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Lukas Contenders Turn in Final Preparations

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders Oxbow and Will Take Charge through their final pre-race moves April 29.

Ive Struck a Nerve, 135-1, Shocks Risen Star

A 135-1 shot took the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23, Matthew W. Bryan's Ive Struck a Nerve closing late in the furlong grounds and catapulting himself onto the Derby trail.

Lukas Weighs Options for Weekend Stakes Stars

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas had an anxious moment when victorious Will Take Charge stumbled while pulling up after winning the Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 21 at Oaklawn Park, but the Hall of Fame trainer said the colt is doing well.

After the Wire - 1/20/2013

Evan Hammonds recaps the Sunshine Millions Classic, Lecomte Stakes, and Silverbulletday Stakes.

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Oxbow in Lecomte, Silverbulletday is 'Magic'

Bluegrass Hall's Oxbow went wire-to-wire to win the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes by 11 1/2 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 19. Earlier, Touch Magic took the Silverbulletday.

THS: LeComte Stakes

Tom LaMarra and Pete Denk handicap the Lecomte Stakes and Sunshine Millions Classic this weekend.

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Circle Unbroken Starts Season in Lecomte

Grade III winner Circle Unbroken makes his 2013 debut Jan. 19 in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, stretching out in distance and taking on eight other 3-year-olds including Canadian stakes winner Avie's Quality.

Fair Grounds Meet to Open Thanksgiving Day

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will continue a 114-year tradition with live racing Thanksgiving Day as the 84-day 2012-13 meet will open with a 10-race holiday card Nov. 22.

Fair Grounds Boosts 2012-13 Stakes Purses

Fair Grounds Race Course has boosted the purses of eight open-company races on its 2012-2013 stakes schedule released June 28, marking the third straight year the average stakes purse has increased at the New Orleans oval.

Mr. Bowling Leads Strike of Gone West Sons

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Sons of Gone West had a strong strike rate Jan. 21, including Istan, whose son Mr. Bowling won the Lecomte.

THS: Lecomte S. & Colonel E. R. Bradley H.

Jason and Evan handicap the Colonel E. R. Bradley H. and Lecomte S.

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Triple Crown Prospects Line Up For Lecomte

The $175,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III), Fair Grounds' first graded 3-year-old race leading up to the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), drew a field of 13, a handful of them thought to be early Triple Crown prospects.

Razor Sharp Wilkinson Rides Rail to Lecomte

Wilkinson used a rail-skimming ride from Garrett Gomez to register a mild upset in the $100,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) as Fair Grounds' road to the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) got underway Jan. 22.

THS: LeComte Stakes

Jason, Tom, and Rich Nielson of twinspires.com preview the LeComte S. (gr. III) and an important Gulfstream Park allowance race.

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Lecomte First Stakes Test for Justin Phillip

Justin Phillip leads a short field in the $100,000 Lecomte (gr. III) Jan. 22 at Fair Grounds. Owner Ahmed Zayat is hoping the $400,000 yearling can make it to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) in May.

Maximus Ruler Works Five Furlongs

The Roman Ruler colt is scheduled to run in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II).

Well-Traveled Ron the Greek Captures Lecomte

Closing from out of the clouds, Ron the Greek ran down favored Maximus Ruler in the final strides to capture the $100,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) by 1 1/2 lengths at Fair Grounds Jan. 23.

THS: Holy Bull & LeComte Stakes

Jason, Tom, and Rich Nilsen of twinspires/brisnet preview the Holy Bull (gr. III) at Gulfstream, and the LeComte (gr. III) at Fair Grounds on January 23.

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Maximus Ruler Looks to Break Out in LeComte

Highly-regarded Maximus Ruler makes his 3-year-old debut when he battles 10 rivals in the $100,000 LeComte Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 23 at Fair Grounds.

Friesan Fire Returns to Races at Fair Grounds

Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm's Friesan Fire, who finished 18th of 19 as the 7-2 favorite for this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is one of six horses entered in the Dec. 3 feature at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Friesan Fire Burns LeComte Foes

Friesan Fire, a talented 3-year-old colt who had disappointed in his last three starts, finally showed why trainer Larry Jones considered him a legitimate Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) prospect from the outset.

Derby Horses to Watch This Weekend

Triple Crown Talk blog, with host Jason Shandler, looks at the LeComte Stakes, the first important graded earnings test for Kentucky Derby Hopefuls.

That Handicapping Show: LeComte (Video)

Jason and Evan analyze the LeComte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds on Saturday, January 10. The Wizard's Spotlight Play is Fair Grounds Race 2 on Saturday, January 10.

Lecomte Good Test For Derby Hopefuls

Indygo Mountain, who broke his maiden impressively Nov. 19 at Churchill Downs but had to be scratched from his next start because of a minor injury, was installed as the 3-1 morning-line choice in the $100,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Jan. 10.

Curlin, Pyro Impressive in Workouts

Horse of the Year Curlin, pointing toward a 4-year-old campaign, and 3-year-old contender Pyro were noses apart at the finish of a six-furlong tandem workout officially timed in 1:13 at Fair Grounds Jan. 30.

Dogwood Colts on Derby Trail

Two horses owned by Dogwood Stable have validated their status as early candidates for the 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, the partnership announced Nov. 26.

Hard Spun Looks to Remain Undefeated in Lecomte

Undefeated Hard Spun has been named the 2-1 morning line favorite for the $100,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Fair Grounds Race Course Jan. 13.

Grinding Storm Surge Captures Lecomte

Overbrook Farm's homebred 3-year-old Storm Surge registered his first graded stakes victory when he captured the $100,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds going a mile Saturday.

LeComte Pits Storm Surge Vs. Biloxi Palace

Louisiana's path on the Triple Crown trail officially gets underway Saturday with the running of the one-mile LeComte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds. Six 3-year-olds have passed the entry box, with Biloxi Palace and Storm Surge figuring to draw the most attention.

Fire Slam Roars in Lecomte; Louisiana Derby Next

Fire Slam put all questions about his health to rest Saturday by storming home a two-length winner in the $100,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds.

Fair Grounds Race Report: Easy Does It

For some owners and trainers, the $100,000 LeComte Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 26 was the goal. For others, the mile race was just a pop quiz. Questions had to be answered before the final exam, the $750,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) scheduled for March 10. Intentions were hard to read.

Haskin's Derby Report Continued

Continued from part 1