Pish Preparing Two for Lecomte

   Conditioner Danny Pish readies two newly minted sophomores Got Shades (Pollard’s Vision) and Rainbow Trip (Sightseeing) for Saturday’s GIII Lecomte S. on the Fair Grounds main track. Got Shades has only run on the turf, while Rainbow Trip started on the dirt, but was unsuccessful until switched to the turf for his past three starts. “The fact that both these horses have so much grass experience is not by design,” Pish said. “I originally wanted to get both these horses ready for some stakes at Louisiana Downs and Lone Star, but around the part of the country where I race, the only way I could get them any experience going long was in grass races. It’s hard to find races going two turns on the main track in my part of the country.” Got Shades earned his diploma in the Sunny’s Halo S. at Louisiana Downs Aug. 3 and followed that up with a score in the Sunday Silence S. There Sept. 7. The dark bay was third in Santa Anita’s Zuma Beach S. Oct. 6 before finishing fifth when last seen in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 1. Rainbow Trip graduated at Retama Park Oct. 19 after four previous attempts. The chestnut gelding finished third in the El Joven S. Nov. 9 before capturing an allowance there last time out Dec. 28. “I’ve been high on ‘Shades’ all along,” said Pish. “This is a horse that wants to go long.” But, ‘Rainbow’ has started to come around real good for me lately too, and I figured he deserves this chance. He had a nice race for me going seven furlongs on the main track at Louisiana Downs and he’s gotten a lot better since then. Both horses are coming into this race in really good shape. ‘Shades’ has the quicker turn of foot. He’s the key. But the gelding might come up and make a big splash of his own. I figure ‘Shades’ may sit just behind the speed, and ‘Rainbow’ might come from out of the clouds at the end.” Got Shades and Rainbow Trip are the only two Lecomte entrants entering this test off of mostly grass races. “I realize that I’m sending them in against some pretty tough horses but I’m not concerned,” Pish concluded. ” I like to do things my own way and it has worked out for me since I’ve been training. As far as I know, I think that’s the reason they never payoff until after the race is run.”