Let's look at the field for the 2020 Lecomte
1. Finnick the Fierce
Broke his maiden easily going five furlongs in a four horse field at Indiana in June. He was given three months off and came back in a 75k OC going 6 1/2 furlongs at Churchill and went off at 36:1. He ran a bang-up fourth after a poor start and stamped himself as a racehorse. Inexplicably let go at 88-1 in the 1 1/16 Gr 2 Kentucky Jockey Club, he closed like a freight train for 2nd.
This son of Dialed In, who keeps getting ignored at the windows, will be on all my tickets. He draws the rail for the Lecomte and that's a good place to be at the Fairgrounds. He should get the inside stalkers trip and there is plenty of speed in here. Working like he means it! Don't pass him up!
2. Mr. Monomoy
He's Monomoy Girl's little brother and that alone should get your attention. He was a fast closing 4th in his first race at Keeneland after some early trouble and hasn't done much wrong since. He was a good 2nd in a 50k OC at this track last month and is sure to take money because of his sister, but I don't think he measures up to these. Can't fault you for liking him, but I'm going to pass.
3. Perfect Star
After the performances of War of Will and Omaha Beach when switched to dirt after grass success, who can fault trying the same thing this year? I can. This looks like a grass horse to me. I'm going to let him beat me.
4. Scabbard
He hasn't run a bad race yet, though his non threatening 4th in the Juvenile was nothing to write home about. He's battle tested with 2nds in the Saratoga Special and the Iroquois and fits in here with a nice inside draw. I think he has to be used, but I'm not wild about his chances for winning. He will be on my exotic tickets.
5. Exsession
He took five tries to break his maiden, but he always seems to have a chance. A steady grinder type who was beaten by Mr. Monomoy by three lengths at this track last month. I don't see him reversing that result here. If the speed collapses, he might stumble into the superfecta. I'm tossing him.
6. New Eagle
An early speed type who will not get the lead in here. He might be heard from early, but I doubt we'll hear from him late. He was beaten by the 1 horse last time after coasting on the front. No coasting in here. I'm tossing him.
7. Halo Again
He's 2 for 2 in his young career though his last was on the all weather at Woodbine. Still, beware the unbeaten horse! This son of Speightstown has been given a nice rest since his last and he's working like he means it. There's quite a bit of early speed in here and he should be running late. I'm using him.
8. Jack the Umpire
An early speed type from Delta who is three for four against lesser, but this time I think the umpire strikes out.
9. Silver Slate
This son of Hard Spun has two very good races under his belt and is working like he's going to run another. He's a little further outside than I would like, but I think he has to be used.
10. Enforceable
A late running son of Tapit who did run third in the Gr 1 Breeders Futurity at Keeneland. He seems to be more of the steady grind it out type than anything else and he'll have to pass them all to win here. The 1 horse beat him last time and will probably beat him again. I'll pass.
11. Bango
Seems to be overreaching in here. He was soundly thrashed by the nine horse last September and shows nothing that would make him a contender here.
12. Shashashakemeup
A front runner stuck on the outside with a faster horse to his immediate outside is not a recipe for success. No thanks.
13. Sycamore Run
A speed demon who broke his maiden at this track last month in a very fast time. The interesting thing is his breeding does suggest he can stretch out. I think he'll gun for the lead in here, get it, and hope to last. It's asking a lot from this post, but he's dangerous. I'm tossing him, but won't be entirely shocked if he beats me.
14. Lynn's Map
With a better post, this guy would've been my choice. This son of Liam's Map has run three really nice races. With the heavy speed to his immediate inside, he may be able to get over and work out a position easier than it looks on paper. I'll be using him on all my tickets.
A full field of 14 means there will be chaos galore with lots of upset chances. I'll be concentrating on the 1 and the 14, but mixing in the 4-7-9 on my exotics.
Good luck to all who are playing!
Thanks Punter. I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into this race and the Pegasus next weekend. Great weekend of racing coming up with Lecomte. I really have alot of work to do - been pretty lazy with the track since the Classic. Time to get rolling!! Thank you for the highlights.
Did you see this???!!! Mucho Gusto! WOW!!! Is he a definite for the Pegasus???? Im loving this...
Date: January 16, 2020 Track: SANTA ANITA PARK Distance: Six Furlongs Time: 1.11:60 Handily Track Condition: Fast Surface: Dirt Rank: 1/3
Sorry, my bad..........forgot to look there. I'll delete the post.
You didnt have to delete it. I just wanted to know if it was working here. You know this web editor doesnt always cooperate :)
It does appear Mucho G. will be running in the Pegasus............here's an article:
https://www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/letswastemoney/Pegasus_World_Cup_2020_Mucho_Gusto_can_contend_with_best_form_123#
With that workout - Mucho Gusto is a SERIOUS Player. Wow. He was always good, seems he took it up 10 notches since his last. Omaha Beach and Spun to Run have some major competition now.
I usually discount fast workouts from Baffert horses (he works them all fast). One of my automatic play againsts is a Baffert horse with slow workouts. He's a very talented horse, but his style seems to be working against him. How do you see him winning the race? If he tries to clear, there are faster horses in here. If he sits, he'll have to out-close Omaha Beach. I suppose, with the right post and the right odds, he might be worth a second look. I guess we'll have to wait for the draw and see how the race sets up.
A major sign that I look at is what type of breeding the horse has up against that workout. Mucho Gusto is stamina horse. He posted a 1:11.60 workout on the Santa Anita Track. Horses bred like that do not post 6f workouts in that kinda time - sprinter distance on that bias - no matter the trainer. His time there surpasses Shared Belief's best workout, another stamina guy. When I see that, my eyes open up.
Most of Bafferts hotshots are speed horses, therefore they always post very fast works, so yes, I dont really give much credence there but Mucho Gusto is Bafferts stamina horse exception.
Im not saying he's my top guy yet, but that workout makes him a serious contender for me, especially at Gulfstream. If a speed duel ensues, Mucho has the stamina to continue and his speed is rivaling those hotshots. He'd be the only one in that stamina spot. Plus, the Baffert factor at that distance is right on cue.
Looks like a wet day tomorrow at the LeComte................
Mucho Gusto worked 1:12.20 and 1:13.60 in his two works before the Haskell last year. Both were fastest of the day at the distance. He did run a bang up 2nd in the Haskell, so he may well be sitting on another big one. My point about Baffert is he works them fast no matter what. There is not a Gr 1 horse in training who could not run 1:11.60 for six furlongs, but trainers, as a rule, don't like to work their horses that fast. They think it takes to much out of their races and risks injury. Baffert is different.
That's a bummer about the weather at Fair Grounds. I am looking forward to the race, but mud changes everything.
Nice run by Enforcable to get the money here; he looked the winner every step. I thought the post might hurt him, but it was no problem at all. Finnick made a decent six wide swoop from the back, but was no match for the top three. Mr. Monomoy ran a little better than I expected, but I think his sister is the real runner in the family. The track seemed fair and the best horse won, much to my chagrin.
I was hoping for a wet track, as that's what I handicapped for. There were at least 6 horses that had some success in the wet but I really liked Jack the Umpire at 20-1, and was sure he's outrun his odds. When the track came up dry, I passed on the race.