The first of four races on the Louisiana road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the first and only race on the Oklahoma road to the Derby take place Saturday.
The $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans and the $300,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park in Oklahoma City are the last of 11 Derby point-qualifiers in 2025 for the 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1.
There are a few dozen from Jan. 3-April 11 with the 152nd Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2.
Each race Saturday offers 10-5-3-2-1 points on a sliding scale to the top five finishers. The new year kicks off Jan. 3 with the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct and the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, the final Derby preps with a 10-5-3-2-1 points scale. The points increase significantly as the first Saturday in May moves closer.
For bettors and fans alike looking for an early Kentucky Derby contender, these two late-year Derby preps are worth your consideration. The Springboard Mile has a full field of 12 entered; the Gun Runner has a field of eight. Neither has produced a Derby winner, but there’s always a first time.
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Some of these 2-year-olds are already on the Derby trail, most notably Spice Runner for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. A son of top sire Gun Runner won the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in September and earned 10 Derby qualifying points. He picked up a point with a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on Oct. 31 and ranks sixth on the leaderboard.
Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Spice Runner is the 3-1 morning-line favorite from post 7 under veteran Stewart Elliott.
Among other contenders in the 1 1/16-mile Springboard Mile are New York-bred Arctic Beast (4-1), Time for Music (9-2), and Essential Time (6-1).
Arctic Beast is 3-for-3; Essential Time won the Clever Trevor here on Sept. 28, and Time for Music gives Asmussen a second runner with his son, Erik Asmussen, riding.
The race has yet to produce a Kentucky Derby winner, but last year’s winner, Coal Battle, became quite a heart-warming story for trainer Lonnie Briley. The colt won at nearly 7-1 odds, won the Smarty Jones and the Rebel Stakes (G2), finished third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) before running 11th in the Derby. Coal Battle gave Briley, a longtime Louisiana-based trainer with a small stable, his first Derby starter.
The 1 1/16-mile Gun Runner will be contested for the fifth year, but there are already a few notable winners.
In 2021, Epicenter won the inaugural race with Rich Strike fifth. Epicenter went on to win two more Derby preps, the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and the Louisiana Derby (G2), before running second in the 2022 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1). Who beat him in the Derby? Rich Strike at 80-1 odds!
On Saturday, Brookdale Racing and Fern Circle Stables’ Liberty National looks to be the top contender for the track’s Derby Kickoff Day.
Other stakes on the 12-race card are the $100,000 Untapable, the $100,000 Tenacious, and $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial.
Trained by Kenny McPeek, Liberty National (7-2) won last out, scoring by 4 ½ lengths going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs. Brian Hernandez, Jr, rides out of post 3.
McPeek also entered Dream Big Racing’s Very Connected (9-2), who has five Derby points from a fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and third in the Street Sense Stakes (G3).
LBD Stable’s Mesquite (9-2) drew the rail for trainer Cherie DeVaux. The colt comes in off a maiden win in early November at Churchill Downs.
Brad Cox, who won the 2022 Gun Runner with Jace’s Road, has a trio of runners -- Mister Punch (6-1), Arabia Wild (8-1), and Quality Mischief (10-1).
The other Derby preps at the Fair Grounds are the Lecomte Stakes (G3) on Jan. 17, the Risen Star on Feb. 14, and the Louisiana Derby on March 31.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
