Road to the Kentucky Derby: Lecomte Stakes Picks, Vegas Odds & Preview (Jan 21)
- Lecomte Stakes is the first race this calendar year to offer 20 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby
- Race will take place at Fair Grounds Race Course, Louisiana
If youâre looking for the latest Lecomte Stakes picks, predictions, and odds, then look no further than Vegas Odds.
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The action on the Road to the Kentucky Derby steps up a gear this weekend, as the G3 Lecomte Stakes is set for Fairgrounds. The winner of the race will earn 20 qualifying points, with runners involved looking to join the seven previous winners that have gone on to land the Louisiana Derby.
Schedule and How To Watch
- When: Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 7:30 p.m ET
- Where: Fair Ground, Louisiana
- Distance: 1 1/16 miles
- Grade: Grade 3
- Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 20-8-6-4-2
- How To Watch: FanDuel TV
Lecomte Stakes Vegas Odds
| Horse | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Instant Coffee | +250 |
| Tapitâs Conquest | +400 |
| Two Philâs | +500 |
| Echo Again | +600 |
| Bromley | +600 |
| Confidence Game | +800 |
| Denington | +800 |
| Itzos | +1500 |
Race Preview
The G3 Lecomte Stakes has always been an intriguing prep race in the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Since 1962, only horses aged three have been able to compete over a 1 1/16 mile distance. Famous winners of the race include Oxbow and War of Will, who would later go on to land the 2013 and 2019 editions of the Preakness Stakes, respectively.
Brad Cox has a strong hand for the race this Saturday, with Tapitâs Conquest and Instant Coffee both sitting among the main contenders. However, the latter appears to be the class in this field. He returned to action after finishing fourth in the G1 Breedersâ Futurity with a fine win in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club over this distance. That run achieved a speed figure of 82, which means that the three-year-old has now won two from three starts.
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Tapitâs Conquest is one of a number of other runners to have won on their previous starts. This contender stepped up to 1 1/16 miles extremely impressive at Churchill Downs, scoring a rating of 86. Meanwhile, Two Philâs finished behind Instant Coffee in the Breedersâ Futurity in August. However, he has already returned to action in excellent fashion with success in the G3 Street Sense over this distance. That run hit a rating of 88.
Meanwhile, Confidence Game was another winner at Churchill Downs, as he won over 1 1/16 miles with a rating of 91. That was a massive step in the right direction, and he may be slightly over-priced for the Lecomte this weekend. Meanwhile, Bromley is extremely interesting this weekend for trainer Paulo Labo. The three-year-old steps up in trip for the first time after winning over six furlongs at Churchill, and 6 ½ furlongs on the synthetic surface at Tampa Bay. But, the pedigree suggests that this distance will suit.
Lecomte Stakes Picks
Instant Coffee is certainly a runner to use in underneath plays, while I do think Two Philâs is likely to run another big race. However, my main win play will be on the Steven Asmussen runner. Echo Again was outclassed in the G3 Iroquois in September, finishing seventh, behind Curly Jack. However, there was a lot to like about his most recent start in the Remington Springboard Mile.
He was the strongest finisher over that one mile at Remington Park, and a chance will be taken on him to prove his quality over the 1 1/16 mile distance this weekend.
Lecomte Stakes Picks:
- Echo Again to win (+600)
- Exacta Box: (1) Echo Again/ (7) Instant Coffee/ (8) Two Philâs
