Excitement is building in New Orleans as the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots gears up to host the 83rd running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Lecomte Stakes this Saturday, January 17, 2026. The Lecomte, a crucial stop on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby, headlines the jam-packed Road to the Derby Day program, promising a thrilling afternoon for racing enthusiasts and Derby hopefuls alike.
Trainer Brendan Walsh is making waves this year, entering a formidable pair of colts—Stop the Car and Carson Street—into the Lecomte Stakes. Both horses have shown flashes of brilliance, and their performances on Saturday could shape the early landscape of this year’s Kentucky Derby trail.
Stop the Car, owned by Trade Winds Farm, enters the Lecomte undefeated in two starts. His journey to this point is the stuff of racing lore—humble beginnings, followed by a rapid ascent that has left his connections dreaming big. Walsh admitted, “We didn't think all that much of him initially. I ran him at Keeneland for a tag because he didn't show me an awful lot in his works. But he's come along. He's never been a spectacular worker, but he worked good last Saturday. He's training great. He's really going forward.”
The Maximum Security colt first caught attention at Keeneland, where he overcame a wide post to win his debut over six furlongs. The real test came next at Churchill Downs, where Stop the Car stretched out to a one-turn mile on Stars of Tomorrow II Day. Facing allowance company, including the talented It’s Our Time, he relaxed early, then advanced confidently to power home by more than three lengths. Walsh was effusive in his praise: “I love the way he ran that day at Churchill. To me, he's screaming out to go two turns. He's your ideal type of two-turn horse, there's no frills. He just goes out and he does it. He should have no trouble at the distance.”
For Saturday’s Lecomte, Stop the Car once again drew a wide post—number 10—and will be piloted by jockey Ben Curtis. While the draw isn’t ideal, it’s nothing new for the colt, who has already shown he can overcome adversity from the gate. The racing world will be watching to see if he can maintain his perfect record and take another step toward Derby glory.
Not to be outdone, Stop the Car’s stablemate Carson Street enters the Lecomte with momentum of his own. The Street Sense colt, owned by Ike and Dawn Thrash, broke his maiden in eye-popping fashion last out, romping by 11 lengths in a local race that was taken off the turf. Walsh noted, “He liked it here in the last, albeit it was an off-turf maiden, but he was very impressive.”
Carson Street has been a model of consistency, finishing in the money in all four of his starts. He’s battled against the likes of Incredibolt and Mesquite—the latter of whom he’ll face again in the Lecomte. Walsh described Carson Street as “a little on the handy side, but he’s all guts. He can go forward, chances are he’ll either be on the lead or second or third.” With his tactical speed and proven stamina at the Lecomte distance of 1 1/16 miles, Carson Street could be a major factor in the outcome.
The Lecomte Stakes isn’t just another race—it’s a pivotal early test for 3-year-olds with Derby aspirations. The race will award qualifying points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale, making it a must-win for connections hoping to secure a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. The stakes are high, the field is deep, and the drama is palpable.
This year’s Road to the Derby Day at Fair Grounds is a spectacle in its own right. The 13-race card features six stakes events worth a combined $875,000, ensuring there’s plenty of action for fans and bettors. First post is set for noon Central Time, and the anticipation is electric as the racing community converges on New Orleans to catch a glimpse of the next potential Derby star.
Meanwhile, the excitement isn’t limited to the racetrack. Just up the road in Louisville, preparations are underway for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s 2026 Pegasus Parade, another cherished tradition on the Derby calendar. Applications for the parade opened on January 15, 2026, with organizers inviting nearly 100 units—including dance teams, equestrian groups, marching bands, and large inflatables—to march down Broadway on Sunday, April 26, at 3 p.m.
This year’s parade theme, “Festival on the Move: A Year of Milestones, Memories and Movement!”, encourages participants to celebrate everything that moves, from iconic moments in American history to the energy of sports and dance. “The Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade brings Broadway to life each spring and showcases the imagination and talent of our community,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival president and CEO. “With ‘Festival on the Move,’ we can’t wait to see the energy, creativity and movement participants will share at this year’s parade as it kicks off Derby week.”
The Pegasus Parade, now in its 71st year, is sponsored by Louisville-based Zoeller Pump Company for the sixth consecutive time. Dwight Newton, the company’s chief people officer, expressed pride in the partnership, saying, “The Kentucky Derby Festival is such an amazing celebration of our community and its people, and we are proud that the Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade is a wonderful part of the Festival. Thinking about all the milestones, memories and movement in the greater Louisville area is exciting to celebrate.”
The Derby Festival, which began with the first parade in 1956, kicks off on Saturday, April 18, 2026, with Thunder Over Louisville. The main event, Kentucky Derby 152, is set for Saturday, May 2, 2026, promising a spring filled with pageantry, competition, and community spirit.
Back at Fair Grounds, all eyes remain fixed on Stop the Car, Carson Street, and a talented field of 3-year-olds as they vie for supremacy in the Lecomte Stakes. With Derby points on the line and reputations at stake, this Saturday’s race could well be a defining moment on the road to Churchill Downs. As the gates open and the crowd roars to life, the journey to the Kentucky Derby takes another thrilling turn—one that promises more milestones, memories, and movement in the weeks ahead.
