2017 LeComte Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana will be the scene of the G3 LeComte Stakes on Saturday, January 21. Horses three years old will be after the winner's share of the $200,000 purse and the 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby in May when they take to Fair Grounds dirt track and race one mile and seventy yards.

A wide open field of 12 will line up in the LeComte Stakes - race 11 on Fair Grounds busy Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:00 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 12 combatants for this intriguing and important "Road to the Kentucky Derby" G3 stakes.

2017 LeComte Stakes Entries at Fair Grounds Race Course

Untrapped 9-2 - Steve Asmussen trained colt has just two career starts with a win and a second place finish. He arrives of that dominant win - in a MSW at Churchill Downs November 20 which followed a runner-up finish after a troubled trip at first asking at Keeneland October 19. Untrapped has improved dramatically and is expected to be competitive yet again Saturday in his first start around two turns. Ricardo Santana will be in the irons of the tepid morning line favorite from post 5.

Saint's Fan 5-1 - Dallas Stewart trained colt has two career starts and two wins. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday off a good win in the minor Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes on this very track December 10 and a nice win in his debut at Churchill Downs November 4. Saint's Fan hasn't been touched so far and tries to remain undefeated in his initial foray into graded stakes company. He departs from the unfavorable outside gate 12 Saturday with Brian Joseph Hernandez guiding him in his first start around two turns.

Guest Suite 5-1 - has placed in all four career starts for trainer Neil Howard - two wins and two third place finishes. He enters off an eye-opening Allowance Optional Claiming score by 6 1/4 lengths at Churchill Downs November 26 which followed a third in his only stakes action to date - the minor Street Sense Stakes on that track October 30, a maiden score at Keeneland October 8 and a third in his debut at Ellis Park in August. Guest Suite has been competitive every time out and is expected to be again Saturday. He chases a first stakes score from gate 8 with Robby Albarado in the irons.

Bet Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com

Shareholder Value 6-1 - Tom Amoss trained colt has two wins and a third place finish in his five career starts. He enters off an Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track December 26 which followed a disappointing sixth in his only stakes action to date - the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs November 26 and a maiden score at Keeneland in October. Shareholder Value has won two of his last three starts overall and tries for a first stakes score Saturday from gate 4. Shaun Bridgmohan has the mount from gate 4.

Takeoff 6-1 - Mark Casse trained colt has a win and a third place finish in his three career starts. He makes his stakes debut Saturday having finally broken maiden last time out - on this track December 26. Before that was a fourth and a third respectively in a pair of MSW to start his career. Takeoff has been trending upward ahead of this weekend and will be after a career-defining win from post 10 Saturday. Florent Geroux rides.

Running Mate 10-1 - has two wins and a third place finish in his three career starts for trainer J. Larry Jones. He races in graded stakes company for the first time Saturday off a third after getting DQd from second, as favorite in his only stakes action - the minor Sugar Bowl Stakes on this track and two wins to start his career - the best of which was in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track November 25. Running Mate has been a factor in every career start and hopes for a first stakes score from post 9 Saturday. Gabriel Saez gets the call.

Arklow 10-1 - Has one runner-up and one third place finish in his three career starts for trainer Brad Cox. He makes his stakes debut Saturday off a second in a MSW on this track December 26 which followed a seventh and a third in a pair of MSW races to start his career at Churchill Downs. Arklow has been unspectacular so far in his career and will chase a breakthrough performance from gate 2. Jon Kenton Court will be in the saddle.

Pat On the Back 12-1 - experienced Kenneth McPeek trained colt has three wins and a second place finish in six career starts. He made his graded stakes debut last time out and finished sixth in the G3 $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes November 19 which followed three quality results - a win in the minor Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont Park October 22, a second in the minor Bertram F. Bongard Stakes on that track October 2, a win in the minor Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes in September and a maiden score at Saratoga in August. Pat On the Back has been good so far in his career and will be after a strong bounce back from post 11 Saturday. Dylan Davis is scheduled to ride.

Tip Tap Tapizar 12-1 - has six career starts for trainer Steve Asmussen and has two wins, two seconds and a third place finish. He broke maiden at first asking - in gate-to-wire fashion at Churchill Downs June 11 and followed that with a respectable third in the G3 Bashford Manor Stakes July 2. He enters off a career-worst performance - an eighth in the G3 $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot November 19 which followed a second in the minor Jean Lafitte Stakes October 22, a nice win in the minor Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park September 4 and a good second in the G2 Saratoga Special August 14. Tip Tap Tapizar had been in every race in his career before last time out and will be out for a strong bounce back from post 7. He looks for his first graded stakes score in his fourth try Saturday - from post 7 with James Graham guiding him.

Totality 12-1 - has a win and a second place finish in three career starts for trainer Steve Asmussen. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday off a respectable second in the minor Remington Springboard Mile Stakes December 11 after a fifth in November and a maiden score at first asking - at Churchill Downs in October. Totality has been OK and off a decent effort is hoping to be a factor Saturday. David Romero Flores rides from post 3.

Phat Man 12-1 - Joe Sharp trained colt will hit the track for the third time on Saturday having posted one win in two career starts which have both come on this track. The win came last time out in a Maiden Claiming January 1 after a fifth in his debut December 8. Phat Man has shown improvement and hopes to make some noise in his major step up in competition. CJ McMahon has been tabbed to ride from the rail.

Marco Mischief 20-1 - has a win and a runner-up finish in two career starts for trainer Leo Gabriel Jr. He makes his stakes debut Saturday off a maiden score on this very track November 24 after a second in his debut at Gulfstream Park West October 15. Marco Mischief has been OK so far in his career and hopes for a career-best effort in his major step up in competition - from gate 6 with Marcelino Pedroza aboard.

2017 LeComte Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 11 on Fair Grounds's Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:00 PM.