Can’t wait until the Kentucky Derby to do some online horse race gambling? Never fear, the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby passes through the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana this Saturday, January 21st for the Lecomte Stakes, which offers a $200,000 purse – must be a Louis Vuitton – but more importantly, 10 RTTKD points to the winner, four points to the runner-up, and two and one points to the third and fourth place, respectively. The 12-horse field includes the too-clever-for-their-own-good names that people who bet on horse races have come to expect, so let’s get to know these noble brutes more profoundly.
1. Phat Man. Trainer: Joe Sharp. Jockey: C.J. McMahon. The Lecomte Stakes might be too much of a challenge for Phatty, but there may be a hidden cache of untapped potential here that compels one to at least give him the benefit of the doubt. If he loses, though, it’s a good thing horses don’t cry, because there’s nothing worse than watching a Phat Man weep.
2. Arklow. Trainer: Brad H. Cox. Jockey: Jon Kenton Court. Arklow is still a maiden, having finished behind winner Takeoff the last time out, but he has also shown a lot of progress as well as a lot of potential.
3. Totality. Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen. Jockey: David Romero Flores. Tapit’s son has lost two in a row, but he did rally to finish second at Remington. Plus, he won in his debut. A long shot, but still a shot.
4. Shareholder Value. Trainer: Thomas M. Amoss. Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan. This horse is the son of Uncle Mo (so, he is his uncle, and his daddy?) for whom Christmas came twice when he won his first stakes attempt on December 26th. One of several with an online horse race gambling chance at Lecomte.
5. Untrapped. Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen. Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr. Lecomte will be this horse’s first try around two-turns, having excelled during his second start at Churchill Downs.
6. Marco Mischief. Trainer: Leo G. Gabriel, Jr. Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza. Marco came from behind in the slop to a second place finish in his debut at Gulfstream Park West.
7. Tip Tap Tapizar. Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen. Jockey: James Graham. Tip improved on his last start at Delta Downs, but it might have been too little, too late as far as people who bet on horse races are concerned.
8. Guest Suite. Trainer: Neil J. Howard. Jockey: Robby Albarado. Guest debuted in August at Ellis Park and has gotten better with each subsequent start.
9. Running Mate. Trainer: Gabriel Saez. Jockey: J. Larry Jones. Matey disappointed people who bet on horse races in his stakes debut, after two remarkable wins to start his career.
10. Takeoff. Trainer: Mark E. Casse. Jockey: Florent Geroux. Justified his $550,000 price tag by breaking his maiden in his first try in New Orleans.
11. Pat On the Back. Trainer: Kenneth G. McPeek. Jockey: Dylan Davis. POTB finished 6th in the Delta Downs Jackpot.
12. Saint’s Fan. Trainer: Dallas Stewart. Jockey: Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. Arguably the online horse race gambling favorite to win the Lecomte Stakes. If jockey Hernandez can negotiate a good trip in the first turn, there may be no stopping him.