NEW ORLEANS (AP) Mo Tom rallied from seventh in the final turn and beat stablemate Tom's Ready by 2 1/4 lengths in the $200,000, Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds Race Course on Saturday.
Owned by Gayle Benson, the wife of New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, Mo Tom broke from the gate as a 2-1 favorite but settled near the back of a nine-horse field before making its late charge. The Tom Amoss-trained colt ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:43.18 and now has 12 points toward entry in the Kentucky Derby. He earned $120,000 and paid $6.40, $3.60 and $2.40.
Tom's Ready, also owned by Benson and trained by Dallas Stewart, paid $5.60 and $3.40. Uncle Walter paid $3 to show. Z Royal of Zayat Stables set the pace but faded in the stretch.
The Lecomte Stakes was the first of three Fair Grounds prep races for the Kentucky Derby. The Risen Star Stakes is next month and the Louisiana Derby in March.
