Kentucky Derby Prep Race | Lecomte Stakes

Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024 | By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $200,000 Lecomte (G3), Fair Grounds – race 13 – The Lecomte is the second of four stops on the Fair Grounds road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby with qualifying points [20-10-6-4-2] that are available to the eligible finishers. Three horses in the field have already earned some Derby points. (2) Nash is one of three starters in the Lecomte for trainer Brad Cox who already has won three times on the road to this year’s Run for the Roses. He won his maiden in his second start by more than 10 lengths and was third in the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds. The regally-bred Godolphin runner look like a horse that is ready to take a step forward. (7) Track Phantom won his last two starts getting his maiden victory for Steve Asmussen and then picking up 10 Derby points with a pace-pressing effort in that aforementioned Gun Runner Stakes. (5) Ethan Energy broke his maiden at Fair Grounds by more than five lengths going today’s distance last month for Cox with a closing move. (4) Can Group began his career with a pair of thirds at Ellis Park in the summer but then Mark Casse moved him to the turf where he broke his maiden, won the Bourbon (G2), and was a close fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Casse won the Lecomte twice. Betting strategy:  Exacta key box: 2 with 4, 5, 7.