Debut winner Girvin pointing to Lecomte

Girvin impressed trainer Joe Sharp enough winning his career debut Dec. 16 at Fair Grounds that he plans to give the colt his second start in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 21.

Girvin, by Tale of Ekati out of Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon, showed excellent early speed in his debut, and after a race-long battle edged another talented first-timer, Excitations, by a head. He ran six furlongs in 1:10.32, earning an 87 Beyer, the best figure for a 2-year-old during 2016 at Fair Grounds.

“He’s one of the nicest 2-year-olds I’ve ever been around at this point,” Sharp said. “I knew he was a fast horse, but I didn’t know he was fast like that, that he’d be so far forward. I really think he’ll run longer.”

Saint’s Fan, another intended Lecomte Starter, worked a half-mile in 49 seconds on Thursday for trainer Dallas Stewart.

Arklow displays talent

Arklow remains a maiden after three starts, but he is an early-season 3-year-old to watch after posting a strong second-place finish behind Takeoff in a maiden route race on Monday. Arklow got a 78 Beyer one start after a troubled route debut at Churchill Downs.

“Distance is not going to be an issue for him; he can run all day,” said trainer Brad Cox. “The plan is to bring him back in a Jan. 21 maiden race, and hopefully he can step up then and get into some of those 3-year-old stakes down the road.”