Weekend Stakes Races: Grade III LeComte Stakes and Grade III Holy Bull Stakes

Race-times: Holy Bull at 5:08 pm EST and LeComte at 5:43 pm EST

Because the rains are still pounding Southern California, on Friday Santa Anita Park canceled their third racing day in a row. Santa Anita Park officials hope that sunny skies on Saturday will allow live racing to resume, but it still makes sense for horseplayers to look elsewhere on Saturday as it could take some time for the turf and Pro-Ride tracks to dry out.

Elsewhere in this case is the Fairgrounds in New Orleans where the Grade III LeComte Stakes is being run, and Gulfstream Park in Florida where the Grade III Holy Bull is being run. The Holy Bull happens to be the BetOnline online racebook Race of the Week.

Gulfstream Park – Race 9

Grade III Holy Bull Stakes

$150,000

For Three Year Olds

1 mile on dirt

Jackson Bend, who is switching barns to Nick Zito should go off the favorite in this, but I like the looks of the Anthony Dutrow trained Winslow Homer. Winslow Homer may have freaked last time in the mud at Philadelphia Park, or, because he was sired by Unbridled’s Song, may have just gotten really good in that last race. Winslow Homer retains Ramon Dominguez, has been training well, and should go off at decent odds. I’ll put him on top.

For second, Jackson Bend figures. The 5 and 1 out of 6 lifetime races horse hasn’t run since October, but he could either take the lead or stalk in this and has already won a race at 1 1/16 th miles. He’ll be tough. A number of these can finish third, but the Richard Dutrow trained Homeboy Kris looks to be the best. He failed miserably last time in the Grade II Remsen but that was at 1 1/8 th miles. This is at 1 mile. Homeboykris won the Grade I Champagne at Belmont over the summer going a mile. He can bounce back in this with Edgar Prado aboard.

1. Winslow Homer
2. Jackson Bend
3. Homeboy Kris

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Fairgrounds – Race 10

Grade III LeComte Stakes

$100,000

For Three Year Olds

1 mile and 40 yards

The John Terranova trained Citrus Kid hasn’t raced since finishing 3 rd in the Grade II Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct going 1 1/8 th miles in his last. The 3 year old out of Lemon Drop Kid has been training exceptionally well for this race and has already won a $75,000 stakes race at Delaware Park. Citrus Kid is tractable enough to keep in touch with the leaders or actually be on the lead himself depending on the pace. He’s the one to bet in this.

Worldly switches jockeys to the terrific Robby Albarado, finished 3 rd in the Grade II Kentucky Juvenile Classic two races ago, and finished second in an optional $50,000 claimer by a length at this distance and on this track on January 3 rd. He’s got a shot. The Graham Motion trained Turf Melody has won his last two races. His last was a victory in a $200,000 stakes race at Retama Park on Dec. 13 th. He won that race by a nose so it’s obvious that Turf Melody has guts.

1. Citrus Kid
2. Worldly
3. Turf Melody