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Savoy Stomp turns half-mile in final major move for Lecomte Team Valor International and Southern Equine Stable's regally bred and well-regarded Savoy Stomp will look to live up to his hype on Saturday afternoon in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds when he ships in for the formidable Todd Pletcher stable. An $875,000 sale purchase, the son of Medaglia d'Oro is out of a full sister to top sire Majestic Warrior and has three starts to his record including an impressive victory in his September 27 at Belmont Park going seven furlongs. His sale price was the highest of any colt at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga 2013 Select Yearling Sale. "He's an extremely good-looking horse" said Barry Irwin, principal of Team Valor. "He's out of a mare who is from a sprint family and when I bought him I was worried he wouldn't run that far -- but since we put him in training he has more stamina than speed, which is good. He won first time out and when they win like that going seven furlongs on the rail, they're going to go two turns." After said two-length victory in 1:23 1/5, he was brought back to go one mile in the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct over a muddy surface and ran up the track for fifth. Six weeks later, the Kentucky-bred January foal tried a one-turn mile yet again when finishing third in an allowance as the 7-5 favorite at Gulfstream Park on December 17. Racing widely throughout, he got up for show behind next-out Mucho Macho Man Stakes winner Bluegrass Singer. "He didn't like the wet dirt (in the Nashua); (the kickback) stung him and he ran horribly," Irwin explained. "Then in his (third) race the rail was golden and he could have stayed there, but (jockey Javier Castellano) was so worried about the kickback that he stayed outside. On a normal track like Fair Grounds going two turns, he should do well." Team Valor has not only has annexed two Breeders' Cups, a Dubai World Cup and an Arlington Million, it also has an impressive record in the Kentucky Derby with one win (Animal Kingdom), one second (Captain Bodgit) and a fourth (Went The Day Well) from five starters. Needless to say, with 2010 Derby winner and leading national trainer Pletcher now at the helm of many of its young horses it could be only a matter of time until the outfit is back in the Triple Crown spotlight. "Pletcher has always liked the horse," Irwin continued. "The question with him is what his best trip is. I always thought he wanted to run longer and Pletcher is hopeful he will, but (Pletcher) told me that if he turned out to be a late-running sprinter, he wouldn't be surprised. "You never know which way they're going to go. It's a matter of timing and what their progression is. I've run five horses in the (Kentucky) Derby and the only one I was absolutely sure would love the mile and a quarter was Captain Bodgit (in 1997). He had such amazing stamina." Bred by co-owner Southern Equine Stable, Savoy Stomp was so well regarded by principal Mike Moreno's operation, that they wished to stay involved. "When I bought the horse at the sale (Southern Equine) told me they wanted to stay in, and I said that was fine," Irwin remarked. Savoy Stomp put in his final major work Sunday morning at Palm Beach Downs in south Florida, clocking a half-mile in :49, and is scheduled to have Mike Smith in the irons in Saturday's 71st running of the Lecomte. "You certainly try this time of year to get on good young horses -- especially Kentucky Derby horses," Smith noted. "Todd (Pletcher) is definitely one you want to ride for." Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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