TurfPublicists: Stakes Advance: Wide Open Lecomte Lures 13 Sophomores

1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119 www.fairgroundsracecourse.com

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Contact: Jim Mulvihill, Communications and Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager, 504.948.1233, james.mulvihill@fgno.com

Contact: Graham Ross, Staff Writer, 504.948.1255, graham.ross@fgno.com

WIDE OPEN LECOMTE STAKES LURES 13 SOPHOMORES

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS (Wednesday, January 18, 2012) – A field of 13 sophomores, including a pair of late surprise entrants from multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Todd Pletcher, has been named to contest Saturday’s 67th renewal of the Grade III Lecomte Stakes for 3-year-olds possible for a Triple Crown campaign later this spring.

As the first local prep for the $1 million Grade II Louisiana Derby April 1, the $175,000 Lecomte at a mile and 70 yards is the centerpiece event among six stakes race worth $650,000 slated for Saturday’s expanded 13-race program packaged as Road to the Derby Kickoff Day Presented by Hotel Monteleone. First post is 12:10 p.m. General Admission is $5 and Clubhouse Admission is $10.

Also on tap Saturday is the Grade III Col. E. R. Bradley Handicap for older horses over the Stall-Wilson turf course, the $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes as the first leg of Fair Grounds’ sophomore filly series, the $100,000 Louisiana Handicap for older horses on the main track, the $75,000 F. W. Gaudin Memorial Stakes for older sprinters and the $75,000 Pan Zareta Stakes for older filly and mare sprinters on the grass.

As the headline attraction this weekend, the Lecomte precedes Fair Grounds’ Grade II Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 25 and that local sophomore series concludes with the Louisiana Derby on Closing Day of the New Orleans oval’s 2011-2012 Thoroughbred racing season.

Jerry Namy’s Shared Property, hero of Chicago’s Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity last Sept. 10, has been installed as the lukewarm 4-1 choice in the Lecomte based on that performance. The altered son of Scat Daddy, conditioned by nine-time Fair Grounds’ trainer champion Tom Amoss, will be ridden by regular rider Leandro Goncalves in the Lecomte. Shared Property, who breezed a bullet half-mile in 1:15.80 last Saturday here, will be making his first start as a 3-year-old after finishing sixth in the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity last Oct. 8 over Keeneland’s Polytrack course.

Stewart Madison, Justin Querbes III and Al Stall Jr.’s Seven Lively Sins, fourth in the Grade III Delta Jackpot in his last start Nov. 19 but second in Churchill’s Grade III Iroquois Stakes before that Oct. 30, has been pegged as the 9-2 second choice in the Lecomte early line. Fair Grounds’ defending jockey champion and current leading rider Rosie Napravnik will be astride the Al Stall Jr. trainee. The Stormy Atlantic colt breezed a half-mile in 50 flat Monday at Fair Grounds.

Stoneway Farm’s Exfactor, hero of Fair Grounds’ $60,000 Sugar Bowl Stakes Dec. 17 and winner of Churchill’s Grade III Bashford Manor last July 2, is the projected Lecomte third choice at 5-1. Trained by native New Orleanian Bernie Flint, Exfactor will be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Fair Grounds’ leading rider two seasons ago.

Completing the Lecomte field is the Zayat Stables’-owned coupling of Dan and Sheila and Z Dager, 6-1 with John Velazquez and Shane Sellers aboard respectively; the Raut LLC-owned entry of Adena’s Chance and Hero of Order, 20-1 with Marlon St. Julien and Iram Diego up in that order; Steve Martin’s Ted’s Folly, 10-1, Jose Medina; Brereton Jones’ Mr. Bowling, 8-1, Robby Albarado; Robert Cartwright’s Alexander Thegreat, 30-1, John Jacinto; Terry Hamilton’s Hammers Terror, 6-1, James Graham; Bluegrass Hall’s Chalybeate Springs, 20-1, Brian Hernandez Jr.; and David Randal’s Capetown Devil, 6-1, Corey Lanerie.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas made the surprise supplementary nomination of Chalybeate Springs at entry time after that Dynaformer colt broke his maiden at Oaklawn Park last Saturday, and five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher called something of an audible not sending Let’s Go Stable’s El Padrino and then substituting Dan and Sheila as part of a Zayat coupling following that More Than Ready ridgling’s maiden win at first asking at Gulfstream Dec. 17.

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 140th Thoroughbred Racing Season continues through April 1, 2012, highlighted by the $1 million Louisiana Derby for Kentucky Derby hopefuls on Closing Day. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.

-FG-

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James J. Mulvihill
Communications & Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
A Churchill Downs Incorporated Company

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