Cox Targets Third Lecomte Title With Trio of Contenders
NEW ORLEANS (Jan. 14, 2025) – With two Lecomte titles to his name, trainer Brad Cox will saddle three of the 11 colts entered in the Grade 3 $250,000 Lecomte Stakes, the headlining event on Road to the Derby Day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Written for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, the 83rd running of the Lecomte will award qualifying points of 20-10-6-4-2 on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Last year, Cox won the Lecomte with Disco Time; he also captured the race in 2023 with Instant Coffee.
Of his three shots for a repeat in the Lecomte, the morning line indicates that Thunder Buck has the best chance of capturing a third title for Cox. Tabbed at 6-1, the Calumet Farm homebred is by Gun Runner and out of the Oxbow mare Oxy Lady.
“Based off pedigree and what he’s shown us so far, the further the better for him,” Cox said. “I thought he had a good gallop out in his first run as well there at Keenland. The further they go, the better he’s gonna get.”
Thunder Buck debuted going seven furlongs in mid-October at Keeneland, finishing fourth, 10 lengths back, but galloping out in front. Four horses have come out of that field to win their next race, including Gun Runner champion Chip Honcho, who is set for his return in the Lecomte.
Having made two career starts, Thunder Buck broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles on Road to the Derby Kickoff Day, overcoming multiple tough spots against eleven foes, many of whom return in Race 8 on Saturday.
“I was going to run him (on Stars of Tomorrow II) at Churchill, but he had a little bump in the road and missed a work or two,” Cox said. “He responded nicely, and he’s started off well at Fair Grounds.”
Listed at 8-1 on the morning line, Twin Creeks’ homebred White Tiger also enters the Lecomte with two starts, having followed a similar path. The Constitution colt ran second to Englishman going seven furlongs in his September debut at Churchill Downs, then broke his maiden in his first try going two turns at Churchill on Oct. 26. Since then, he’s been working steadily with Cox’s string at Payson Park.
“He passed his first mile and a sixteenth test, I felt like, in good order,” Cox said. “He stumbled at the start, then (went to the lead) which we didn’t expect him to be. He’s still learning. We took our time with him by design, spaced his races, and we’ll take a couple big swings with him, hoping he picks up some points over these next few starts and takes us where we want to go.”
Cox will also saddle West Paces Racing and Donegal Racing’s Quality Mischief, who finished fourth, just one length behind Chip Honcho, in the Gun Runner.
“I think he’s starting to move forward and improve,” Cox said. “He stepped forward big time (in the Gun Runner) and actually his last two works have been decent. He deserves a chance (in the Lecomte) with what he’s shown us recently.”
On Saturday, Cox will also unveil two Whisper Hill Farm homebred 3-year-olds, each with a graded-stakes-winning sibling. In Race 6, it’s Guns Allowed, a half-brother to Volatile; in Race 5, Tap to Open, a half-sister to Charge It.
The Lecomte caps the Road to the Derby Day program, a 13-race card featuring six stakes worth $875,000. First post is noon CT.
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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 154th Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 113th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 20, 2025 through March 22, 2026. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.
