Sharp thinks temperament will help Malpais stretch out in Lecomte

When it comes to stretching horses out in distance, trainer Joe Sharp has a good idea of if and when a horse is able to do it and he believes that Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes runner Malpais has the credentials to get more ground.

Owned by Connie and Richard Snyder in partnership with Brett and Billie Jo Setzer, the 3-year-old son of Hard Spun broke his maiden on Dec. 22 going six furlongs and will make his two-turn debut in the Lecomte.

“We had two sprints with him but obviously this time of the year you have to try them going longer,” Sharp said. “There are a few in there that are just like him that have broken their maiden and obviously it’s a huge step up but he’s doing well. I think in the past, horses that have come out of races such as his have done really well in the Lecomte, like (2014 winner) Vicar’s In Trouble. I’ve seen it work before.”

Malpais is out of the stakes placed El Corredor broodmare D’Elegance and is from the same family as black type stakes winners Dancing With Ruth and Brown Eyed Beauty, both of whom won their stakes starts going one turn. Although, his pedigree suggests that he would be a sprinter, Sharp is confident in his distance capabilities.

“I think his temperament will give him the ability to get more distance,” Sharp said. “A lot of it is just up to them. It’s either a part of them or it’s not. Obviously the sounder they are mentally, the further it takes them in every aspect. That’s the thing with this horse; he handles anything you throw at him well. He’s just very mentally sound so it helps him to conserve energy.”

Malpais drew post two and will be guided by jockey Adam Beschizza at odds of 12-1. He was bred in Kentucky by his owners.

Meanwhile, Sharp’s undefeated sophomore filly Midnight Fantasy will take her show on the road to Delta Downs for her next outing and will race in the $100,000 Louisiana-Bred Premier Night Starlet on Feb. 9.

The Louisiana-bred daughter of Midnight Lute worked a half-mile in 49.40 over the Fair Grounds main track on Saturday morning, her first breeze since winning the fillies division of the Louisiana Futurity on Dec. 29.

“We’re going to stretch her out against her own kind and if that goes well then we’ll try her here against open company in her next start,” Sharp said.

Bred in Louisiana by J. Addock and Hume Wornall, Midnight Fantasy was purchased for $77,000 from this year’s Equine Sales of Louisiana 2-Year-Old and Horses of Racing Age Sale where she was consigned by Pike Racing. She is out of the Macho Uno broodmare St. Jean.