Mr. Monomoy Set for Stakes Debut in Lecomte

Monomoy Girl, the 2018 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner and champion 3-year-old filly, began her triumphant sophomore campaign at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Now her half brother Mr. Monomoy is doing the same. The Palace Malice  colt is entered for his stakes debut in the Jan. 18, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3).

The Lecomte, run at 1 1/16 miles, offers points toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four finishers. Fourteen 3-year-olds have been entered for a shot at the Derby trail.

Mr. Monomoy, who, like his older sister, is trained by Brad Cox, was beaten a head last out by fellow Lecomte entrant Lynn's Map. He veered out at the break of a Dec. 21 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds, raced in second, and was just caught at the wire after one mile and 70 yards.

"It was a big effort for his first time two turns. I think he got a lot out of it," Cox said. "He was beat by a horse that had some experience going a mile. I'm hoping he moves forward. It's going to be a tough race. He's going against a very solid group. It's a big field.

"We're going to find out a lot Saturday and if he can take that next step. Hopefully, he's on the Derby trail."

One start before the Fair Grounds allowance, Mr. Monomoy broke his maiden Nov. 16 on his second attempt. He pulled away by 5 1/2 lengths to win a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs.

"He's had two works since the last race (a half-mile Jan. 4 in :48 1/5 and five furlongs Jan. 10 in 1:01). He's a good work horse," Cox said. "His last two since that race have been pretty much the same, maybe even a little better, so I feel confident that he's going to show up and run his race on Saturday."

Mr. Monomoy, campaigned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Doheny Racing Stable, drew post 2 and will have Florent Geroux aboard for the third consecutive race.

The Lecomte will also be the stakes debut for Lynn's Map, one of two Mark Casse trainees entered. Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud's Liam's Map  colt broke his maiden going a mile at Churchill Nov. 8 on his second outing before defeating Mr. Monomoy. Casse also entered John Oxley's Enforceable, a full brother to multiple grade 2 winner and sire Mohaymen . The son of Tapit  was third in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill.

Lynn's Map drew the outside post with Miguel Mena assigned to ride. Enforceable and jockey Julien Leparoux have post 10.

Multiple graded stakes-placed Scabbard is expected to return in the Lecomte after finishing fourth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Ontario-bred Halo Again, the Coronation Futurity winner, will put his record on the line after winning his first two starts.

Kentucky Jockey Club runner-up Finnick the Fierce, Perfect Star, Excession, New Eagle, Jack the Umpire, Silver State, Bango, Shashashakemeup, and Sycamore Run complete the field.

Entries: LeComte S. (G3)

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, January 18, 2020, Race 13

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo
• 5:55 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Finnick the Fierce (KY)	Sonny Leon	122	Rey Hernandez	15/1
2	2Mr. Monomoy (KY)	Florent Geroux	122	Brad H. Cox	9/2
3	3Perfect Star (KY)	Robby Albarado	122	Scott Gelner	30/1
4	4Scabbard (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	122	Eddie Kenneally	7/2
5	5Excession (KY)	Colby J. Hernandez	122	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1
6	6New Eagle (KY)	Gabriel Saez	122	Michael J. Maker	20/1
7	7Halo Again (ON)	Joseph Talamo	122	Steven M. Asmussen	15/1
8	8Jack the Umpire (KY)	Shaun Bridgmohan	122	Brett A. Brinkman	20/1
9	9Silver State (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	122	Steven M. Asmussen	5/1
10	10Enforceable (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	122	Mark E. Casse	15/1
11	11Bango (KY)	Marcelino Pedroza	122	Gregory D. Foley	20/1
12	12Shashashakemeup (KY)	James Graham	122	J. Keith Desormeaux	20/1
13	13Sycamore Run (ON)	Adam Beschizza	122	Joe Sharp	6/1
14	14Lynn's Map (KY)	Miguel Mena	122	Mark E. Casse	6/1