The 2026 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course is a key mid-tier Kentucky Derby prep race offering double points (20-10-6-4-2) to the top five finishers, attracting a competitive field of 11 three-year-olds. The morning-line favorite is Crown the Buckeye, an Ohio-bred known for front-running but who showed vulnerability when stepping outside Ohio, finishing third in the recent Gun Runner Stakes. Despite a fast early pace in that race, skepticism remains about the form of the Gun Runner participants, including Quality Mischief.

Instead, the article highlights Golden Tempo, an 8-1 shot bred for stamina and distance, who impressed with a strong closing debut win at six furlongs and is expected to improve stretching out to 1 1/16 miles. Other notable contenders include Brad Cox-trained maiden winners Thunder Buck and White Tiger, both showing promise stepping up in class. With top jockeys like Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, these horses present compelling picks for the Lecomte Stakes.