The Lecomte Stakes Tipsheet

The $200,000 Lecomte S. (G3) will be run Saturday at the Fair Grounds. The 1 1/16-mile race is for 3-year-olds and is part of the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby series, with a 10-4-2-1 points structure going to the top four finishers.

Top Picks for the Lecomte

• #9 Silver State
• #2 Mr. Monomoy
• #4 Scabbard
• #13 Sycamore Run

Betting the Lecomte Stakes

• $40 win
  • 9
• $10 Exactas
  • 2, 4, 13 with 9
• $1 Trifecta Box
  • 2, 4, 9, 13

Lecomte Stakes Contenders

#1 Finnick the Fierce began his career with a sprinting maiden win at Indiana Downs then ran well at long odds at Churchill Downs when blinkers were added. He was stretched out to two turns last out and rallied wide for second at almost 88-1 odds. Son of Dialed In has been freshened up for this and should at least same ground from post 1.  

#2 Mr. Monomoy has attracted a lot of attention because of his pedigree. He has yet to get away cleanly in three tries and after breaking his maiden in a long sprint, he was beaten here in a key allowance race run over a sloppy track going two turns. I couldn’t see any excuse for being run down late and if he breaks poorly against today’s bulky field, the son of Palace Malice will have to be used hard early.

#3 Perfect Star broke his maiden in his turf debut second time out going two turns then hated an extremely soft course at Churchill. He came back here and went gate to wire and now tries the dirt again. Son of Into Mischief is bred for dirt on the top but his dam was a graded stakes winner on turf and she has already produced a Grade 1 stakes winner on the turf. His biggest chance in here is to use his gate speed and see what happens.  

#4 Scabbard has the best resume of this group. He ran well against the best of this year’s sophomore class and returns off a 78-day layoff for Eddie Kenneally. My concern with him is his running style coming off a layoff. On his best effort, he is better than these but I don’t see him cranked up for this in January.  

#5 Excession took five starts to break his maiden and he did it by a head. Long-winded son of Union Rags was a non-threatening third in that key allowance race while racing wide on a sloppy track here.  

#6 New Eagle broke his maiden on the turf two starts back then tired in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) going this distance on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs. If he can break well, he can hang around for a long time but just doesn’t seem fast enough.   

#7 Halo Again looked great breaking his maiden first time out going 7 furlongs at Churchill Downs despite being bumped at the break. He came back and won on the Tapeta at Woodbine against Canadian-breds. Son of Speightstown could be tough if he continues to improve.

#8 Jack the Umpire is an interesting colt that has won three of four starts and both starts on sloppy track by wide margins. He went gate to wire last out in a stakes at Delta Downs and now moves up in class. Son of Bodemeister gets a rider switch to Shaun Bridgmohan who is expert at breaking speed horses well and getting them to settle down.  

#9 Silver State broke his maiden in a dead-heat (over nine lengths back to third) going 6 1/2 furlongs in his well-bet career debut. He just missed last out in the slop back at Churchill Downs going a one-turn mile after being bumped at the start. Son of Hard Spun is bred to get better with distance and he has trained well here for the past five weeks.

#10 Enforceable broke his maiden in his fourth start going 9 furlongs on the dirt at Saratoga when blinkers were added. He came back with an even third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) then was shuffled back from post 1 last out in the Kentucky Jockey Club. The son of Tapit looks like he is finally living up to his stellar pedigree.

#11 Bango stretches out to two turns for the first time in his stakes debut. He jumped forward two starts back when Lasix was added in his fourth career start then chased and weakened last out on a sloppy track.

#12 Shashashakemeup looked great when he broke his maiden first time out going 7 furlongs in fast time at Churchill Downs. He was an even fourth last out here going six furlongs on a sloppy track after an awkward start and tries two turns from a poor post.

#13 Sycamore Run broke his maiden here in fast time on a sloppy track going 6 furlongs when he led every step of the way. Since then, he shows a bullet half-mile workout here but will have to use early energy to avoid being carried wide. I like his pedigree to do it and how he was able to relax after making the lead.

#14 Lynn’s Map was a sharp winner two starts back going a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs then won that key allowance race here last out, when he broke out at the start then chased dueling leaders who weakened in the final yards. But note that he could scratch. Trainer Mark Casse is reportedly going to cross-enter to the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park, which draws on Friday. If Lynn’s Map draws well there, he will probably scratch from the Lecomte and ship to Oaklawn for the Jan. 24 stakes.