Lecomte Stakes

Notes:
The 200,000 G3 Lecomte Stakes launches the road to the Kentucky Derby through New Orleans followed by the G2 Risen Star S. on February 23 and the G2 Louisiana Derby on March 30. The race offers valuable points in the new Kentucky Derby eligibility system, with the top four finishers earning 10-4-2-1, respectively. Display S. champ Avie s Quality needed three tries to break his maiden, but his last two races have been stellar. He ll make his dirt debut here after running on synthetic and turf at Woodbine. His half sister, Avie s Sense, improved dramatically when switching from the Polytrack in Canada to the Fair Grounds main track a year ago, and a similar step forward will put Josie Carroll s charge in the winner s circle. G3 Bashford Manor S. hero Circle Unbroken will likely be among the top choices in his return from a minor ankle injury that sent him to the sidelines after a narrow loss in the Mountaineer Juvenile S. Trainer Garry Simms opted for this spot when he couldn t find a suitable alternative and was quoted as calling his charge only about 80 percent ready. Oxbow returns to dirt after a 4 th -place finish behind Violence in the G1 CashCall Futurity. He ships over from Oaklawn Park rather than staying put for Monday s non-graded Smarty Jones S. Ive Struck a Nerve returns to routes off a runner up finish in the 6f Sugar Bowl S. over this course. Fear the Kitten debuts for Mike Maker after making up ground late in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs. Jockey Miguel Mena subs for injured Calvin Borel on unbeaten Malibu High, who is trained by the latter s brother, Cecil. Heitai makes his first start versus open company and has never been off-the-board, including four stakes attempts, against Louisiana breds. Golden Soul broke his maiden here 12/30 and shows a sharp 4/138 work on in advance his stakes bow. Hawaakom, a son of late-running Belmont S. victor Jazil, exits a maiden win here at this distance but will need to take a significant step forward to be in the mix.

The Lecomte Stakes is a grade III horse racing event that is run each year at a distance of one mile on the dirt track of Fair Ground Race Course, Louisiana. This race is open to thoroughbred horses with an age group three years. The race was canceled in 2006 due to Hurricane Katrina. Friesan Fire posted win in 2009, Z Fortune in 2008, Storm Surge in 2007, Fire Slam in 2004, Saintly Look in 2003 and Noble Ruler in 2000.

Lecomte Stakes Past Winners

Year	Winner	Trainer	Jockey	Owner	Time
2011	Wilkinson	Neil J. Howard	Garrett K. Gomez	Gaillardia Racing LLC	1:40.97
2010	Ron the Greek	Thomas M. Amoss	James Graham	Jack T. Hammer	1:40.09
2009	Friesan Fire	J. Larry Jones	Gabriel Saez	Fox Hill Farms/Vinery	1:37.67
2008	Z Fortune		Shaun Bridgmohan		1:37.79
2007	Hard Spun				1:37.87
2006	No Race
2005	Storm Surge				1:39.34
2004	Fire Slam				1:38.48
2003	Saintly Look				1:37.62
2002	Easyfromthegitgo				1:37 4/5

Lecomte Stakes Video