Justin Phillip Breezes for Lecomte

Zayat Stables’ Justin Phillip and Sandra Duke’s Dreamsrunwild both breezed five furlongs Monday morning at  Fair Grounds in preparation for the upcoming Grade III Lecomte Stakes, headline attraction and one of six races scheduled for the Road to the Derby Kickoff Day Presented by Hotel Monteleone program now less than two weeks away on Jan. 22.

The Lecomte, first leg of the Crescent City oval’s 3-year-old series that continues with the Grade II Risen Star Stakes Feb. 19 and concludes with the $1 million Grade II Louisiana Derby March 26, carries a purse of $100,000 and will be run at one mile and 40 yards. Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm’s Friesan Fire swept the New Orleans sophomore series two years ago and then went to the post as the favorite in that year’s Kentucky Derby based on those local scores.

On Monday, Justin Phillip, conditioned by defending Eclipse Award-winning trainer Steve Asmussen, went the five-eighths over a track rated “good” in 1:02.20, while Dreamsrunwild, trained by Steven Duke, accomplished his move in 1:03.

“I was real happy with his work,” said Duke shortly after Dreamsrunwild’s move. “The track was a little heavy (after sporadic heavy showers in New Orleans Sunday) but he got the last eighth in 12 flat and that was what I was looking for, so I think we’ll go ahead and shoot for the Lecomte.”