Fair Grounds Preview & FREE Picks

Aaron previews the 2024 Lecomte Stakes (G3) from Fair Grounds, then gives his top picks from this Kentucky Derby (G1) prep race.

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The press release:

Nominations for Road to the Derby Day’s six scheduled stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Saturday Jan. 20 have been released.

The day’s headline races include the 80th running of the $200,000 Lecomte (G3) and the 32nd $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes for fillies. Both stakes are the first Kentucky Derby and Oaks prep races on the calendar to award 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.

All 60 early nominees for the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) are eligible for the Lecomte and the Risen Star (G2). The Silverbulletday closed with 16 nominations.

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Run over 1 1/16 miles, the Lecomte is the next prep race on the Fair Grounds road to the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve to be run at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 4.

Of the 60 nominees, the Gun Runner winner Track Phantom leads the way and is on target to enter the Lecomte for trainer Steve Asmussen. The Quality Road colt has earned 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and has not lost going two turns.

Nash earned 3 points towards the Run for the Roses when finishing third last out in the Gun Runner as the betting favorite for trainer Brad Cox. After a dominating performance breaking his maiden at Churchill, the son of Medaglia d’Oro was made the third-choice in Kentucky Derby Future Pool #2. Nash is pointing towards a rematch with Track Phantom in the Lecomte.

Connections have decided to see if Can Group’s turf prowess translates to the dirt track. Touting a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and a last-to-first win in the Bourbon (G2), the Good Samaritan colt trained by Mark Casse has put in two local drills.

Trainer Ken McPeek confirmed Lat Long is targeting the Lecomte. The last-out maiden winner has never finished out of the money in five races. On the Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs, the Liam’s Map colt finished second to Track Phantom.