Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist - January 16

The Keeneland Select Derby preps picks
Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021

By Bob Ehalt and Matt Shifman

The $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3), Fair Grounds

13th race – Louisiana’s Road to the Kentucky Derby kicks off with a competitive matchup of 11  mostly unproven 3-year-olds hoping to advance to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. (10) Mandaloun appears the best of the bunch, though landing post 10 did not boost his chances. He’s unbeaten in two starts for Brad Cox and took a nice step forward in his second start. Continued improvement will make him hard to beat here. (1) Midnight Bourbon was a competitive second in the Iroquois and then a distant third to stablemate Jackie’s Warrior in the Champagne Stakes. He’s been rested since then and recent works indicate he has the potential to be another highly productive runner during prep season for trainer Steve Asmussen. (4) Proxy already owns a pair of two-turn wins over the track and has the kind of speed that makes him a threat to lead all the way here. (2) Arabian Prince has improved in each of his two starts since a debut win and will be a major player if he can take another step forward against this field. Betting strategy: 10 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-4-10. Trifectas: 1-2-4-10 over 1-2-4-10 over 1-2-4-6-10.