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.

Friesan Fire to Merryland in Maryland

Friesan Fire, winner of the 2009 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) and the favorite in that year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has been retired from racing and will stand at Merryland in Maryland.

Morning Line Takes on Six in Salvator Mile

Morning Line, winner of the seven-furlong Carter Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct in his last start, heads a field of seven in the Salvator Mile Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park.

Thiskyhasnolimit All In for Texas Mile Win

Favored Thiskyhasnolimit prevailed in a terrific stretch duel with Gladding to win the $200,000 Texas Mile (gr. III) by a half-length at Lone Star Park April 23 for his first graded stakes triumph since 2009.

Gladding Newest Californian to Try Texas Mile

Gladding, a grade II winner for trainer John Sadler, will attempt to become the latest California-based horse to win the Texas Mile (gr. III) when the $200,000 event is contested April 23 at Lone Star Park.

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.

Large Fields Highlight Opening Day at Spa

Saratoga will kick off its 142nd meet with a stellar opening day card, highlighted by the $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-old fillies and the $75,000 James Marvin Stakes that drew a field of 10

Arson Squad Defeats Solid Alysheba Field

Jay Em Ess Stable's Arson Squad took over at the top of the lane and bounded home for his second straight graded stakes score in the $169,650 Alysheba Stakes (gr. III) April 30 at Churchill Downs.

Awesome Act Works in :48 1/5 in the Slop

Awesome Act worked in :48 1/5 and galloped out in 1:00 2/5 on April 27. Jockey Julien Leparoux was in the irons.

Friesan Fire Returns to CD for the Alysheba

The Alysheba Stakes (gr. III) April 30 at Churchill Downs the day before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) is a homecoming of sorts for some former Kentucky Derby contestants.

Stonehouse Doesn't Crumble in Mineshaft Upset

Stonehouse shocked odds-on choice Friesan Fire in the Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) and Blues Street was too much to handle in the Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) at the New Orleans track Feb. 20.

Friesan Fire Favored in Mineshaft

The first three finishers in the Jan. 23 Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds are set to battle again in the Feb. 20 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) at the same 1 1/16-mile distance over the New Orleans oval.

Maximus Ruler Works Five Furlongs

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

Quality Road Tops Donn Handicap Nominees

Edward P. Evans' 2009 Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Quality Road leads a list of notable nominees for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 6 at Gulfstream Park.

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.

No Catching Friesan Fire in Louisiana 'Cap

Favored Friesan Fire scored his first victory since romping in last spring's Louisiana Derby (gr. II) when he led all the way to take the $72,750 Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds by 1 3/4 lengths 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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Friesan Fire, Gen. Quarters Make 4YO Debuts

Friesan Fire and General Quarters, both starters in the 2009 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I), will make their 4-year-old debuts Jan. 23 at Fair Grounds.

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 Third in Fair Grounds Allowance

Friesan Fire, sent off as the favorite in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), finished third in a Fair Grounds allowance contest in his first race back since the Preakness (gr. I).

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.