Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: Lecomte field coming up strong
Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 5 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space. We've got 122 days to go!
By Jonathan Lintner
It’s safe to say Fair Grounds’ Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes will be the highest-anticipated race on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail since November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Racing secretary Scott Jones, along with Fair Grounds’ stakes coordinator, on Wednesday confirmed an intriguing West Coast contender — Instilled Regard — is probable to join headliners Principe Guilherme and filly Wonder Gadot in the Jan. 13 event.
Instilled Regard is the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee who ran stride for stride with Solomini and McKinzie last time out in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity. Shouldering apparent bumps from both horses, Instilled Regard hit the wire just 3/4 of a length back and was awarded second place with Solomini’s disqualification.
Along with that trio, at least eight others are already pointing to the Lecomte with the draw set for Friday. In addition to the below list, trainer Steve Asmussen could enter one to two more contenders.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Jones said.
Us, too.
The field is limited to 14 starters, and any of five nominations — along with the “Louisiana Derby Early Bird” list of 88 horses — could fill the field.
• LeComte nominations past performances
• Louisiana Derby Early Bird past performances
The week ahead
Before the Lecomte runs, another pair of 3-year-old races will draw our attention Saturday.
Entries were taken Wednesday afternoon for the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita that offers Derby qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 scale. Get full field odds and analysis via HRN's Christine Oser.
The Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park doesn’t involve points but will feature highly regarded Dak Attack’s return to the races. Get full field odds and analysis courtesy of HRN's Matt Shifman.
Check back later for entries and full-field analysis.
When’s the Jerome?
A member of the New York Racing Association’s press office said Wednesday that track officials are looking “very closely” at weather when it comes to rescheduling the $150,000 Jerome Stakes that was originally to run on New Year’s Day. The weekend of Jan. 13-14 looks most likely with snow in the forecast before this Saturday.
We’ll plan to catch up with connections to the previously drawn horses — a group headlined by multiple graded stakes winner Firenze Fire — in the coming days.
Following the Jerome on the road to the Derby trail at Aqueduct is the Withers Stakes on Feb. 3.
Stock up/down
Since unveiling our Kentucky Derby contender rankings over the weekend, a slew of new user votes have moved a few horses up — and some down — on the list. The rankings update each hour.
Principe Guilherme had the No. 1 spot for a short time but has fallen to third. We’ll know more after the Lecomte about whether he should stay that high having not faced stakes company.
Heading up are a pair of impressive firsters. A week ago, Strike Power debuted with a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, second-fastest so far for his crop. On Monday, Bob Baffert-trained Ax Man impressed with a 96 Beyer at Santa Anita. Both cracked our top 50 contenders.
The Works
Kowboy Karma — One of Larry Jones’ likely Lecomte contenders, the son of Kodiak Kowboy has drilled twice now following a runner-up effort in the Nov. 11 James F Lewis III Stakes at Laurel Park. This five-furlong work finished in 1:00.20 (1/5) at Fair Grounds. Two starts back, he was fourth in the Grade 1 Champagne, a key race on the Derby trail.
Mourinho — This drill actually came Tuesday, but it’s worth noting, as he will be among the top choices for the upcoming Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. The Super Saver colt put in an easy half mile in 50.80 seconds (24/27). But in preparing to stretch out in the Sham, he worked six furlongs the week prior.
Derby links
• Papa Clem, a Grade 2 winner who ran fourth in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, has been sold and will stand at stud in Turkey this year, the Daily Racing Form reports. The horse is now 12 years old and previously stood for $2,000 in California.
• WKYT, the Lexington, Ky., CBS affiliate, updated how horses — including 2002 Derby winner War Emblem — are coping with a cold spell at Old Friends Farm.
• The Courier-Journal says “it's not too early to talk about our most favorite time of year.” We agree. On the social scene, the Unbridled Derby Prelude Party is set for this week in Los Angeles.
In case you missed it...
Tuesday's first Derby Daily report focused on Remington Springboard Mile winner Greyvitos, who after the race had bone chips removed from his knee. While the colt is off the Derby trail for now, trainer Adam Kitchingman believes he could still return in time.