Saintly Lecomte for Mo Tom, G M B Racing

Mo Tom used a sustained run through the long Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots stretch to secure a victory in the $200,000 Twinspires.com Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 16.

G M B Racing came up big in the one-mile, 70-yard race for 3-year-olds as owner of the winner, Mo Tom, trained by Tom Amoss; and runner-up Tom's Ready, trained by Dallas Stewart. Gayle Benson, wife of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, races as G M B Racing. Guided by Corey Lanerie, Mo Tom caught Tom's Ready in deep stretch to secure and drew off for a 2 1/4-length win.

Mo Tom hit the gate and bumped with Fish Trappe Road nearing the first turn before settling in eighth, 10 1/2 lengths behind early leader Z Royal, who completed a half mile in :47.30. Mo Tom and Lanerie picked up some ground inside early in the far turn, before continuing that rally in the three path, then angling out for the stretch, where he would close strongly to win going away.

"We got knocked a little off stride there but he gathered himself up really good," Lanerie said. "Down the backside I was pretty confident, especially when I called on him to get in a little bit better position. On the middle of the turn I was going to try to maybe weave my way through but I had so much horse I said, 'Let me just put him in the clear.' "

With the victory, Mo Tom picked up the first graded stakes win of his career. The son of 2015 leading freshman sire Uncle Mo   won the Street Sense Stakes last year at Churchill Downs before closing out the season with a third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) there.

"I'm sure Corey (Lanerie) would agree, when the distance gets further, the better our horse is going to get so we're really excited about that," Amoss said. "I have to say Gayle Benson has been great, she's a great owner and she gets a big assist from her partner Tom Benson. We're really pleased, they're both New Orleans natives; we're really happy."

Mo Tom completed the race in 1:43.18 on a fast track. He returned $6.40 to win.

Rounding out the top four spots Saturday were Uncle Walter in third and Destin fourth. The Lecomte is a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race, awarding 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers. The points are used to determine the Derby field, should more than 20 be entered. 

After encountering trouble at the gate, Dede McGehee homebred Dolphus was scratched just before the race.

Bred in Kentucky by Hargus and Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm, Mo Tom is out of the Rubiano mare Caroni. Mo Tom is a half brother to 2009 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) runner-up Beautician (Dehere) and stakes winner Bella Castani (Big Brown  ).

G M B Racing landed Mo Tom for $150,000 from the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale.