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:
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
