December historically offers a lull in horse racing around the country: after the Clark, contested over Thanksgiving weekend at Churchill Downs, the sport looks to Long Island and the Cigar Mile for its last big day.
The advent of a coordinated, designated trail to the Kentucky Derby has largely changed this historical reality: 7 total Derby preps will be run between the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the close of the calendar year. And while some of these races will turn out to be inconsequential as far as Triple Crown outcomes, it still makes for a fun addition to the puzzle that is the Derby.
This year, we’ll do a series of these pieces on Derby preps around the country. Today, we highlight the Louisiana path to the Derby. Today’s race, the Gun Runner, is a 2 turn, 1 1/16 mile race on the dirt. It’s a newer addition to the Derby trail, its existence and importance buoyed by Churchill Downs’ ownership of the Fairgrounds.
GUN RUNNER STAKES - DECEMBER
The Gun Runner was first run in 2021, and it began with a bang: winner Epicenter went on to a fine 3-year-old campaign, sweeping the major preps in Louisiana before a tough luck 2nd in both the Derby and Preakness. He rebounded with wins in Saratoga’s biggest summer races - the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 1 Travers - before heading off to stud.
Last year’s edition, which saw Built come away with the check, featured 2 other Derby trail stars: Magnitude, who this year won the Grade 2 Risen Star and Grade 2 Clark, and Render Judgment, who was never a threat to win, but did qualify for the Derby.
GRADE 3 LECOMTE STAKES - JANUARY
The Lecomte has been run since 1943, and has been a race for 3-year-olds since 1962. It has since become a spot for horses with serious precocity, producing winners who have gone on to serious campaigns. Since 2000, names like Noble Ruler, Hard Spun, Friesian Fire, Oxbow, Instilled Regard, and Preakness winner War of Will have all won the Lecomte. Expect a number of the runners in today’s Gun Runner to reappear at FGNOLA in January.
GRADE 2 RISEN STAR - FEBRUARY
The Risen Star is a second-tier final prep, worth half the points of the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. No matter, say the runners in the Risen Star: 12 of them have hit the board in the Kentucky Derby since 2000, which places it on par with the 100 point preps. Recent winners Mandaloun, Country House, and War Admiral all became Derby winners a few months later. Commanding Curve, Golden Soul, and Mr. Big News have all exited the race to hit the board in the Derby, as well. As far as 50 point preps go, the Risen Star certainly stands out as a predictor for high-level Derby success.
GRADE 2 LOUISIANA DERBY - MARCH
The Louisiana Derby is the longest -by running distance - of the Derby preps, and the earliest of the 100 point - or win and in - of the preps. Like the Risen Star, 12 runners have hit the Derby board since 2000, with 3 winners coming from the race: Mandaloun, Country House, and Funny Cide. It gives the runners a solid 6 weeks off before the Derby, with most other top preps offering 4 weeks off; in modern racing cycles the month between races seems to score best.
THE LOUISIANA TRAIL - BETTOR BE AWARE
For bettors, this trail is one to familiarize yourself with, as a dozen times hitting the board in 75 opportunities is a huge percentage in a race with the biggest annual field in North America. Today’s Gun Runner should provide at least a few starters for the 2026 rendition of the Derby.
The Sporting Tribune Weekly Wager
Let’s take a look at the late Pick 5. The scratch of favored Just a Touch changes the complexion of the Tenacious, and the full fields all around should make for a solid payday.
$.50 Late Pick 5, starts race 8 ($120): 6,7 / 2,9 / 3,6,8 / 1,2,3,8 / 3,5,6,11,12. Good Luck!