Hold on to your hats, folks, because the race for the Kentucky Derby is heating up, and the upcoming Lecomte Stakes is shaping up to be a real nail-biter! The Fair Grounds is about to become a battleground for a talented group of three-year-old horses, all vying for crucial qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. But here's the kicker: with a field this deep, predicting a winner is anyone's guess. Let's dive in!
Remember the thrilling Gun Runner Stakes from December 20th? It was a photo finish! Chip Honcho emerged victorious, but only by a hair – a single length separated him from fourth-place finisher Quality Mischief. Sandwiched in between were Liberty Nation (who won't be competing this time) and Crown the Buckeye. The competition was fierce, and it seems the $250,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3), set for January 17th at Fair Grounds, will be just as intense.
We'll see some familiar faces return to the track. Chip Honcho, Crown the Buckeye, and Quality Mischief are all back for another shot at glory. But they'll be facing some fresh competition! Eight other horses have entered the 1 1/16-mile dirt race, and several of them look like serious contenders. Keep an eye on Golden Tempo, Mesquite, White Tiger, and Stop the Car – they could easily shake up the leaderboard.
Chip Honcho, who showed impressive stamina in the Gun Runner by wearing down Crown the Buckeye, has drawn the far outside post position. But don't count him out! With Paco Lopez in the saddle, his natural speed should allow him to quickly establish a favorable position. The plan in the Gun Runner was for Chip Honcho to take the lead, but Crown the Buckeye had other ideas. The Ohio-bred stakes winner burst out of the gate, setting a blistering pace with fractions of 23.62 seconds for the first quarter-mile, 46.66 seconds for the half-mile, and 1:10.98 for six furlongs. This forced Chip Honcho to play catch-up.
Crown the Buckeye initially fended off his rival, even opening up a one-length lead in the stretch. But he was running on fumes, leaving the door open for Chip Honcho to seize the lead and hold off a late surge from Liberty Nation. Leland Ackerley Racing's Chip Honcho earned 10 valuable Kentucky Derby qualifying points for that victory. You can even watch a video replay of the Gun Runner Stakes to relive the excitement.
There's a jockey change for Crown the Buckeye. Ricardo Santana Jr. will be taking the reins from Jareth Loveberry. Crown the Buckeye, trained by Mike Maker for Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, and Hooties Racing, is a son of Yaupon.
Here's where things get interesting with the jockey lineup... The renowned Flavien Prat is heading to Fair Grounds to ride Mesquite for LBD Stable. Mesquite, trained by Cherie DeVaux, is coming off a victory at Churchill Downs on November 7th, where he won at the same 1 1/16-mile distance as the Lecomte. But here's the twist: Jose Ortiz, who rode Mesquite in his two previous starts, will instead be riding DeVaux's other entrant, Golden Tempo. Golden Tempo, owned by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, is coming off a strong win over six furlongs at Fair Grounds on December 20th.
And the jockey star power doesn't stop there! Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose's brother, will also be in town to ride White Tiger. He piloted White Tiger to a victory at Churchill Downs back in October. White Tiger is owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stable and trained by Brad Cox.
Speaking of trainers with multiple entries, besides Cox and DeVaux, Brendan Walsh will also be running two horses in the Lecomte. He'll be starting Carson Street, a maiden winner, and Stop the Car, who is undefeated in two starts. But here's where it gets controversial... Some argue that running multiple horses in the same race can give a trainer an unfair advantage, as they can strategize to benefit one horse over another. What do you think? Does having multiple entries create an uneven playing field?
The Lecomte Stakes is the 13th and final race on the card. But before that, in the 10th race, six three-year-old fillies will compete in the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes at a mile and 70 yards. This race offers Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points, also on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale.
Atropa, who finished second in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) for trainer Cherie DeVaux, is the favorite in the Silverbulletday under Jose Ortiz. Three other entrants – Taken by the Wind, Luv Your Neighbor, and Pashmina – have also proven their mettle in stakes company. They'll be joined by the promising debut winner, White Smoke, and the maiden Dancin in Old Town.
Lecomte Stakes (G3) – Race Details:
- Track: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Race: 13
- Grade: III
- Distance: 1 1/16 miles
- Surface: Dirt
- Purse: $250,000
- Age: 3-year-olds
- Post Time: 6:00 PM (local)
Silverbulletday Stakes – Race Details:
- Track: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Race: 10
- Type: Stakes
- Distance: 1 mile and 70 yards
- Surface: Dirt
- Purse: $150,000
- Age: 3-year-old Fillies
- Post Time: 4:30 PM (local)
(See tables below for full list of entries, jockeys, trainers, and morning line odds.)
So, who do you think will win the Lecomte Stakes? Will Chip Honcho repeat his Gun Runner victory? Can Crown the Buckeye redeem himself? Or will one of the newcomers steal the show? And who will take home the Silverbulletday Stakes? Let us know your predictions in the comments below! We'd love to hear your thoughts on which horses have the best chance of making it to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Let the debate begin!
