The Kentucky Derby prep races to determine the 2025 Derby field continue Saturday with the 3-year-old horse racing world turns to Louisiana this weekend with the running of the Lecomte at the Fair Grounds.
The race is 12th on the Fair Grounds on Saturday and is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. PDT post.
There were 13 horses drawn into the 1-1/16-mile race. Let’s look at the field in post-position order
Lecomte (Grade III, 12th race, 3:30 p.m.)
In order of post in the 1-1/16-mile Kentucky Derby prep.
- Innovator (D Wayne Lukas trainer, Jaime Torres jockey) comes into the race with one win in seven starts. The win actually came in the last start, a straight maiden win at Oaklawn Park on Dec. 29. He did try a pair of stakes races while still a maiden, finishing fifth, beaten 12 lengths in Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga in September, then was second in a $150,000 stake at Oaklawn on Dec. 6. Does prefer to be on or near the lead.
- Maximum Promise (Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr.) has two starts, both at Ellis Park. The first July 7 and he ran fifth, then almost a month later where he came back and won by 14 lengths in a straight maiden race. He wired the field as the favorite and will be part of the pace factor here.
- Admiral Dennis (Brad Cox, Joel Rosario) has a first, third, and fourth in his three starts. He was third in the debut, then came through with a win in a $119,000 straight maiden. In his first start against winners, he was fourth, beaten 16 in the Gun Runner at the Fair Grounds in late December. As much as I would love to endorse this horse on his name alone, I can tell you one thing, this will be the first time he will not be the favorite.
- Magnitude (Steve Asmussen, Jose Ortiz) chased the speed all around the track before finishing second in the Gun Runner. Loves to be on or near the lead throughout the race. Has two wins in and one second in five starts. Not the overly impressive runner you would expect for Derby contender but does look better than a bunch of others.
- Optical (Keith Desormeaux, James Graham) ended last year with a third, then a win in $50,000 allowance races at Churchill Downs. He has had some big works for this return over the Fair Grounds track. Seems to like to sit 3-4 deep and begin to move about three-quarters through the race. He has two career wins and a third in seven starts.
- Golden Afternoon (Nicholas Vaccarezza, Axel Concepcion) has two wins and a second in three starts but all have come on the turf. Won at first asking September 8 and Kentucky Downs, then came back to run second in the Bourbon at Keeneland a month later. In the last start in late November, he brought home the win in a $100,000 optional claimer at the Fair Grounds. Never been worse than third at any call in all three races. The big question – how he will take to the dirt.
- Calling Card (Michael Maker, Frankie Dettori) took three starts before he got a win against straight maiden company on Nov. 17 at Aqueduct. In his first time back out against winners on Dec. 13 at Oaklawn in an optional claimer was third by seven lengths. He prefers to sit back and make a late run. There is speed here, so…
- Tough Catch (Dallas Stewart, Luis Saez) has two wins and two seconds in five starts. The last start was a win on Dec. 21 in the Sugar Bowl at the Fair Grounds in fourth straight stakes race. Has not been two turns yet so there is always that question. He can sit back or stick close to the pace. He looks to be the one with the best resume.
- Dapper Moon (Dallas Stewart, Edgar Morales) two wins in six career starts and is coming off an allowance at the Fair Grounds. Before then he was fourth in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 30 at Churchill. Will look to sit just off the pace.
- Mobetterthangood (Kenny McPeak, Colby Hernandez) has one start, that coming on Sept. 25 at Saratoga. In that seven furlong debut he came from well back to get the win. He’s a had a solid work tab for the return for a barn that hits at 19 percent coming off this length of a break. First look – this one is not ready for this step up.
- Disco Time (Brad Cox, Florent Geroux) has two wins in two starts and given the connections, there is every reason to think this one is a contender. In the maiden score at Churchill on Nov. 1 he sat close to the speed and drew off for the win. He came back on Nov. 30 in a $100,000 optional claimer, also at Churchill, he led throughout, then drew off to win by over three.
- Jolly Samurai (Danny Pish, Rene Diaz) has three wins in four starts. All four races have been at Remington Park, including his last, the $300,000 Springboard Mile where he was fifth, beaten 7-lengths.
- Built (Wayne Catalano, Jareth Loveberry) was the winner of the Gun Runner at 7/2, wiring the field and drawing off to win by six. He was fourth in his debut at Ellis Park on August 20, then came back and won at Keeneland in a $100,000 straight maiden race.
By Dennis Miller