Meet the Contenders: 2026 Lecomte Stakes
Stop The Car wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
January 13th, 2026
Meet the horses running in the 2026 Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents the opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Quality Mischief wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis. (Photo by Coady Media)
#1 Quality Mischief **
Pro: Outran expectations in Gun Runner S., missing by a length at 25-1.
Con: Had a great setup there and didn’t capitalize; this field is stronger.
TwinSpires logo
#2 Carson Street **
Pro: Romped in slop last time and one to look at if conditions are similar.
Con: Needed four starts to break through; others are more likable.
TwinSpires
#3 Crown the Buckeye ***
Pro: Ohio-bred just failed to last in Gun Runner; one to catch again.
Con: Still not convinced this distance suits against this class of company.
Exosome wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
#4 Exosome *
Pro: Improved a lot to register upset in off-the-turf Keeneland maiden.
Con: Looks the least likely on paper, given speed ratings.
TwinSpires
#5 Golden Tempo ****
Pro: Rallied to win debut sprinting but bred to love going long.
Con: One-start sophomore concedes experience to the rest.
TwinSpires
#6 Thunder Buck ****
Pro: Gun Runner colt won well in two-turn debut; has plenty of upside.
Con: Hot barn might opt to run him in an allowance event earlier on the card.
Mesquite wins at Churchil Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#7 Mesquite ***
Pro: Rallied from far back to earn diploma in the second start for a dangerous barn.
Con: One of many closers here; thus, needs a strong pace.
White Tiger wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#8 White Tiger ***
Pro: Dug in to graduate at this distance as a heavy odds-on favorite.
Con: Needs to run back more to his debut to have a chance.
TwinSpires
#9 Ocelli **
Pro: Took a minor step forward second out and adds blinkers here.
Con: Tough to endorse maiden for all; cross-entered earlier in card.
Stop The Car wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#10 Stop the Car ****
Pro: Crushed Churchill allowance field at big odds; better than originally thought.
Con: Will he be as effective around two turns as he is at one?
Chip Honcho wins the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)
#11 Chip Honcho ***
Pro: Track-and-distance winner of Gun Runner with first blinkers.
Con: Win kind of fell into his lap after the pace collapsed.
ADVERTISEMENT
