Lecomte Stakes Grade III

For Three-year-olds

At a mile and seventy yards on the dirt

Fair Grounds Race Track

Saturday January 21, 2012

Purse of $201.250

A full field of ten sophomore colts and geldings was entered in the seventh running of the Lecomte Stakes GIII, one of the early preps for the Kentucky Derby later in the spring. The mile and seventy yards event is headlined by Graded Stakes winners Super Sexy Sanny and Sector Seven, but both Stakes wins were at the sprinting distance of seven furlongs.

Sector Seven has already proven that the distance is not an issue when he won his last start as a two-year-old in an allowance race of the same distance in a fast 1:40 3/5. This will mark his three-year-old debut and although he is an accomplished runner he will still be up against stiff competition. Sector Seven has been very active at exercise and has been pretty consistent in his works and this makes him a stand out and possibly the one to beat.

Super Sexy Sanny, a late bloomer of some sort came into his own back in November when winning the Hollywood Prevue Stakes GIII in what is the fastest time in the history of the race here on HRP 1:22:49. Lightly raced as a two-year-old this will mark as his three-year-old debut. Unlike Sector Seven who had prep for this race Super Sexy Sanny has not run since winning the Prevue and this could be his downfall, however coming into the race as a fresh horse could also work to his advantage.

My Back Pages already a graded stakes place runner in the Norfolk GI has not shown that "A" class level since and has been sprinting better than he routes but with a semi easy field he could make the frame and with the journey being a little longer than a traditional sprint he could relish the distance and surprise with a win.

Crown Eagle has been improving lately and seems to be a dark horse in this field. He too would relish the distance and may even find himself hitting the board for the first time in a Graded Stakes event.

Don Felipe will be making his return to the track an eventful on as he will try and improve on his last two outings in Stakes Company. Not the he has not been performing well but with a second place finish in the Arlington Park Futurity GIII it was expected that he would go on to bigger and better things. He was never a part of the race in the Breeders Futurity GI at a mile and sixteenth and he made some progress in the inaugural Breeders Cup Sprint event. Stepping into the Lecomte he will be a fresh horse and could end up in the money at the end.

Bac For Cup the only season runner in the field looks for his first Graded Stakes win, but by the looks of things he may still be searching when the race is over. A winning run may not be in his cards just yet but he sure has the ability but the class is not yet known for this youngster, no votes here.

Daytona will be making his stakes debut. He will be coming into the event with a two win streak and also he will be stretching out for the first time. He has been very active at exercise with breezes screaming "A" class potential and who knows maybe he could steal the show when it is all over.

Cryptomagic hailing from one of the leading barns debuts as a three-year-old in what maybe his easiest stakes challenge yet. He has been active in the mornings with superb works earning a bullet work at Santa Anita at six furlongs in 1:10 4/5, the only colt in this field to work that fast on the dirt. He has shown how versatile he is by winning on both turf and dirt and also winning short sprints to middle distance races, could be dangerous to all.

Dharkan has been drilled for this even and with Graded Stakes earnings on the line for a possible start in the Derby, who could resist an early start on the Triple Crown trail. Already a Stakes winner in his own right Dharkan will be seeking to step his game up and have Graded Stakes winner listed beside his name, his race record is a dream, even though he is not undefeated he has already won two Stakes races and placed in another now he definitely will be in the mix and could make his presence felt.

Pride Of Erin enters the Lecomte on a hat-trick and he is looking to keep his winning ways going by taking the next step to Graded Stakes Company. Unproven at any distance longer than six and a half furlongs this would be a test for him and one he might like. He has shown that he has the class by breaking his maiden in a State bred Stakes race and has kept on wining since then, he stands a chance but the main rivals will not make it an easy race for him.