It looks like Scabbard could be a tepid favorite over Silver State in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on Saturday, Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds. 

Those two are among 14 three-year-olds entered in the Lecomte, a 1 1/16-mile dirt race that's part of Churchill Downs' Road to the Derby qualifying-race series and the anchor of a multi-stakes card in New Orleans. Quick peek at the field from inside out.

1) Finnick the Fierce - rallying 3rd last out at nearly 90-1 in the G2 KJC. Working along at KY training center
2) Mr. Monomoy - might not quite have stayed 1M 70YD when 2nd a nose in 12/21 FG N1X alw
3) Perfect Star - two turf wins since meh KEE dirt-sprint career debut
4) Scabbard - encouraging runs in Sar Special and Iroquois; seemed to loathe SA surface in BC Juv
5) Excession - 3rd behind Mr. Monomoy in the 12/21 FG alw; grinder who wants ground
6) New Eagle - set pace, held 5th in KJC
7) Halo Again - 2 for 2 after $225K Coronation win over 9f Tapeta v. Ont-breds; one of 3 for Asmussen
8) Jack the Umpire - dominated $100K Jean Lafitte at DED; calling him out (of his league) here
9) Silver State - two good KY races last fall; lots to like for Asmussen
10) Enforceable - solid if unspectacular 4th in KJC; one of two for Casse
11) Bango - stretchout sprinter a pace player for sure
12) Shashashakemeup - disappointed in Sugar Bowl; might not have liked slop
13) Sycamore Run - Street Sense colt sharp sprint debut winner in lone start
14) Lynn's Map - won the 12/21 alw over Mr. Mon; seemingly improving but obv terrible draw

Finite for trainer Steve Asmussen and Portrait for trainer Brad Cox look like the chief combatants in the Silverbulletday for 3-year-old fillies. 

Mr. Misunderstood, the likely chalk, drew post 14 in the Col ER Bradley, a turf route, but as many as five horses drawn inside him were entered in case the race is rained onto dirt; if the Bradley stays on, Mr. Misunderstood moves in.

Silver Dust should be a handful in the Louisiana Stakes, which was boosted to Grade 3 status for 2020.

The Marie Krantz, for older female turf routers, looks like an open race, while the Duncan Kenner, and older-horse dirt sprint, got only five entrants, though two of them - Bobby's Wicked One and Hog Creek Hustle, are formidable.