Running Mate joins the Jones ticket

The Lecomte is the first 2017 Fair Grounds stakes race for open 3-year-olds on dirt, and it would not be unfair to look at the featured eighth race Friday at Fair Grounds as the first local step toward the Lecomte.

The six-furlong race for 2-year-olds is open to first-level allowance horses or $50,000 claimers, and its winner will likely be pointed for a stakes race of some sort, be it the Jan. 21 Lecomte or something not so distant.

Bettors are likely to judge Running Mate the most likely winner. A second-time starter trained by Larry Jones, Running Mate debuted Oct. 5 at Delaware Park, made the lead soon after the start, and basically ran unchallenged, winning by six lengths. On the positive side, he ran fast, six furlongs in 1:10.48, including a final quarter-mile in 24.02 seconds and his last eighth in 11.81, which is especially strong for a first-time-starting 2-year-old. On the negative side, his competition was, to be polite, slightly talent-challenged.

Running Mate, a Bret Jones homebred by Creative Cause, breaks from the rail Friday under Gabriel Saez and, unless an education is in the offing, figures to wind up on the lead. His rivals are considerably better than last time, with Honor River and Zunino the most appealing alternatives. Honor River debuted decently on dirt in the spring but has since raced only on Tapeta at Woodbine. Zunino, who gets Lasix for the first time for trainer Mike Stidham, makes his dirt debut after a pair of grass races.