Lecomte Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2021 Lecomte Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2021 Lecomte Stakes is set for January 16 at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Lecomte Stakes Preview and Prediction
- Race: Lecomte Stakes
- Purse: $200,000
- Track: Fair Grounds
- Date: January 16
- Post Time: 5:49 PM (ET)
- Live: Lecomte Stakes Odds: Click Here
2021 Lecomte Stakes Handicapping
The road to qualifying for the 2021 Kentucky Derby goes through New Orleans on Saturday with the running of the (G3) Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. The Lecomte offers Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale.
Run at 1 1/16 miles on the Fair Grounds dirt course, the Lecomte has drawn a full field of 11 three-year-old colts, many trying to break through for their first graded-stakes win.
Odds listed here are from Bovada’s racebook.
2021 Lecomte Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Mandaloun Odds: 27-20
Undefeated so far in two lifetime starts, Mandaloun came from way back in the pack to get his maiden win at Keeneland first out, and then followed that up with an allowance-level score, recording a 94 Equibase speed figure in the process.
Those two wins came at six and seven furlongs, now he tries the stretch out in distance and looks for some early pace to run at.
Trainer Brian Cox and jockey Florent Geroux are both trying for their first Lecomte win.
2021 Lecomte Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Midnight Bourbon Race Odds: 11-4
Never out of the money in four lifetime starts, Midnight Bourbon has also twice tried graded-stakes company when running second in the (G3) Iroquois Stakes at Churchill and third in the (G1) Champagne at Belmont Park.
He took on a couple heavy-hitters last out in the Champagne in Jackie’s Warrior and Reinvestment Risk, both of whom went on to the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He was run off his feet against those, but takes a big class drop here and comes in off a three-month layoff.
Trainer Steve Asmussen has two previous Lecomte wins. Ricardo Santana Jr. gets the riding assignment.
2021 Lecomte Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Santa Cruiser Race Odds: 12-1
Improving every time out, Santa Cruiser has finished third, second and then first in three lifetime starts and has bumped up his speed rating by 10 points with every successive race.
Last out he got the perfect rail trip while laying down very fast early fractions to win going wire-to-wire over one mile at Churchill Downs. He finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of a horse named Regular Guy who won his next start and is in this field as well.
He’s a Keith Desormeaux trainee, jockey James Graham will be in the irons.
2021 Lecomte Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Beep Beep Race Odds: 12-1
Although he only has the single maiden win to his name, Beep Beep was impressive in that career debut, stalking just off the early pace and taking over in the stretch to win by more than three lengths.
He also scored a 91 speed figure for his effort there, and it’s always a good sign when a horse gets 90+ in his first lifetime start. A small step forward from that race makes him a contender here.
The trainer is Norm Casse, while veteran Joe Talamo will ride.
Here’s My 2021 Lecomte Stakes Free Pick.
With the class drop here Midnight Bourbon poses a serious threat at juicy odds, but I wonder if he’ll be at the top of his game after the layoff. The favourite Mandaloun is off to a good start in his career, but I think there’s a legitimate question about the competition he has faced and I think he’s vulnerable in this spot.
I’m going to take a price and bet Santa Cruiser for the win. I’m a bit of a sucker for horses like him that show consistent improvement race after race, and I think it’s significant that the Fair Grounds handicapper has him as the co-third choice at 6-1 in the morning line odds. I’ll use Midnight Bourbon in the exacta.
Full Field: Lecomte Stakes Betting Odds
- Mandaloun 20-27
- Midnight Bourbon 11-4
- Arabian Prince 15-2
- Proxy 15-2
- Manor House 15-2
- Beep Beep 12-1
- Santa Cruiser 12-1
- Regular Guy 25-1
- Dyn O Mit 33-1
- Red N Wild 33-1
- Game Day Play 40-1
What do you think of our 2021 Lecomte Stakes Race Odds & Predictions? Weigh in below with a comment. We welcome your feedback.
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