Morning line set for LeComte// Flashback fires bullet, pointing to Robert Lewis// Tentative plan set for Verrazano

Summary

The favorite for this Saturday’s LeComte (G3) was not obvious when looking at the PPs. Today we learned it’s Avie’s Quality at 5-2, at least on the morning line. By Saturday, the favorite could very well be graded stakes winner Circle Unbroken (7-2) or even sharp allowance winner Malibu High (5-1).  The LeComte will be Avie’s Quality’s first attempt on dirt, much less his first race away from Woodbine. Ever since the addition of blinkers, he has reeled off authoritative wins in a maiden contest and a listed stakes.  Avie’s Quality’s trainer Josie Carroll says the colt has been training well on dirt, but they all say that, so the jury is still out// Dallas Stewart is pleased with Golden Soul’s progression in morning workouts and thinks the dominating maiden winner deserves a chance to make the Kentucky Derby// Finally some news on Todd Pletcher’s Verrazano.  The eye-popping maiden breaker has been training well and Pletcher is looking for an allowance in February and hoping to “gradually stretch out”.  Whether or not that means a possible start in one of the 100-point Derby preps in late March or April later down the road remains to be seen// Flashback, another popular debut winner from a Derby winning barn, blitzed 4-furlongs at Santa Anita this morning in 46:60. Bob Baffert announced the Robert Lewis (G2) on February 2 is the current target race// Keeneland announced their Spring stakes schedule, with no surprises in purses or dates for the two Derby preps: Bluegrass S. (G1) and Coolmore Lexington S. (G3)// more…

Entries:

LeComte Stakes (G3)- Fair Grounds- 1M 70 yards- 5:55 ET

Derby Points 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th: 10, 4, 2, 1

PPs: Click Here

Preview Articles: Bloodhorse Bloodhorse THS Video/ DRF / Brisnet / HR Nation / Courier Journal /  

Articles:

Road to Kentucky Derby has a new map (DRF)

Avie’s Quality gets chance to prove himself on dirt in LeComte (DRF)

Keeneland Spring stakes to offer 3.625M (Bloodhorse)

2013 Kentucky Derby contenders (About.com)

Workouts:

Flashback- SA- 4F- 46:60- H- 1/34

Hear the Ghost- HOL- 6F- 1.15:40- H- 9/10

Quotes and Tweets:

“3YO Flashback pointed to Bob Lewis Stakes @santaanitapark on Feb. 2, per [Bob Baffert]”- Dick Downey via Twitter

“[Verrazano] had a good breeze on Sunday (four furlongs in :49 2/5), and he’ll have another one this Sunday. Then, we’ll look for a spot for him maybe next month,” Pletcher said. “Most likely we’ll go the allowance route. We’ll look to gradually stretch out.”- Todd Pletcher via Gulfstream Park Notes

9 entered for Saturday’s LeComte// Get Happy Mister transferred to Von Hemel, will he ever stretch out?// Avare arrives at Oaklawn

Summary

It’s interesting to see what angle the major horse racing publications use when previewing a race with no clear-cut favorite. Nine entries were drawn for the LeComte (G3) this Saturday at the Fair Grounds, while Oxbow, Circle Unbroken, Avie’s Quality, Malibu High, and Golden Soul all received first paragraph attention.  The LeComte field represents a diverse cast in both accomplishments and geography.  The entries have raced in California, New York, Canada, Kentucky, and West Virginia.  Accomplishments range from maiden wins (Oxbow, Hawaakom, Golden Soul, Ive Struck a Nerve), allowance winners (Malibu High, Fear the Kitten, Heitei), a listed stakes winner (Avie’s Quality), and a graded stakes winner (Circle Unbroken)// With Calvin Borel on the sidelines with a wrist injury, Miguel Mena gets the temporary assignment aboard undefeated Malibu High.  I’m sure he’s happy to fill in for a $200,000 stakes race, but knowing he’s only a stopgap replacement will surely damper his enthusiasm if the colt performs well. Full entries and a link to free PPs for the LeComte can be found below// Palace Malice, last seen in August easily winning a Saratoga maiden contest, was entered in an allowance Saturday at Gulfstream. Todd Pletcher most likely has bigger plans for him after that// Undefeated Get Happy Mister was transferred to Kelly Von Hemel’s barn and pointing for the six-furlong Gazebo Stakes March 3 at Oaklawn. I normally wouldn’t pay much attention to a sprinter from Arapahoe Park, but the fact he’s won his four races by a combined 31 1/4 lengths and sired by Fountain Of Youth winner First Samurai I’ll keep him on my watch list.  You would hope his connections would at least try to stretch him out// More ink for Brown Almighty who will be making his dirt debut in the Smarty Jones Stakes on Monday.  The buzz generated for this slightly above-average turf runner is astounding, but apparently his trainer Tim Ice feels he’ll show a new dimension on dirt.  Among the challengers Brown Almighty will face is another buzz horse Avare. The Doug O’Neill trained sophomore is a recent winner of the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita and just arrived at Oaklawn// more…

Entries:

LeComte Stakes (G3)- Fair Grounds- 1M 70 yards- 5:55 ET

Derby Points 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th: 10, 4, 2, 1

PPs: Click Here

Preview Articles: Bloodhorse / DRF / Brisnet /

Articles:

Brown Almighty to make dirt debut in Smarty Jones (DRF)

Pedigree Profile: Vyjack (Horse Racing Nation)

Get Happy Mister, winner of Gold Rush Futurity, in Von Hemel’s barn (DRF)

Kentucky Derby Report 1-17-13 (Brisnet)

Workouts:

Heitei- EVT- 4F- 51:15- B- 2/10

Oxbow- OP- 4F- 50:20- B- 5/9

Tweets:

Photo of Avare at Oaklawn by Nick Hines via Twitter:

No rush for Mylute// Avie's Quality works for Lecomte// More updates on Pletcher prospects

Tom Amoss announced Mylute, third in the Delta Jackpot (G3), will skip Saturday’s Lecomte (G3) at the Fair Grounds and point for the Risen Star on February 23 instead.  Apparently nothing is wrong with the colt, but Amoss would like to give him more time after a 6 race juvenile campaign.  I don’t understand why this is a surprise and even how he was listed as probable for the Lecomte considering Mylute has not registered a workout since his last race December 26// Trainer Bret Calhoun is still deciding between the Lecomte or Monday’s Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn for Tour Guide.  He said it greatly depends on the condition of the track at Oaklawn, which recently was damaged with a sinkhole// Avie’s Quality was the lone Lecomte probable to workout today. He turned in a 4-furlong breeze timed in 48.70// Proud Strike broke his maiden in his third start last Saturday for Steve Asmussen, and the trainer seems excited for the future.  He will either start next at the Fair Grounds or Oaklawn.  Part of the promise for Proud Strike lies in the fact he was second to much-hyped Bradester in a maiden contest at Churchill last November// Yesterday DRF informed us on the current status of Todd Pletcher’s top Derby prospects, but today Jennie Rees has an update on all 15.  No major developments however, and I’m still anxious to see where Verrazano ends up// The top two finishers of the California Derby, Zeewat and Wildcat Moon, will make their next starts in the logical El Camino Real Derby (G3) February 16// more…

Articles:

Mylute will wait for Risen Star [and notes on Proud Strike] (DRF)

Looking at Todd Pletcher’s Derby prospects (Courier Journal Blog)

Zeewat’s victory in the California Derby makes him local favorite for El Camino Real (DRF)

Workouts:

Avie’s Quality- PMM- 4F- 48.70- B- 7/20