The 2026 Lecomte Stakes: A Deep Field and a Challenging Pick
The 2026 Lecomte Stakes, a $250,000 Grade III race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, is shaping up to be a thrilling contest. With 20-10-6-4-2 points on offer, the race attracts a strong field of 11 horses, including proven stakes winners and promising maiden winners.
The race, held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM (local time), is the first in a series of mid-tier Kentucky Derby preps. The deep field includes a few proven stakes winners, but the majority are maiden winners, adding an element of unpredictability.
The Contenders:
- #3 Crown the Buckeye (4-1): The morning-line favorite, Crown the Buckeye, is a talented Ohio-bred horse that usually sets the pace. However, he faced a challenge in his first start outside of the Ohio-bred ranks, finishing third in the 1 1/16-mile Gun Runner S. despite setting a fast pace.
- #11 Chip Honcho (9-2): Chip Honcho, a close second in the Gun Runner S., demonstrated resilience by maintaining a strong position behind Crown the Buckeye's pace. His winning time of 1:44.76 was slower than the Untapable S. winner, suggesting a potential edge in the Lecomte.
- #6 Thunder Buck (6-1): Thunder Buck, a maiden special weight winner at Fair Grounds, displayed a strong finish in a 1 1/16-mile race, suggesting he'll be a contender in the Lecomte.
- #8 White Tiger (8-1): Freshened after a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight win at Churchill Downs, White Tiger is a gray colt trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., a five-time Eclipse Award winner.
The Dark Horse:
- #5 Golden Tempo (8-1): Golden Tempo, a son of Curlin and Carrumba, is a compelling choice. His lineage suggests he's bred to peak at age three and thrive over distances from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/4 miles. Despite his slow start in his debut, Golden Tempo showed remarkable speed, passing nine horses to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:10.66. Trainer Cherie DeVaux has a strong record with horses running long for the first time, and jockey Jose Ortiz, a 30% winner this meet, adds to Golden Tempo's appeal.
Selections:
1st: Golden Tempo
2nd: Thunder Buck
3rd: White Tiger
The 2026 Lecomte Stakes promises an exciting race, and the picks above offer a balanced approach, combining a dark horse with proven contenders. It's a challenging pick, but the potential for a surprise winner is high, making it a thrilling contest for horse racing enthusiasts.
