Early Triple Crown Reservations on the Line

While veteran trainer Neil Howard isn't exactly ready to start making travel plans for the First Saturday in May quite yet, he could very well have a 'Guest Suite' waiting for him in Louisville later this spring following this weekend's GIII LeComte S. at Fair Grounds.

The promising Farish and Kilroy homebred, third behind McCraken (Ghostzapper) in the Street Sense S. at Churchill Oct. 30, makes his first attempt since running away with an impressive 6 1/4-length tally in a one-mile optional claimer beneath the Twin Spires Nov. 26. Guest Suite was also a smart two-turn maiden winner at Keeneland back in early October.

“He's doing well,” Howard said of the gelded son of Quality Road. “Gave him a little bit of a break, you know, as much as you can after the race at Churchill, and he's done very well. But just like everybody else with these 3-year-olds, just taking that little bit of a wait-and-see approach, if you know what I mean.”

Guest Suite has posted five moves at Fair Grounds since, most recently firing a three-furlong bullet in :35.80 (1/9) Jan. 18. Drawn in post eight with regular rider Robby Albarado aboard, Saturday's one-mile-and-70-yard affair has attracted a loaded field. Howard won the LeComte with Wilkinson in 2011.

“It's a good race to get started in,” said Howard, who trained Summer Squall to a win in the 1990 GI Preakness S. and a runner-up finish in that year's GI Kentucky Derby. “I think everybody's got the same vision of seeing where they're at. It's a nice race.”

Guest Suite's second dam Welcome Surprise (Seeking the Gold) is a half-sister to the legendary A.P. Indy as well as the aforementioned Summer Squall. The bay, however, a debut third at Ellis last August, was gelded before joining Howard's shedrow last year.

“I think he was just being a little, youthful lad, from what I understand,” Howard said with a laugh. “He's not difficult, but you could tell that he probably had a moment or two in the past. But he's been great. I'm just thrilled to have him.”

Howard was optimistic that the Fair Grounds quarantine due to a recent EVH-1 outbreak could be coming to an end soon.

“Fortunately, we haven't been directly effected, but you're always effected more from a humanitarian standpoint and concerned about your fellow horsemen,” he said. “I do think we're getting on the upswing on it now. Hopefully, I know it's cliche, but pretty soon this will be behind us.”