More three-year-olds stepped out onto the Triple Crown trail this week. The latest prep race for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) was the Jan. 17 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds. A son of a classic sire took home the laurels in the $250,000 stake, which was contested over 1 1/16 miles.

Why the Lecomte matters for classic form—especially the Preakness

The Lecomte has a solid track record of producing classic runners, in particular the middle jewel of the Triple Crown; past winners have included 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Midnight Bourbon, 2019 Preakness winner War of Will, and 2013 Preakness winner Oxbow.

Golden Tempo and a Phipps-bred pedigree steeped in Lady Pitt’s family

Golden Tempo, who closed mightily in the stretch to get up for a ¾-length victory, won this year’s edition of the Lecomte. Cherie DeVaux trains both Golden Tempo and runner-up Mesquite. Bred and raced by the partnership of Phipps Stable and Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stables, Golden Tempo hails from a female family rich in Phipps family tradition. His dam, Phipps homebred Carrumba (by Bernardini), won the 2016 Top Flight Invitational Handicap (G3); Carrumba’s granddam, grade 1-placed Dancinginmydreams (by Seeking the Gold), also produced 2008 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (G1T) victor Dancing Forever (by Rahy). Dancinginymdreams is a full sister to grade 1 winners Oh What a Windfall and Hall of Fame racemare Heavenly Prize; the Phipps clan has nurtured this female family since purchasing Dancinginmydreams’ third dam, champion Lady Pitt, decades ago, and its best representatives include a host of grade/group 1 winners.

Silverbulletday Stakes: Taken by the Wind stays unbeaten on the Oaks trail

Also at the Fair Grounds on Jan. 17, a group of sophomore fillies took their first steps onto the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail. Florida-bred Taken by the Wind won her third straight race, making her undefeated in a trio of career starts, by capturing the Fasig-Tipton Silverbulletday Stakes. This is her second stakes win; last time out, in September 2025, she won the Pocahontas Stakes (G3), also held at Churchill Downs, home of the Oaks.

McPeek, Rock Your World, and a deep American female line

Trained and co-owned by Kenny McPeek, who has conditioned winners of both classic races, Taken by the Wind is the best American runner so far sired by 2013 Santa Anita Derby (G1) victor Rock Your World, a son of the versatile stallion Candy Ride. Taken by the Wind’s third dam, Love from Mom, foaled graded stakes winners such as Sea of Secrets (sire of a then-record-priced $2.7 million juvenile colt who sold in 2003) and the dam of multiple grade 1 winner Society Selection.

Louisiana Stakes (G3): Accelerize for Omaha Beach at Spendthrift / Repole

On that same card at Fair Grounds, four-year-olds and up competed in the $175,000 Louisiana Stakes Presented by Hagyard (G3). Coming out on top was Accelerize, a son of 2025’s champion third-crop sire, Omaha Beach. Already in 2026, Omaha Beach ranks among the top 10 general sires by cumulative earnings. Accelerize was bred by Spendthrift Farm, where Omaha Beach stands, and is campaigned by Spendthrift and Repole Stable. Accelerize’s female family is just as distinguished; his third dam, Golden Tiy, is the second dam of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Shared Account and third dam of 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) winner Sharing.