Fair Grounds: Lecomte longshots worth at least a look

NEW ORLEANS – If 3-year-old Fair Grounds stakes races have taught us anything the last two years, it is this: Don’t forget the longshots.

In the 2013 Risen Star Stakes, Ive Stuck a Nerve beat what turned out to be a strong group at odds of 135-1. In the 2012 Louisiana Derby, it was Hero of Order who pulled a shocker, nipping Mark Valeski at 109-1.

There probably are no 100-1 shots in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on Saturday, but with attention focused on likely favorites Albano and Gold Hawk, there will definitely be overlooked entrants.

The Lecomte, a 17-point (10-4-2-1) Kentucky Derby qualifying race, was one of five stakes drawn Wednesday for Saturday’s Road to the Derby Kickoff Day. The Lecomte, the first local step toward the $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 29, drew a field of nine, comprising, from the rail out, Roman Unbridled, Rainbow Trip, Got Shades, Gold Hawk, Smarty’s Echo, Albano, Vicar’s In Trouble, Silent Ruler, and Plug Catcher.

The $125,000 Silverbulletday for 3-year-old fillies attracted six entrants. Unbridled Forever, who drew post 2, and Divine Beauty, who landed post 6, are the headliners.

The Lecomte, race 9, will be run at one mile 70 yards on what should be a fast main track. Typically considered a mere stepping-stone to more important 3-year-old stakes later in the winter, the Lecomte has produced good recent winners like Oxbow in 2013, Ron the Greek in 2010, and Hard Spun in 2007.

Rail-drawn Roman Unbridled and stretch-out sprinter Vicars In Trouble, who landed post 7, should ensure a swift pace. Gold Hawk, who makes his highly anticipated stakes debut for trainer Steve Asmussen after starting his career with two wins, drew well in post 4, as did route-debuting Albano, winner of the six-furlong Sugar Bowl here last month.

Gold Hawk and Albano might wind up being the class of the field – or they might not. At this stage of the game, with young, lightly raced horses changing and developing week to week, anything can happen in a race like the Lecomte. Ive Struck a Nerve looked overmatched on paper in last year’s Risen Star, as did Hero of Order in the 2012 Louisiana Derby.

Ive Struck a Nerve’s trainer, Keith Desormeaux, has one of the Lecomte longshots, Silent Ruler, who enters the race still a maiden after being disqualified from a two-turn victory Dec. 13. Silent Ruler raced again Jan. 3, finishing third in a maiden race while trying to rally into a slow pace. Desormeaux liked the colt’s workout here Tuesday morning and saw no reason not to try the Lecomte.

“If he hadn’t been DQ’d from that win, this would have been the spot,” Desormeaux said. “Why not take a shot?”

Bret Calhoun, trainer of Plug Catcher, had a similar thought. Plug Catcher was solidly outfinished by Gold Hawk in a Dec. 27 allowance race and should offer double-digit odds in the Lecomte. Calhoun felt Plug Catcher lost his focus last time.

“I still think he’s better than that,” Calhoun said.

Smarty’s Echo finished 10th of 13 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, his dirt debut, a month after coming home a good second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity over Keeneland’s Polytrack. Smarty’s Echo was 35-1 in the Breeders’ Cup and figures to be a price again Saturday with bettors generally assuming the colt prefers synthetic surfaces or turf to dirt.

“He only had three days at Santa Anita to train,” trainer Anne Smith said. “He’s had more time to get comfortable over this track. He feels pretty good on this surface.”

Rainbow Trip and Roman Unbridled also will go off as Lecomte longshots. If recent history is a guide, they can’t be totally ignored, either.

Few to face Prayer for Relief

Prayer for Relief, who won the Tenacious Handicap last month by more than six lengths, will have no more than five rivals when he tries for a second straight stakes win in the Louisiana Handicap on Saturday. Agent di Nozzo, third in the Tenacious, is back for another try, with new shooters Street Spice and Fordubai lending a touch of depth to the field.

Agent di Nozzo and Grand Contender were cross-entered in the Louisiana and the Colonel Bradley, a turf race Saturday that attracted 12 entrants. Topping the Bradley’s turf-intended group are Daddy Nose Best, River City Handicap upsetter Potomac River, Gulfstream Park shipper Speaking of Which, and Louisiana-bred String King.

A full field of 12 fillies and mares plus three also-eligibles was entered in the Marie Krantz, another turf-route race.