Large field entered for Lecomte Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - A large field of 13 three-year-olds has been entered for Saturday's $175,000 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course. The mile and 70 yard event is the track's first stakes leading to the $1 million Louisiana Derby on April 1.

Zayat Stables has entered two horses in the stakes. Dan and Sheila, trained by Todd Pletcher, and Z Dager, conditioned by Steve Asmussen, will go off as a coupled entry. The two three-year-olds will start next to each other with Dan and Sheila breaking from post five with John Velazquez riding and Z Dager being ridden by Shane Sellers from the six hole.

Dan and Sheila won first time out on December 17 at Gulfstream Park. The Lecomte is just his second career start. Z Dager has already won at the mile and 70 yard distance, breaking his maiden two days before his stablemate at Fair Grounds.

The other coupled entry is Adena's Chance and Hero of Order, both owned and trained by Gennadi Dorochenko. Adena's Chance has drawn the inside post with Marlon St. Julien in the saddle and Iram Diego will ride Hero of Order from post 10.

The two colts are well experienced having 12 and nine starts, respectively. Adena's Chance has two wins, a maiden victory at Arlington Park last September and a claiming race win in October at Hawthorne. Hero of Order found the winner's circle for the first time earlier this month at Fair Grounds.

Here is the field for the Lecomte from the rail out: Adena's Chance, Marlon St. Julien; Ted's Folly, Jose Medina; Mr. Bowling, Robby Albarado; Exfactor, Shaun Bridgmohan; Dan and Sheila, John Velazquez; Z Dager, Shane Sellers; Seven Lively Sins, Rosie Napravnik; Alexander Thegreat, John Jacinto; Hammers Terror, James Graham; Hero of Order, Iram Diego; Chalybeate Springs, Brian Hernandez Jr.; Capetown Devil, Corey Lanerie and Shared Property, Leandro Goncalves.

Post-time for the Lecomte is slated for 5:55 p.m. (et).

The $300,000 Risen Star Stakes is next for local three-year-olds on Saturday, February 25.