Mo Tom used a sustained run through the long Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots stretch to secure a victory in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 16.

G M B Racing came up big in the one-mile, 70-yard race for 3-year-olds as owner of the winner, Mo Tom, trained by Tom Amoss; and runner-up Tom’s Ready, trained by Dallas Stewart. Gayle Benson, wife of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, races as G M B Racing. Guided by Corey Lanerie, Mo Tom caught Tom’s Ready in deep stretch to secure the win.

With the victory, Mo Tom picked up the first graded stakes win of his career. The son of 2015 leading freshman sire Uncle Mo won the Street Sense Stakes last year at Churchill Downs before closing out the season with a third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) there.

Mo Tom completed the race in 1:43.18 on a fast track.

Rounding out the top four spots Saturday were Uncle Walter in third and Destin fourth. The Lecomte is a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race, awarding 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers. The points are used to determine the Derby field, should more than 20 be entered.

After encountering trouble at the gate, Dede McGehee homebred Dolphus was scratched just before the race.

Bred in Kentucky by Hargus and Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm, Mo Tom is out of the Rubiano mare Caroni. Mo Tom is a half brother to 2009 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) runner-up Beautician (Dehere) and stakes winner Bella Castani (Big Brown ).

Courtesy of The Bloodhorse