The Road to the 152nd Kentucky Derby begins its most critical phase in the Crescent City this January. As New Orleans gets ready for another big day of racing at Fair Grounds, we turn our attention to the Grade 3 2026 Lecomte Stakes. This race serves as a vital proving ground for three-year-olds with Classic aspirations. Our analysis looks at every runner in this competitive field, giving you the insight you need to find value in the Lecomte Stakes odds.
The Fair Grounds prep series provides a unique challenge for young thoroughbreds due to the long home stretch and the quality of the local colony. Horse racing trainers like Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen frequently use this race to gauge whether their runners possess the stamina for the 1 1/4-mile distance in May. Because this race offers 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points, the stakes remain incredibly high for every owner and trainer involved. Punters looking at Lecomte Stakes betting will notice a field filled with diverse running styles, ranging from early speed burners to late-closing stalkers.
Before we dive into the specific merits of each runner, we must recognize the sheer depth of this year's lineup. This field represents a collision of established stakes winners and "now" horses coming off massive maiden scores. Handicappers face the difficult task of weighing proven class against raw, unbridled speed figures that have set the Beyer scales on fire recently. As you prepare to bet on Lecomte Stakes action, consider how the high-pressure environment of a Grade 3 race will affect these developing three-year-olds.
Quality Mischief enters the starting gate as a high-potential son of the legendary Into Mischief. Trained by the perennial powerhouse Brad H. Cox, this colt showed flashes of brilliance during his juvenile campaign but struggled with consistency. He carries a rating of 5.87 and will have Marcelino Pedroza Jr. in the irons.
His last start in the 2025 Gun Runner Stakes resulted in a fourth-place finish with a 102 Speed Figure. While he finished out of the money, that speed rating suggests he belongs in this company if he can handle a cleaner trip from the rail.
Brad Cox remains a master at adjusting his horses after a loss. Quality Mischief will likely use his inside draw to secure a forward position early. If the pace remains moderate, he could pull off an upset at his morning line of 10-1. You should watch the Lecomte Stakes betting odds closely on race day, as any late money for a Cox trainee usually signals a massive performance. He needs to find two more lengths to reverse the form with the Gun Runner winner, but his pedigree suggests he will only get stronger as the distances increase.
Carson Street brings a professional 1st-place finish into this event, having broken his maiden at Fair Grounds on December 4, 2025. This son of Street Sense possesses the classic stamina associated with his sire. Trainer Brendan Walsh has tapped Axel Concepcion to maintain the partnership. Carson Street earned a 95 Speed Figure in that victory, showing a gritty determination to hold off rivals in the final furlong. With a morning line of 8-1, he represents a mid-priced option for those engaging in Lecomte Stakes betting.
The transition from a maiden victory to a Grade 3 stakes is always the toughest hurdle for a young horse. However, Carson Street already has a win over the local surface, which gives him a significant home-court advantage. His tactical versatility allows Axel Concepcion to sit just off the leaders and wait for the long New Orleans stretch to make a move. He is a legitimate contender to hit the board, and savvy players will include him in their "bet on Lecomte Stakes" strategies for exotics like the Exacta and Trifecta.
Michael J. Maker brings Crown the Buckeye to New Orleans with a solid foundation and a 6.09 rating. This son of Yaupon has been remarkably consistent, finishing third in the 2025 Gun Runner Stakes with a sharp 102 Speed Figure. Ricardo Santana, Jr. takes the mount, a jockey known for his aggressive and precise riding style on the dirt. At 4-1 on the morning line, the betting public clearly respects this colt’s ability to compete at the highest level of this age group.
Crown the Buckeye rarely runs a bad race. His third-place finish in the Gun Runner proved he could handle the pressure of a points-paying race. He possesses a high cruising speed that allows him to stay within striking distance of the leaders without expending too much energy. If you plan to bet on Lecomte Stakes, this horse offers a high floor for your wagers. He may not have the highest ceiling in the race, but his experience in stakes company makes him a reliable part of any wagering ticket.
Exosome represents the "wild card" of the field. Trained by Kelsey Danner and ridden by Jareth Loveberry, this son of Candy Ride won a maiden special weight at Keeneland back in October 2025. While his speed figure of 90 is lower than the top contenders, his 6.09 rating suggests the handicappers believe there is untapped potential. At 20-1, he will be the longest price on the board for most people looking at the Lecomte Stakes betting odds.
To win here, Exosome must take a significant step forward in speed and physicality. He hasn't raced since October, which raises questions about his fitness compared to those who ran in December. However, Candy Ride progeny often improve significantly between their two-year-old and three-year-old seasons. If the pace collapses, Exosome could be the one picking up the pieces late. He is a risky bet, but at 20-1, the reward for a small bet on Lecomte Stakes could be substantial.
Golden Tempo is the most intriguing horse in the race from a speed perspective. Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Jose L. Ortiz, this son of Curlin exploded onto the scene with a maiden victory on December 20, 2025. He earned a massive 112 Speed Figure, the highest in the field by a significant margin. Despite this, he is listed at 8-1 on the morning line, likely because he has only one career start. If he can replicate that 112 figure, the rest of the field is running for second place.
Cherie DeVaux has been on a tear lately, and Jose Ortiz is one of the best gate-to-wire riders in the business. Golden Tempo will almost certainly try to take the lead immediately. The question is whether he can sustain that 112-speed pace over 1 1/16 miles against more experienced rivals. If you are looking for Lecomte Stakes betting value, this horse is a "must-use." He could be a superstar in the making, or he could bounce after such a strenuous debut. Regardless, he will dictate the shape of the race.
Brad Cox doesn't just enter races; he enters to win them. Thunder Buck is his second runner in the field, and many believe he is the stronger of the two. Ridden by the elite Luis Saez, this Gun Runner colt won his maiden on the same day as Golden Tempo, posting a 102 Speed Figure. He sits at 6-1 on the morning line. Unlike his stablemate Quality Mischief, Thunder Buck seems to have a more professional approach to his racing, showing great maturity in his December victory.
Luis Saez is known for putting horses in the right spot at the right time. Thunder Buck has the pedigree to handle the distance and the trainer to ensure he is 100% fit. In many ways, he is the "wise guy" horse of the race. While Golden Tempo gets the headlines for his speed figure, Thunder Buck has the consistency and the connections that usually prevail in the Lecomte Stakes odds. Expect him to be much closer to 4-1 by post time.
Cherie DeVaux has a powerful uncoupled entry in this race, with Mesquite serving as the counterpoint to Golden Tempo’s speed. Mesquite, a son of Union Rags, won at Churchill Downs in November with a 96 Speed Figure. He will be guided by Flavien Prat, arguably the best tactical jockey in North America right now. At 8-1, Mesquite offers excellent value for those who believe the front-runners will tire each other out.
Union Rags' offspring are built for distance, and the 1 1/16 miles of the Lecomte should be right in his wheelhouse. With Flavien Prat aboard, Mesquite will likely settle in the middle of the pack and wait for the turn. If the pace is as fast as expected due to Golden Tempo, Mesquite’s closing kick could be the deciding factor. He is a sophisticated choice for anyone looking to bet on Lecomte Stakes with a focus on late-race dynamics.
Whenever Irad Ortiz Jr. travels to New Orleans to ride for Brad Cox, the betting public pays attention. White Tiger, a son of Constitution, holds a 6.27 rating and won his maiden at Churchill Downs with a 92 Speed Figure. While his speed numbers aren't as eye-popping as some others, the combination of Cox and Ortiz is the most dangerous duo in horse racing. He is listed at 8-1, making him a very attractive betting prospect.
White Tiger showed a lot of "bottom" in his maiden win, digging in deep to prevail. He is the type of horse that won't give up in a stretch duel. Constitution is a sire that has already produced several Derby-caliber runners, and White Tiger looks like he fits that mold. If the Lecomte Stakes odds remain at 8-1, he might be the best value on the entire card. He is a professional runner who knows how to find the wire.
Ocelli enters the Lecomte with a 0.00 rating, which usually indicates a horse that hasn't shown much on paper. However, he finished a strong second to Thunder Buck in his last outing, earning a 100 Speed Figure. Trained by D. Whitworth Beckman and ridden by Joseph D. Ramos, he is a 12-1 longshot that deserves more respect than his rating suggests. He was only beaten by a small margin by one of the favorites in this race.
If Ocelli can repeat his 100 Speed Figure, he is right in the mix for a podium finish. He likely won't win, but he is the perfect horse to use underneath in your Lecomte Stakes betting tickets. He showed he could compete with Thunder Buck, and if that rival is 6-1, then Ocelli at 12-1 is a mathematical bargain. Don't let the 0.00 rating fool you; this horse has talent.
Brendan Walsh has a second runner in Stop The Car, and based on the numbers, this might be the one to beat. With a 6.34 rating and a field-best 116 Speed Figure in his last start at Churchill Downs, Stop The Car is a monster on paper. Ben Curtis takes the mount on this son of Maximum Security. Despite his massive speed figure, he is 8-1 on the morning line, likely due to concerns about the outside post position and the quality of the field he beat in November.
Maximum Security was a horse that loved to dictate terms, and Stop The Car seems to have inherited that trait. However, starting at post 10 makes it difficult to reach the lead without expending too much energy. Ben Curtis will have to be perfect in his execution to clear the field. If you are looking to bet on Lecomte Stakes, Stop The Car is the ultimate "boom or bust" candidate. He could win by five lengths or finish last if he gets caught wide.
The favorite for the 2026 Lecomte Stakes is undoubtedly Chip Honcho. Trained by the legendary Steve Asmussen and ridden by Paco Lopez, this son of Connect won the Gun Runner Stakes in impressive fashion, earning a 103 Speed Figure and a field-high 6.56 rating. He is the class of the field and the most proven winner at this distance and track. At 9-2, he isn't a heavy favorite, but he is the horse everyone else has to pass.
Chip Honcho has the perfect style for Fair Grounds. He can sit just off the lead and pounce when the real running starts. Paco Lopez is a master of timing, and Steve Asmussen has won this race multiple times. When looking at the Lecomte Stakes odds, Chip Honcho is the anchor for most bettors. He has already beaten several of these rivals and appears to be training forwardly for his three-year-old debut.
When you bet on Lecomte Stakes, the key is to balance the proven class of Chip Honcho with the raw speed of Golden Tempo and Stop The Car. This race features an abundance of early speed, which often sets the table for a closer. If you believe the pace will be suicidal, look toward Mesquite or White Tiger to sweep past the tired leaders. Conversely, if Golden Tempo is truly a 112-speed freak, the race might be over by the backstretch.
The 2026 Lecomte Stakes is a puzzle with many moving parts. We have the established brilliance of Chip Honcho, the barn-burning speed of Golden Tempo, and the tactical mastery of the Brad Cox brigade. For those analyzing the Lecomte Stakes betting market, the smartest play is to look for value in the mid-range of the odds. Horses like White Tiger and Thunder Buck have the pedigree and the connections to upset the favorites while offering a much better return on investment.
Prepare your bankrolls for a thrilling afternoon in New Orleans. Whether you prefer the favorites or the longshots, this race promises to provide clarity on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Keep a close eye on the Lecomte Stakes odds as the horses approach the gate, as the late money often tells the final story. This field is deep, talented, and ready to prove who belongs in the spotlight on the first Saturday in May. May your tickets be fast and your photos be winning ones.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
