Houston.

Jonathan’s Way: Winner of the Iroquois over Owen Almighty, Jonathan’s Way breezed three furlongs in :36.20 at Fair Grounds last Monday, his first work since finishing second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). He followed up with half a mile in :49.00 over the same track on Sunday.

Magnitude: In preparation for the Lecomte, Magnitude clocked a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.60 at Fair Grounds last Monday.

Render Judgment: Third in the Gun Runner, Render Judgment worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 over a good track at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

Tiztastic: Matching the move of stablemate Magnitude—perhaps they worked in company?—Tiztastic worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.60 at Fair Grounds last Monday. He then traveled the same track and distance in 1:01.20 on Sunday.

Tux: The Remsen (G2) third-place finisher traversed half a mile in :48.80 on Saturday at Payson Park.

American Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Citizen Bull (40 points)
2. Coal Battle (20 points)
3. Gaming (18 points)
4. Getaway Car (16 points)
5. Jonathan’s Way (15 points)

European-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Hotazhell (20 points)
2. Wimbledon Hawkeye (13 points)
3. Camille Pissarro (10 points)
4. Rashabar (5 points)
5. Delacroix (5 points)

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Myriad Love (20 points)
2. Natural Rise (14 points)
3. Happy Man (10 points)
4. Soldier Field (6 points)
5. Clay King (5 points)