2009 Kentucky Derby trail: Grade 3 Lecomte from Fair Grounds
January 9, 2009 by Jarrod Horak
Filed under Handicapping, Horses, International Racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Miscellaneous, Racetracks, Stakes Races, Trainers, Triple Crown
Friday (1-9-09) Fair Grounds recap
Fast track and good turf course. Four wire jobs on the main. Stalkers and closers fared best in the two turf races carded.
Jesus Castanon and James Graham both booted home a pair. Bret Calhoun saddled two winners on the card.
Trusty made it 3-3 for Tom Amoss with a gritty win in the 7th. My top choice Holiday Cruise was coming late but fell a length short in a solid show finish.
Note that Francisco Torres took off his mounts the last two days, and he’ll be out a bit longer after recent tests revealed a fractured clavicle. He was injured working a horse on Thursday morning.
They're off at Fair Grounds Race Course
Saturday (1-10-09) Fair Grounds preview
Saturday’s 11-race card features the Lecomte (race 9), the 1st graded route for Kentucky Derby hopefuls.
Weather: Scattered thunderstorms (60% chance). High 74.
Grade 3 Lecomte preview (race 9): Indygo Mountain (3-1) is the tepid morning line fav. He was a post parade scratch on Dec 18th after coming up lame. Promising son of A.P. Indy was a sharp maiden winner when last seen at Churchill in November, and he may need this outing. Uno Mas (5-1) won the aforementioned Dec 18th allowance race here for Steve Asmussen after heavy fav Friesan Fire (5-1) went too fast early. Patena (4-1) may go off favored following $150k stakes win at Woodbine in Deceber. He tries conventional dirt for the first time. Professor Z (6-1) is also trained by Asmussen, and he exits optional claiming route win at Aqueduct.
Photo Credit: newscom.com
