Triple Crown Trail Begins in NOLA

Untrapped | Coady Photo

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The first major prep along the Fair Grounds route of the Triple Crown trail takes place Saturday when a well-matched group of sophomores square off in the GIII LeComte S. Getting a narrow nod on the morning line at 9-2 is Michael Langford's Untrapped (Trappe Shot). A well-beaten second behind 'TDN Rising Star'-garnering eventual Smarty Jones S. romper Uncontested (Tiz Wonderful) sprinting at Keeneland Oct. 19, the $125,000 OBS April purchase earned the 'Rising Star' distinction himself for a 5 1/4-length romp at Churchill Nov. 20. The Steve Asmussen pupil will be joined in the starting gate by stablemates Totality (Tapit), second in Remington's Springboard Mile S. Dec. 11; and SW/MGSP Tip Tap Tapizar (Tapizar).

Tom Amoss took this event last year with the often unlucky Mo Tom (Uncle Mo), and will be represented by another son of Coolmore's superstar stallion this time around in Shareholder Value. A romping graduate going a flat mile in the Keeneland slop Oct. 21, the bay settled for sixth after a rough start in Churchill's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 26. He returned to winning ways with a convincing optional claiming tally over track and trip on the day after Christmas.

Takeoff (Arch), a $550,000 OBS March acquisition last year by trainer Mark Casse on behalf of John Oxley, went right to the front and never looked back last time to earn his diploma third up here Dec. 26 over Arklow (Arch). The dark bay has been sharp in his works since then, firing back-to-back bullets over the strip, including a :47.80 (1/135) move Jan. 14.

“He's a quick horse and shows us that in the mornings,” Casse's assistant David Carroll told the Fair Grounds publicity department. “He's always showed us talent from the very beginning and even before he ever ran. We were certainly disappointed with his second race that he lost, but maybe that was too soon back for him. Either way, he really took a step forward in his last race and every work seems to be better than the next since. He seems to have grown in confidence.”

'Rising Star' Running Mate (Creative Cause) couldn't have been more dominant breaking his maiden at Delaware in October or when validating that effort in a local optional claimer Nov. 25. He was last seen being demoted to third from second at 2-5 in this venue's Sugar Bowl S. Dec. 17, and now must stretch out from six panels.

Guest Suite (Quality Road), third to top GI Kentucky Derby prospect McCraken (Ghostzapper) in the Street Sense S. at Churchill Oct. 30, makes his first afternoon appearance since airing back under the Twin Spires the following month (click here for more). Two-for-two Saint's Fan (Tale of Ekati) is expected to scratch due to his wide draw.

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