2023 Gun Runner champ Asmussen Trainee Track Phantom. (Hodges Photography)
Begins Road to the Derby
Fair Grounds Release
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Entries have been drawn for “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Saturday, Dec. 21. Slated as Race 7 of 12, the 4th running of the $100,000 Gun Runner attracted five 2-year-olds and will award 10-5-3-2-1 points as the final Kentucky Derby prep race of the calendar year.
Eight added money events have been carded, each offering $100,000 purses, including the Untapable, Sugar Bowl, Letellier, Tenacious, Richard R. Scherer Memorial, Blushing KD, and Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes. First post is scheduled for noon CT.
Run at 1-1/16 miles, the Gun Runner field is led by Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Magnitude. The two-time winner who broke his maiden at Ellis Park passed the two-turn test in his first try, winning an allowance in mid-November at Churchill Downs. The Not This Time colt is trained by Steve Asmussen, who has won this event twice, including the inaugural edition with Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter.
The current meet leader Jose Ortiz takes the call aboard Magnitude.
Steve Asmussen and @ErikAsmussen with the double! Magnitude wins Race 6 for Winchell Thoroughbreds! pic.twitter.com/vZq1dpVzHU
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 17, 2024
Trainer Brad Cox entered Albaugh Family Stables’ Admiral Dennis, a Constitution colt who broke his maiden at second asking going one mile at Churchill Downs in mid-November. Cox teamed up with Albaugh Family Stables, partial owners of Jace’s Road, to win the Gun Runner in 2022. Luis Saez will be in town to ride Admiral Dennis.
Baccari Racing Stable, Dream Walkin Farms, MJM Racing and Rocket Ship Racing’s Render Judgment entered the Gun Runner looking to add to the one point he earned running fifth last out in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). The Blame colt broke his maiden in late October going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs. Render Judgment is trained by Ken McPeek, the conditioner of the 150th Kentucky Derby winner, Mystik Dan. Brian Hernandez Jr. takes the call.
Filling out the field is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Built for Wayne Catalano and Nice Guys Stables’ Chris’s Revenge for Britany Russell. Both colts will be looking to prove themselves at two turns.
The Gun Runner is named for the local winner of the 2016 Risen Star and Louisiana Derby. All three winners of the Derby prep have made it to the Kentucky Derby starting gates. Kentucky Derby 148 winner Rich Strike ran 5th behind Epicenter in the 2021 edition.
