Article - LeComte Recap

January 10, 2009
Laura Ross

Note to Self - If Larry Jones doesn't retire, bet his horse in the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at Louisiana Downs next year.
For the second time in three years, Larry Jones stood in the winner's circle with a Derby hopeful. Two years ago, Hard
Spun won the LeComte, was a strong second in the Derby and gave a good account of himself for the rest of the year.
Friesan Fire seems poised to do the same.

Friesan Fire broke alertly, but settled nicely at the rail in third, while Citizen and Au Moon, who also had a sharp break,
raced as a team on the lead. Citizen was relaxed on the outside, but Au Moon, with bowed head, seemed eager to go
on. At :24 for the first quarter, it was an easy pace.

With five furlongs to go, Julien Leparoux let out a notch on Au Moon who, upon opening up a length on Citizen,
immediately relaxed, flicking his ears flickering back and forth, wanting to do more. Hitting the half mile in :48, Au Moon
was still sitting pretty while Citizen came under a ride and Friesan Fire was gearing up to make his move. Around the
turn, Friesan Fire kicked it into gear, passing the lumbering Citizen as if he were standing still. Two lengths back,
Patena was making his move with Big Push, true to his name, getting a big push from his jockey.

At the very top of the lane having gone six furlongs in 1:13, the race was on, or so we thought. Friesan Fire exploded
past Au Moon, who felt the backdraft as he slowed in second. Patena was flying down the middle of the track as was
Uno Mas, farther behind him, but it was too late, as Friesan Fire flashed under the wire in 1:37.67, less than a tenth of a
second off the stakes record and one and a half lengths in front of Patena. A very good second, Patena made up a
length in the stretch while Au Moon ran evenly for third. Pretty gray Uno Mas, who was wide most of the way, was a very
unhappy fourth, flapping his tail at a flailing Bridgmohan. Big Push was an average fifth, as Indygo Mountain, getting off to
a poor start, made a half hearted move to finish sixth. Citizen tired to seventh while Dynamic Force wanted no part of the
race and spit the bit after a half mile.

Friesan Fire is by stamina influence A.P. Indy out of a Group 1 winning Australian mare who won up to about 7 ½ F and
whose second dam was Champion Two Year Old in Australia and also a sprinter. Friesan Fire was .07 off the stakes
record set by Dixieland Heat in 1993 and trainer Larry Jones has commented that the horse is one of the most talented
he's trained, but a bit of a head case. Friesan Fire is off to a good start on the Derby Trail if they can get him figured out.

Patena gets a ton of stamina from his daddy, Seeking the Gold and granddaddy, A.P. Indy. He sat farther back today
and made one big run, but he appears to be a tractable horse that can be placed anywhere. A mile is too short for this
guy and he'll be dangerous in the upcoming races.

Au Moon is by a son of A.P Indy, Malibu Moon, whose starting to make a name for himself. Au Moon seemed eager on
the lead, and will probably relax if he gets tucked in behind horses. This was only his third start and first since
November, so he'll improve off this race.

Uno Mas, by Derby winner Macho Uno, ran wide the whole way and was farther back than his usual custom, probably
due to his post position, which has a 6% win rate. He tried his hardest, was making up some ground, and was resentful
of the lashing he received, flapping his tail a few times. He's another one that should show some improvement next time
out.

Big Push has Mr. Prospector as his grand-daddy on both sides of his pedigree. He didn't show much for his first start
past 6F, and he'll probably evolve into a sprinter. He could probably go a mile with lesser company. Both of his wins
came over Polytrack, so look for him to rebound at Keeneland.

His trainer told everyone within earshot that Indygo Mountain needed a race and wasn't fit. I love an honest man. Next
time, maybe I'll pay attention. Indygo Mountain had a poor break and halfheartedly made up some ground. Yet another
son of A.P. Indy, he has a good mix of speed and stamina influences on his dam' side. He's another one that needed the
race, so look for him to rebound, probably in the Risen Star.

Like Big Push, Citizen will be happiest as a sprinter. Open the Condition Book and find him a nice little 50K stakes
sprint somewhere.

Ok, the experiment with dirt failed. Put Dynamic Force back on Polytrack or turf. I can see him running in the Blue
Grass Stakes, but if his owners are smart, they won't get Derby Fever.