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J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Lecomte S. (G3) and Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds.

The Fair Grounds presents Road to the Derby Day on Saturday, featuring the Lecomte Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds, plus an intriguing matchup between newly-turned 4-year-olds Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon in the Louisiana Stakes (G3).

  After holding off Hot Rod Charlie in a signature stretch duel to win the Belmont Stakes, Essential Quality burnished his place in Brad Cox’s mind as the best 3-year-old in his barn. That would make him even better than Mandaloun, who seems destined to win his biggest races through stewards’ decisions and medication rulings.   Now, more than three months before the racing year reaches its crescendo at Del Mar, certain bettors seem to agree with Cox. Essential Quality (5-1) is the global favorite at one foreign bookmaker to win America’s richest race.   Horseplayers who scoff and bel...

Equibase Analysis: Midnight Bourbon Poised To Upset Preakness Sponsored by: Midnight Bourbon works at Churchill Downs on April 19 Back in its traditional place two weeks following the Kentucky Derby and on the third Saturday in May, the 146th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Preakness Stakes drew a field of 10. Only three of the group participated in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, including winner Medina Spirit, who led every step of the way in that mile and one-quarter test. The other two returning from the Derby are Midnight Bourbon and Keepmeinmind, who finished sixth and seventh...

Graded Kentucky Derby preps in January and early February are all G3s and are worth just 10 qualifying points each to the winners. These half-dozen early races don’t often attract