A new phase in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve begins Saturday as the top prize for winning a prep race jumps to 20 qualifying points. In the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, the top five finishers in the Grade 3 stakes will receive 20-10-6-4-2 points in descending order. Previously it was 10-5-3-2-1 points and the combination of 42 qualifying points plus a $250,000 purse helped attract a field of 11 to New Orleans ahead of the Mardi Gras.

1. Quality Mischief (10-1 morning-line odds): Took a nice step forward in the Gun Runner Stakes over the track when he rallied for fourth by a length. With a rail trip, continued improvement will make him a major player.

JOCKEY: Marcelino Pedroza; TRAINER: Brad Cox

2. Carson Street (8-1): Won an off-the-turf race by 11 ¼ lengths while running at Fair Grounds for the first time. That was in the mud, but he has never been worse than third in four career starts against good competition. Belongs in the exotics.

JOCKEY: Axel Concepcion; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh

3. Crown the Buckeye (4-1): He figures to be on the lead and could hang around to the end with a realistic pace. Set the pace in the Gun Runner on this track and at this distance and wound up third, beaten a little less than a length. Deserves close attention, even from Michigan fans.

JOCKEY: Ricardo Santana Jr.; TRAINER: Mike Maker

4. Exosome (20-1): Won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Keeneland in the slop in slow time. Before that he lost by more than 30 lengths. We’ll pass.

JOCKEY: Jareth Loveberry; TRAINER: Kelsey Danner

5. Golden Tempo (8-1): Rallied from 10^th in his debut to win at six furlongs. Time was good and being by Curlin he deserves consideration around two turns. Interesting that jockey Jose Ortiz opted to ride him as opposed to trainer Cherie DeVaux’s other starter, Mesquite.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux

6. Thunder Buck (6-1): Comes off a solid maiden win in good time over the track. A forward move in his first try against winners would put him in the mix.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Brad Cox

Mesquite (Coady Media)

7. Mesquite (8-1): The second starter trained by DeVaux, he responded positively to a stretchout to two turns at Churchill Downs in November. Has been working nicely since then and merits serious consideration, especially with Flavien Prat picking up the ride.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux

8. White Tiger (8-1): His speed figure dipped a bit as he worked harder than expected to win in gate-to-wire fashion in his second start. Has Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle and should be in the mix in a highly contentious field.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Brad Cox

9. Ocelli (12-1): A maiden after two tries with a second and third. Wouldn’t discount him in a field filled with relatively inexperienced runners. Adds blinkers and his speed figures are competitive with the top candidates.

JOCKEY: Joseph Ramos; TRAINER: Whit Beckman

10. Stop the Car (8-1): Undefeated in two starts, with his most recent victory coming on allowance company. If he can duplicate his last try, he will definitely be in the mix.

JOCKEY: Ben Curtis; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh

11. Chip Honcho (9-2): The post is not great, but Disco Time won last year’s Lecomte from post 10. Won the Gun Runner using pace-pressing tactics while breaking from the rail in a field of six. The key question is whether jockey Paco Lopez can avoid a wide trip from the outside post.

JOCKEY: Paco Lopez; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

THE PICK: Mesquite

LIVE LONGSHOT: Ocelli

SUPERFECTA: 7-11-5-3