Another Lemon Drop Eyes Lecomte Bid

Runaway local allowance winner Another Lemon Drop continues to progress in the mornings as he prepares for his stakes debut for trainer Philip Bauer and owner Rigney Racing. The son of Lemon Drop Kid exits a one-mile allowance victory in the slop at Fair Grounds Race Course on Dec. 19 in which he easily dismantled a field that included favored and highly regarded runner-up Distant Kingdom by five lengths under three-time Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel. On Friday, he worked a strong five furlongs in :49 flat – good for fifth-best of 39 works at the distance.

“He looked good this morning and we’re pointing toward the (Grade III $200,000) Lecomte Stakes on the 17th,” Bauer said. “We’ll give him one more work and are really happy with the way he’s progressing. Calvin wants to stick with the horse and as long as he wants him, we’ll stick with him. It’s nice to have someone on his back who believes in him.”

The dark bay colt has consistently kept good company lines. In his first start over the grass at Churchill Downs he finished fourth behind subsequent stakes colts Wayward Kitten and Majestico. Wayward Kitten starts as one of the favorites in Saturday’s Grade III $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park and Majestico was a solid fourth in the Grade III $250,000 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland in October.

“Age and distance are going to help the horse,” Bauer continued. “He will run all day and may even be a better 4-year-old than 3-year-old if he keeps progressing. The way he did (the work) today was nice. We don’t ask too much from our horses in the morning. He galloped out well and looked well within himself.”

Source: Fair Grounds Barn Notes