NEW ORLEANS – No one could keep up with the Joneses on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
A couple hours after Believe You Can, bred and owned by a Jones (Brereton) and trained by a Jones (Larry) won the Silverbulletday Stakes, Mr. Bowling marched to victory in the Grade 3, $175,000 Lecomte Stakes for the same Joneses, beating back late runs from Z Dager and Shared Property and putting himself on the path to the $1 million Louisiana Derby.
Kids start getting excited about Christmas before Thanksgiving. Little girls shop for Easter bonnets as the winter snows begin to melt, and there are enterprising young men who stock up on Fourth of July fireworks even as the excitement of Valentine’s Day fades.
There’s no sense in waiting until the last minute, is the point.
Editor’s Note: Countdown to the Crown returns for a seventh season online as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 6 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.
Arcadia, Calif. - Liaison, trainer Bob Baffert’s top Kentucky Derby hope, worked six furlongs in 1:11 at Santa Anita on Thursday, the fastest of 16 recorded works at the distance.
Working in company with stablemate Sir Allison, Liaison started about five lengths behind and trailed by as many as six lengths on the backstretch. Ridden by jockey Martin Garcia, Liaison reduced the margin quickly in early stretch and finished in front of Sir Allison.
Baffert timed Liaison galloping out seven furlongs in 1:23.40
NEW ORLEANS – The Grade 3, $175,000 Lecomte Stakes anchors Road to the Derby Kickoff Day on Saturday at Fair Grounds, but do not expect any of the 13 three-year-olds entered in the Lecomte to return the opening kick for a touchdown. The idea here is not to fumble. Next month brings the $300,000 Risen Star Stakes, and the $1 million Louisiana Derby is on April 1.
“It’s still just January,” said trainer Al Stall, who will send Seven Lively Sins out for his 3-year-old debut in the Lecomte, a one mile and 70-yard dirt race.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – School was in session Thursday morning for New York’s top Kentucky Derby prospect and for one day at least Alpha was a model student.
Alpha put himself on the Kentucky Derby trail by winning the $150,000 Count Fleet Stakes here Jan. 7. The 3-year-old son of 2006 Preakness winner Bernardini won, despite displaying some bad habits in the gate that included nibbling at the assistant starter, rearing up right before the doors opened, and bobbling when they did open.
List of contenders for the 2012 Kentucky Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs, ranked by graded stakes earnings. The Kentucky Derby field is limited to 20 horses; if more than 20 enter, the entries are determined by the amount of graded stakes earnings each horse has accumulated.
[MORE: Derby Watch Top 20 Contenders]
[MORE: Road to the 2012 Kentucky Derby]
1. Union Rags
Consistently fast and fits the classic Derby profile[bc_video_id:236241:]
2. Hansen
Undefeated; little between the top two at this point
