Tipsheet: 2023 Lecomte Stakes

A total of eight well-meant sophomores will go 1 1/16 miles on the Fair Grounds main surface in Saturday’s $200,000 Lecomte S. (G3).

Lecomte Stakes Picks

• #3 Bromley
• #7 Instant Coffee
• #5 Tapit’s Conquest
• #8 Two Phil’s

Lecomte Stakes Wagers 

• $20 win and place: #3 Bromley
• $5 exacta: key box 3 with 5, 7, 8
• 50-cent trifecta: 3 with 5, 7, 8 with all

Lecomte Stakes Contenders

#1 ECHO AGAIN (6-1): The potential one to catch from the rail for trainer Steve Asmussen. The gray son of Gun Runner has lost two straight following a fine debut score at Saratoga in the summer, but the well-bred colt is eligible to improve while making his second run off the short layoff. Tyler Gaffalione inherits the mount.

#2 DENINGTON (8-1): Made a decent late run to register a third-place result in the Smarty Jones S. last time out for Kenny McPeek. The consistent late runner has yet to prove that he will be able to beat this kind, but the son of Gun Runner adds blinkers and doesn’t need huge improvement to be in the mix late on this occasion. Corey Lanerie will take the reins.

#3 BROMLEY (5-1): Has been impressive from a pair of sprint tries to this stage of his development and gets the nod to make good in his stakes debut for Paulo Lobo. The $450,000 son of Mastery gives the impression of a colt who will thrive going long, and he has the gate presence to be in the hunt from the opening bell. Javier Castellano will come in to guide him.

#4 CONFIDENCE GAME (8-1): Earned a lifetime best 92 Brisnet Speed figure for his allowance tally at Churchill Downs last time out. The dark bay son of Candy Ride is bred for the distance and will be a contender with even slight improvement off of his latest endeavor for conditioner Keith Desormeaux. James Graham will ride the $25,000 bargain purchase.

#5 TAPIT’S CONQUEST (9-2): The first of two in the heat for trainer Brad Cox, he broke through with a fine maiden victory in his second lifetime appearance at Churchill Downs in October. He has put in a pair of very good efforts and has trained well in advance of Saturday. Florent Geroux riding the win contender adds to his appeal should he start here rather than the allowance earlier in the day in which he is also entered.

#6 ITZOS (10-1): Graduated in strong fashion at Turfway Park most recently in his second lifetime run for Lobo. The three-quarters brother to wunderkind Rachel Alexandra stretches out for the initial time in his return to the dirt and will bring pace to the field as a wildcard who is bred to be great. Brian Hernandez, Jr. will be in the stirrups.

#7 INSTANT COFFEE (5-2): Rallied to take the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) to conclude his two-year-old season and rates an obvious chance with a top showing for Brad Cox. The Bolt d’Oro colt has earned triple-digit Brisnet Late Pace figures in two of his three races to date and has trained forwardly in preparation of his sophomore bow with Luis Saez returning to ride. The win threat will be doing his best work from off the pace on Saturday. 

#8 TWO PHIL’S (4-1): Has been dominant in three of his last four performances, led by a blowout score in the Street Sense S. (G3) at Churchill Downs most recently. The Larry Rivelli trainee thrived upon a sloppy oval beneath the Twin Spires and would be thrilled with some moisture in the ground in his Fair Grounds bow on Saturday. The Hard Spun colt will be forcing the tempo while always in the clear early on under regular rider Jareth Loveberry.