Last time out, it was Track Phantom over a fading Nash in the Gun Runner at the Fair Grounds. On Saturday, the Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects go at it again in the $200,000 Lecomte (G3).
A field of eight was entered for the 1 1/16-mile prep that offers Derby qualifying points of 20-10-6-4-2 to the first five finishers.
Track Phantom, trained by Steve Asmussen, is the 9-5 favorite, while Nash, trained by Brad Cox, is 5-2. With two scratches likely – Awesome Road and Next Level – and Tizzy Indy now only possible, the field would be reduced to five.
Nash, who stumbled at the start of the Gun Runner on Dec. 23, is owned by Godolphin and will have Florent Geroux aboard. The son of Medaglia D’Oro has been strongly for the Lecomte, working 4 furlongs in 49.20 on Jan. 5 and 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 on Jan. 13, both at the Fair Grounds.
“I figured he’d break and be on the lead,” Cox told drf.com, referring to the colt’s slow start in the Gun Runner. “I think he’ll be closer this time. I’m confident the horse is going to run a big race.”
Track Phantom, a son of Quality Road, will be ridden by Joel Rosario. The colt broke his maiden at third asking before his 1 ¼ length win in the 1 1/16-mile Gun Runner. His most recent work was Jan. 14 at the Fair Gounds going 4 furlongs in 50.60. Asmussen expects another strong effort.
“We got done exactly what we wanted in the Gun Runner. He’s got a ton of quality, and I don’t think we’ve got anywhere near the bottom of him,’’ the trainer told drf.com.
Also entered are Can Group, Ethan Energy, and Lat Long.
Post time is 7 p.m. ET.
The picks: 1 Nash 2 Can Group 3 Track Phantom
1 Next Level (David Cohen, Keith Desormeaux), 3-1
2 Nash (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox), 5-2
3 Tizzy Indy (James Graham Keith Desormeaux). 3-1
4 Can Group (Jareth Loveberry, Marrk Casse), 6-1
5 Ethan Energy (Luis Saez, Brad Cox), 4-1
6 Lat Long (Brian Hernandez, Ken McPeek), 8-1
7 Track Phantom (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen), 9-5
8 Awesome Road (Axel Concepcion, Brad Cox), 8-1
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
