LeComte Stakes 2015 Picks and Plays

LeComte Stakes 2015 Picks and Plays: The 71st running of the LeComte Stakes takes place this Saturday, January 17, 2015 at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. A (GIII) stakes race for three-year-olds running 1 mile and 70 yards on the dirt with a purse of $200,000. The LeComte serves as the first of three graded stakes races at the Fair Grounds Course concluding with the 101st running of the (GII) $750,000 Louisiana Derby on March 28th. The LeComte is also part of the road to the Kentucky Derby points system with the top four finishers receiving 10-4-2-1 respectively.

The race is named in honor of one of Bostons’ well known sons, LeComte, who’s dam was the brilliant Reel. He was a half-brother to the great horse Lexington. Last year’s victor was Vicar’s In Trouble for Mike Maker and the Ramseys in the time of 1:42.57. He went on to race against Goldencents in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Mile and was injured in that race. He subsequently had surgery, has been recovering and we hope to see him back on the track soon.

The 2015 LeComte is the 11th race of the day with a start time of 5:24 p.m. CST. It follows quite a day of racing starting with race #7 the Lousiana Handicap, race #8 the Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap, race #9 the Silverbulletday Stakes (GIII), and race #10 the Marie G.Krantz Memorial Handicap.

I have to hand it to Fairgrounds for such a fantastic racing card. They are really gearing up for the meet and it looks like some top notch races to be had with some nice odds. Let’s take a look at who Sigi and I like in the 2015 LeComte Stakes.

Kari’s Picks: 11,4,10,3 (7)*
The Neil Howard trained son of Candy Ride, Eagle, who is one in my top tier for the 2015 Triple Crown Trail, got stuck on the outside #11 post. Historically only eight total have won from posts 11 & 12; however, I’m kicking that bunch of mumbo-jumbo to the curb and going with the horse. In Eagles’ stakes debut, the winner was El Kabeir, on November 29th in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, where he had to steady on the turn at the rail and was gaining in the stretch run finishing a strong third by less than a length. As far as classic distances go, Eagle is right up there and gets Brian Hernandez Jr. riding again. He’s at the top of my list if he can avoid losing too much ground at the first turn.

Veteran trainer Tom Amoss sends out War Story who is out of the sire Nothern Alfeet. Loooch Racing’s undefeated boy is stepping it up here after winning his debut going 7f at Churchill November 1st, 2014. This barn acquired him after his first run and last out on December 28th he won going two-turns at a mile on this track. I like his jockey James Graham, who has done very well at this meet so far.

A main rival for Eagle is Another Lemon Drop who exits four races, two on the dirt and two on the turf. He has already raced at a mile and has a 9 furlong win on the turf. He was recently third behind Dortmund in a first-level allowance before cleaning-up December 19th here on this track going a mile and winning by five lengths. He gets a tough outside draw and again, I’m not too concerned about that. He gets Calvin “Bo-Rail” up from post #10.

Four Leaf Chief is my sleeper fellow. He has a great pedigree being out of Lookin At Lucky and has won 3 of five starts including the Louisiana Cup Juvenile Stakes and the Louisiana Fantasy . He knows this track and maybe he can step it up to wire this field?

Runhappy* (Alternate if a pick scratches) My fun pick and I loved his first race. How can you not love a colt that runs green as heck and still wins like he did? Super Saver doesn’t hurt as his daddy either. Run Happy Run!

Kari’s Play:
I’ll be playing some sort of exacta box or exacta part-wheel. I’ll post my plays on Twitter the day of the race. Most likely: $2 Exacta 11/3,4,10 and 3,4,10/11. Good luck all and thank you Sigi for adding your picks and plays!

Sigi’s Picks: 11,10,1
The LeComte Stakes is a very nice race with some promising horses and some not so. Against my principles, this time my top 2 horses have the worst post positions. Despite the horrible post, Eagle is the logical choice. This son of Candy Ride, lost in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes only for things of life because with a normal trip (I’m not saying clean), Eagle would have won the race. Another Lemon Drop is a very nice horse that can run everywhere. He has a good race against Dortmund finishing third 8 3/4 lengths back, in his first try in the dirt. In his next race, he smashed the field in the slop. If the pace turns hot, Another Lemon Drop can kill them in the last stride. Maybe a forgotten horse could be International Star. He has a few very good races on all surfaces and he also can take advantage from the rail. He’s not so speedy to take the lead, but he can stalk the pace and if the front runners fade, he can steal the race at big odds! The most popular horse of the race would be Runhappy, but he looked very green in his debut and I’m no sure if this horse will run straight this time. Well, he just can go straight in the first turn! Who knows? So, this time I’m just watching him.

Sigi’s Play:
This time I’m just playing an exacta box 11,10,1.

2015 LeComte Stakes Post Positions & Odds

1. International Star 8-1 M.Mena/M.Maker
2. Tiznow RJ 5-1 R.Albarado/S.Asmussen
3. Four Leaf Chief* 10-1 F.Geroux/S.B.Flint
4. War Story 9-2 J.Graham/T.Amoss
5. Hero of Humor 50-1 A.Reznikov/G.Dorochenko
6. Savoy Stomp 8-1 M.Smith/T.Pletcher
7. Runhappy 8-1 S.Bridgmohan/L.Wohlers
8. Killingit 15-1 J.Theriot/L.Wohlers
9. Dekabrist 30-1 S.Gonzalez, Jr./G.Dorochenko
10. Another Lemon Drop 6-1 C.Borel/P.Bauer
11. Eagle 3-1 B.Hernandez Jr./N.Howard

*Blinkers On Four Leaf Chief