Handicapper’s Corner

The Grade 3 Lecomte stakes-Sunday-01/17/26-Fair Grounds Race Course- Post Time 7:00 pm (eastern)

By Robert Marks, (@theyreinthegate)

We have a Grade 3 Race-on the dirt at 1 & 1/16 mile for 3-year-olds with a $250,000 purse this Saturday at New Orleans -Fair Grounds Race Course.  Its Derby Prep time with 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points for the 1-5 finishers on the road to the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby.

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INSERT FIELD HERE

Here is who we like:

 

Chip Honcho (9-2) Trained by Steve Asmussen with Paco Lopez the Jockey, this colt comes off a win at Fair Grounds on December 20^th earning 10 qualifying Derby points. Steve Asmussen will be aiming for his 5^th Lecomte win. He’s currently tied with Tom Amoss at 4 wins each. Chip Honcho has to deal with coming out of Post 11, but he moves in one spot as Ocelli will scratch. This will be his 2^nd attempt at 2 turns. His last race (The Gun Runner) had him outlasting Crown the Buckey and Quality Mischief, both also in this race. A month out of that race we look for him to improve. Pedigree wise he’s strong with his grandfather being multiple graded stakes winner Curlin.

  Golden Tempo (8-1) trained by Cherie DeVaux with Jose Ortiz aboard is lightly raced with only a Maiden race at 6 furlongs which he won at this race course.  He’s taking a big step up, but he is out of Carumba who was a Graded Stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles so the distance should not be a factor.  Trainer DeVaux also has an impressive 27%-win ratio with her horses who move from a sprint race to a route race.  Very good valve if he stays anywhere near his 8-1 morning line.

White Tiger (8-1). This Brad Cox Trained Horse with Irad Ortiz Jr on board has 2 starts, finishing 2^nd 1^st time out at 7 furlongs than winning 2^nd time out at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs back in October.  He comes off a long layoff but has had steady works in December and January.  Brad Cox has a 31%-win rate at Fair Grounds over the last 3 years.  His win came after he stumbled at the start. He was game down the stretch after being pinned on the rail and fought to get the win. Don’t know if the odds will stay there but love this longshot at 8-1.  

Finally Stop the Car, also at 8-1 is undefeated in 2 starts including his last race at 1 mile at Churchill Downs. He’s trained by Brendan Walsh with Ben Curtis on board.  On a Speed basis probably top 3 in this field.

This will be a fun two turn race with derby Points on the line.

This will be an interesting race pace wise. We think front runners Crown the Buckeye and Quality Mischief lead the pace with Golden Tempo, White Tiger and Chip Honcho right behind them. From there it’s a stretch duel where we see White Tiger and Chip Honcho together at the wire. We will hope to hit a Trifecta and then an Exacta Boxing our 3 highlighted horses with a win bet on White Tiger. As always watch the Horses in the Paddock and the odds as Post time approaches and then make final selections accordingly.

Bets: $100 dollar Budget

$5 Trifecta Box: Chip Honcho, White Tiger, Golden Tempo (total bet $30)

$10 Exacta Box: Chip Honcho, White Tiger, Golden Tempo (total bet $60)

$10 Win Bet: White Tiger (Total bet: $10)