Free Lecomte PPs now available
The first Kentucky Derby prep of 2021 at Fair Grounds, the Lecomte Stakes (G3), has drawn a competitive field of eleven runners each looking to notch their first career graded-stakes win.
While proven form at the stakes level is in short supply, upside is abundant in this intriguing race.
Mandaloun is the tepid 3-1 morning-line favorite after winning the first two starts of his career for Brad Cox and Juddmonte Farms. The son of Into Mischief looks like he will adore two-turns and is dangerous if he continues his improving pattern.
Michael Stidham's Proxy already has winning experience at both Fair Grounds and over a route of ground.
Midnight Bourbon and Arabian Prince bring a touch of class to the field as they have already faced stakes company.
Beep Beep, Santa Cruiser and Manor House enter this race off of impressive maiden scores.
With so many directions to go, we turn to our friends at Brisnet to take a look at free past performances for the Lecomte.
Mandaloun leads the way in the Prime Power Ratings. He has done nothing wrong in two starts and has shown versatility and the ability to pass horses. He is the type of horse who can make his own trip and looks like the one in this field with the most Kentucky Derby upside. Mandaloun could be defeated, particularly if a recent maiden winner takes a large step up, but he appears to be a safe bet to at least run in the exacta.
Mandaloun has shown he does not need the lead to win, which is a big deal in early 3-year-old races where most runners only have experience wiring the field. Races like this are often won in one of two ways. Either all the speed materializes, leading to a collapse in which the best closer wins the race; or the speed of the speed draws off from the inexperienced runners.
According to the Early Pace Rating, Keith Desormeaux's Santa Cruiser is the speed of the speed in this race.
The improving son of Dialed In won his first attempt routing after setting a swift fraction of 45.31 for the opening half. Santa Cruiser showed class running third behind Essential Quality in his debut and Desormeaux's horses often get better with racing.
Out of all the front-runners in this field, Santa Cruiser appears the colt most worthy of playing. He and Mandaloun are the most likely winners of this race and an exacta box with the two runners is the suggested wager. Arabian Prince looks like the perfect horse to complete any trifecta wagers.
Determine who you like by taking a look at the Lecomte PPs below, with the option to go full screen in the lower right corner of the window. Visit our free past performances page to view more free stakes PPs.