2022 Lecomte Stakes Odds, Picks and Preview

One of the first big Kentucky Derby prep races of the season takes place this Saturday afternoon at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. A field of nine three-year old Thoroughbreds has been entered in this race and they are represented by some of the top trainers in the game.

This Grade 3 stakes event will cover 1 1/16 miles on the dirt track at Fair Grounds. The total prize money up for grabs in this year’s Lecomte is set at $200,000 along with Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the top four finishers in the field. This is the first Kentucky Derby prep at Fair Grounds this season in a series of graded stakes races leading up to the Louisiana Derby on Saturday, March 26.

2022 Lecomte Stakes Predictions

Below is a closer look at my top three picks to finish in the money. You can bet these horses in the WPS markets or if you want to have a chance at the big bucks, you can bet these three picks on a trifecta.

When: Saturday, January 22nd 2022

Where: Fair Grounds Race Course

Win: Pappacap

This is the only graded stakes winner in the field with a victory in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar as a two-year old. The Florida-bred colt really made a name for himself last year by placing second behind Corniche in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 5.

Trained by Mark Casse, the son of Gun Runner will break from the third post on Saturday with Joe Bravo as his jockey. Pappacap has been opened as a 9-5 favorite for this race and he should be able to live up to expectations despite the deep field. Making his three-year old debut, he was able to finish in the money in four of five events last year.

Place: Epicenter

Opening as a 2-1 second-favorite on the morning line, this Kentucky-bred three-year old drew the No. 5 post for Saturday’s race with veteran jockey Joel Rosario getting the ride. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the son of Not This Time should be able to keep pace with the favorite right through the finish line in an outcome that could go either way. My lean is towards Pappacap but this is an exacta that you should box.

Epicenter was able to win his last two races as a juvenile highlighted by a victory in the ungraded Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds on Dec. 26. He covered the 1 1/16 miles on dirt in 1:44.19 past Tejano Twist and Surfer Dude. He also won a one mile Maiden Special Weight race at Churchill Dows on Nov. 13.

Show: Cyberknife

The ‘best of the rest’ in this race will break from the No. 6 post and jockey Florent Geroux will lead the way. Trainer Brad Cox has high expectations for this three-year old Kentucky-bred colt who was also sired by Gun Runner. He has been opened at 6-1 odds for Saturday after closing as the favorite in all three of his starts as a two-year old.

All three of those races were Maiden Special Weight events covering anywhere from six furlongs up to 1 1/16 miles in total distance. Cyberknife closed out his juvenile campaign with a win at Fair Grounds on Dec. 26 to provide a bit of home track advantage in this race. His biggest competition to finishing in the money on Saturday should come from Trafalgar, who has also been opened at 6-1 odds.