Expert Pick of the Week: 2026 Lecomte Stakes

Jan 14, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Stop the Car wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

A smart and well-matched cast of 11 three-year-olds will run 1 1/16 miles on the dirt at Fair Grounds in Saturday’s $250,000 Lecomte (G3). The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the top-five finishers with qualifying points towards the Run for the Roses on a 20-10-6-4-2 structure.

I have come away very impressed with the Brendan Walsh-trained Stop the Car to this stage of his development and will give him top billing in the ultra-competitive contest. The son of Maximum Security made his first start at Keeneland on Oct. 24 in a $150,000 maiden claiming sprint at six furlongs. He didn’t show much early speed in that race and found himself well off the early leader for much of the race, but the colt finished with a flourish to win at first asking at 7-1.

For his second lifetime try, the horse faced off against seven foes in an allowance event at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29 at the one-mile distance. In that one, the $110,000 auction purchase was closer to the lead from the start, prior to driving home a sharp, 3 3/4-length victor in a swiftly run contest. He earned a solid 92 Brisnet Speed rating for his work and proved that he will keep improving as the distances increase this season. The three-year-old has produced four morning workouts on the Fair Grounds dirt leading up to this stakes race, and I expect him to be fit and ready for his toughest test to date. He will have the talented Ben Curtis riding him for the initial time in the Lecomte, and the top pick will be asked to put in his winning run as the field approaches the turn for home.

🏆 BIG WINNER 🏆

Congratulations to Sam Sample, who converted his $50 bankroll from Saturday's cash tournament @TurfwayPark into an ending bankroll of $996.16!

He also took home the first place prize of $405!

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The Ohio-bred Crown the Buckeye has performed well in every one of his four lifetime races to date for trainer Mike Maker. The son of Yaupon is quick from the gate and finished a close third after leading very late in the recent Gun Runner S. on this track, and I think that he will benefit from having a race over the course. He won two stakes races as a two-year-old, and the $250,000 purchase received a nice post to flaunt his early speed and lead this field from the early going once again. The horse is a winner at this distance and will have Ricardo Santana, Jr. in the saddle.

Top trainer Cherie DeVaux has two contenders in the field that went from last-to-first in recent wins, and both of the colts have a chance in the race. Golden Tempo is a son of Curlin who won at six furlongs, and the youngster will appreciate running longer on Saturday. Mesquite won at Churchill Downs going long last time and is a nice prospect with room to improve on Saturday.

Expert Pick

A trifecta with #10 Stop the Car on top of #3 Crown the Buckeye, #5 Golden Tampo, and #7 Mesquite in the 2026 Lecomte Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.

Wager

$2 trifecta key 10 with 3,5,7 ($12)

Bonus Play (Silverbulletday S. – Race 10)

$4 exacta 1 with 3,4,5 ($12)