Colonial Downs Stakes Winners Set to Compete in Lecomte Day Program Jan. 22 at Fair Grounds
Posted on January 18th, 2022
Colonial Downs racing fans will see some familiar horses Saturday (January 22) at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans where their graded Derby prep — the Lecomte Stakes (Gr. 3) — headlines a 6-pack of stakes on a massive 14-race card. Wagering on Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will also be available from Friday – Sunday.
In the $100,000 Duncan F. Fenner Stakes, Just Might, winner of the Chesapeake and Da Hoss Stakes last summer in New Kent, will square off against another Colonial champ — grey gelding Strike Me Down — who won an allowance August 3 then was edged by Virginia Derby winner English Bee in an August 24 showdown. Both are trained by Michelle Lovell who brought a stable to Colonial for the first time last summer.
Just Might has 10 career wins and a bankroll of $830,414. The 6-year-old Justin Phillip gelding has won 6 of his last 7 starts, all of which have been stakes. Strike Me Down has earned $316,841 from 23 starts. The 7-year-old Tapit gelding has a combined 13 second and third place finishes to go with a trio of wins. The Fenner has been carded as Race 8 at 4:25 PM.
Virginia-bred Chess Chief competes in the ultra-competitive Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes, scheduled as Race 13 at 6:49 PM. The 6-year-old Into Mischief horse will face million-dollar earners Midnight Bourbon and Mandaloun. Chess Chief can be considered a “Horse for the Course” of sorts — he is 5-for-10 at Fair Grounds including wins in the Tenacious Stakes December 26 and in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic Stakes last March. The Dallas Stewart trainee has amassed $810,338 in earnings and was bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm.
2021 Van Clief stakes winner Princess Theorem faces 11 other fillies and mares in the $100,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes, carded as Race 10 at 5:23 PM. The 4-year-old Nyquist filly collected her second career triumph in the Van Clief, which she won by 1 3/4 lengths with Joe Rocco Jr. in the irons. The Brendan Walsh trainee has bankrolled $171,482 from ten outings. Also in the field are the 6th and 7th place finishers from last summer’s Virginia Oaks — Adelaide Miss and Out of Sorts.
The headlining Lecomte Stakes, Race 14 (7:20 PM), closes out the day’s festivities and features a colt who finished second in his career debut August 3 at Colonial Downs. Surfer Dude is a 3-year-old son of Curlin, is a Dallas Stewart trainee, and has made five starts since his initial runner-up. To date, he has earnings of $113,460.
Fans can wager the action Saturday at any Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, VA-Horseplay OTB or online.
