Ready to place your bets for the 2026 Lecomte Stakes? This race is a key early qualifier on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, and the stakes are high! The Lecomte offers a significant boost in points, making it a prime target for contenders. Let's dive into the details and see if we can spot a winner.
The Lecomte Stakes, a Grade III race held at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, will award points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers. This is double the points awarded in many other early qualifiers, so the competition is fierce. The race covers a distance of 1 1/16 miles on dirt and boasts a purse of $250,000. The race is scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM local time.
Here's a look at the field:
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|----|-------------------|-------------------|-----|------------------|------|
| 1 | Quality Mischief | Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. | 122 | Brad H. Cox | 10/1 |
| 2 | Carson Street | Axel Concepcion | 122 | Brendan P. Walsh | 8/1 |
| 3 | Crown the Buckeye | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 122 | Michael J. Maker | 4/1 |
| 4 | Exosome | Jareth Loveberry | 122 | Kelsey Danner | 20/1 |
| 5 | Golden Tempo | Jose L. Ortiz | 122 | Cherie DeVaux | 8/1 |
| 6 | Thunder Buck | Luis Saez | 122 | Brad H. Cox | 6/1 |
| 7 | Mesquite | Flavien Prat | 122 | Cherie DeVaux | 8/1 |
| 8 | White Tiger | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 122 | Brad H. Cox | 8/1 |
| 9 | Ocelli | Joseph D. Ramos | 122 | D. Whitworth Beckman | 12/1 |
| 10 | Stop the Car | Ben Curtis | 122 | Brendan P. Walsh | 8/1 |
| 11 | Chip Honcho | Paco Lopez | 122 | Steven M. Asmussen | 9/2 |
The morning-line favorite is #3 Crown the Buckeye at 4-1. This Ohio-bred colt often sets the pace. But here's where it gets controversial... In the Gun Runner S., another Kentucky Derby prep race, Crown the Buckeye led early but faded, finishing third.
The pace in the Gun Runner S. was fast. The fractions were quick, which may have contributed to Crown the Buckeye's late fade. The winner of that race, #11 Chip Honcho, finished in a slower time than the Untapable S., which was run earlier on the same day.
Considering the Gun Runner S. results, I'm leaning away from those horses. Instead, I'm eyeing #5 Golden Tempo at 8-1. This colt is bred for stamina, with a pedigree that includes Curlin and Bernardini.
Golden Tempo won his debut race, dashing a mere six furlongs on December 20 at Fair Grounds. Despite a slow start, he closed remarkably well, winning by 1 1/2 lengths. Trainer Cherie DeVaux has a strong record with horses running long for the first time, and jockey Jose Ortiz is a top performer at Fair Grounds.
I'm also keeping an eye on two other horses trained by Brad Cox: #6 Thunder Buck and #8 White Tiger. Thunder Buck won a maiden special weight race on the same day as the Gun Runner S., and White Tiger has been training well since his last race.
Selections:
1st: Golden Tempo
2nd: Thunder Buck
3rd: White Tiger
What are your thoughts? Do you agree with my picks, or do you have a different horse in mind? Share your insights in the comments below!
