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Field Set for the 2026 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds
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The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues in 2026, the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes takes center stage on January 17 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans. This 1 1/16-mile dirt contest carries a $250,000 purse and distributes qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale, making it an important early step toward subsequent preps at the track. Entries have been finalized and a field of 11 3-year-olds, featuring a mix of recent stakes performers and promising maiden winners stretching out or stepping up in class for this key prep for subsequent stakes like the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby.
The Lecomte has historically served as a launchpad for Derby hopefuls, with alumni including War Emblem and Mandaloun. Both were defeated in the Lecomte but went on to win the Kentucky Derby.
War Emblem finished fifth in the 2002 Lecomte Stakes, a Listed race held at Fair Grounds Race Course on January 26, 2002. This was the start of his three-year-old campaign, which followed a fifth-place finish in the Lecomte and a sixth-place finish in the Risen Star Stakes. He rebounded strongly with a dominant 10¾-length victory in an allowance race at Sportsman’s Park before winning the Illinois Derby by 6¼ lengths, securing his spot in the Kentucky Derby. War Emblem went on to win the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, becoming the first Lecomte Stakes starter to win the Kentucky Derby.
Mandaloun made his three-year-old debut in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) on January 16, 2021, at Fair Grounds Race Course, marking the start of his Kentucky Derby trail. Despite the third-place finish, the result earned him 2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Brad Cox had high expectations, believing Mandaloun was built for longer distances, and the Lecomte was seen as a steppingstone to the Risen Star Stakes (G2), which Mandaloun would later win on February 13, 2021, turning the tables on his rivals.
Mandaloun’s performance in the Lecomte was a precursor to a strong campaign that culminated in a disqualified win in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, where he was officially awarded first place after Medina Spirit was disqualified for a medication violation.
Lecomte Stakes 2026 Field
Leading the morning-line assessments is Crown the Buckeye at 4-1, trained by Mike Maker. The colt has shown front-running ability, with two prior stakes victories and a third-place effort in the Gun Runner Stakes on December 20, 2025, at Fair Grounds, where he set the pace before fading late. He draws post 3 with Ricardo Santana Jr. aboard.
Chip Honcho, pegged at 9-2, anchors the outside as the Gun Runner Stakes winner for trainer Steve Asmussen. That victory on December 20 earned him 10 Derby points already, and he demonstrated grit in holding off rivals late. Paco Lopez retains the mount from post 11.
Trainer Brad Cox holds a strong hand with three entrants. Thunder Buck (6-1) broke his maiden impressively on the Gun Runner undercard, edging a rival late under Luis Saez from post 6. White Tiger (8-1) impressed with a wire-to-wire maiden score at the Lecomte distance, earning a solid speed figure in his debut; Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 8. Quality Mischief (10-1), fourth in the Gun Runner, rounds out the trio from post 1.
Cherie DeVaux saddles a pair of intriguing contenders. Golden Tempo (8-1) rallied strongly to win his debut in a six-furlong sprint at Fair Grounds on December 20, closing from off the pace with a promising finish. Bred for longer distances by Curlin, he stretches out here with Jose Ortiz in the irons from post 5. DeVaux has previously expressed confidence in his suitability for two turns, noting his workouts indicated potential beyond sprinting. Mesquite (8-1), also making his stakes debut, won a route maiden earlier and recovered from a minor issue that caused a scratch in December. Flavien Prat rides from post 7, and the trainer has indicated the colt maintained good condition through the brief setback.
Other notables include Stop the Car (8-1, Brendan Walsh), undefeated in two starts with decisive wins at a mile from post 10, and Carson Street (8-1, also Walsh), a consistent performer who recently broke his maiden locally from post 2. Exosome (20-1, Kelsey Danner) and Ocelli (12-1, Whit Beckman) complete the field, adding depth to a competitive group.
