The LeComte (GIII)

The Road to the Roses gets in full swing this week, with graded Derby preps at the Louisiana Fair Grounds and Santa Anita. With the weather and drainage problems that Santa Anita has had recently, we will stay away from the San Rafael (GII) and focus our attention on the traditional dirt of the Fair Grounds.

The LeComte (GIII) boasts a field of eight Triple Crown hopefuls after this morning's scratch of Star Guitar. Blackberry Road (#6) enters as the marquee attraction and morning line favorite. The Gone West colt has hit the board in two straight graded stakes efforts, his last a career best 85 Beyer in the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) where he finished a half-length behind Anak Nakal, a top Derby contender. He was full of run late in that race, and we expect that to be the cast today as well. We also expect the slight turn back from 1 1/16 miles to today's mile will be enough to compromise his chances to win.


Texas Fever (#1) makes his first start on the conventional dirt. His recent work tab suggests it will be his preferred surface after four starts on the synthetic and one attempt on the lawn.


Our top choice is The Darp (#2), who gets Robby Albarado in the irons. Albarado switches mounts today after piloting Mad Flatter (#7) in his last two outings. The Darp handily beat maidens over this same mile course in his last outing, and we are looking for him to top that effort today. He'll have to hold off a late run by Macho Again (#8) to take top honors. We think he will.


The play:

$.10 super 1-2/1-2-8/ALL/ALL $12
$1 tri key 2/1-8 $2
$1 exacta box 1-2-8 $6

Total investment - $20