Outside post makes Lynn's Map doubtful for Lecomte
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
NEW ORLEANS – Lynn’s Map, a winner of two straight races since his career debut, probably will be scratched from the Lecomte Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds because of a poor post position.
Lynn’s Map drew the outside gate in a 14-horse field for the Lecomte, a 1 1/16-mile dirt race for 3-year-olds that leads to the Risen Star Stakes in February and the Louisiana Derby in March here in New Orleans. Trainer Mark Casse said Tuesday that he planned to enter Lynn’s Map on Friday for the Smarty Jones Stakes, which is to be run Friday, Jan. 24 at Oaklawn Park.
“We’ll enter both and see how we draw [in the Smarty Jones], see if there are any scratches” in the Lecomte, Casse said.
“This horse is doing really well right now, and I don’t feel right doing that to him,” Casse said, referring to the difficult task of racing from such a wide draw.
The Casse-trained War of Will won the Risen Star Stakes here last February after drawing post 14 and breaking from post 13.
“At this point in time, Lynn’s Map is not War of Will,” Casse said.
Lynn’s Map finished third in his career debut, won a one-turn-mile maiden race at Churchill Downs, and was up late to beat Lecomte entrant Mr. Monomoy in a Dec. 21 two-turn allowance race at Fair Grounds.
Casse also has Enforceable, most recently fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 30 at Churchill, for the Lecomte, the last of 13 races on Saturday’s card.
