Derby, Oaks points up for grabs at Fair Grounds and Remington

Dec 15, 2025 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Liberty National wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Fair Grounds and Remington Park on Saturday will offer the final point-scoring opportunities for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) this calendar year when they respectively host the $100,000 Gun Runner S. and $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile. Fair Grounds will also dish out Kentucky Oaks (G1) points in the $100,000 Untapable S.

The Gun Runner, the first of four Derby preps held at Fair Grounds this winter, will be run over 1 1/16 miles. The field is largely light on stakes experience but long on potential. Fitting into the latter category are Liberty National, Chip Honcho, and Mesquite, all winners at the maiden special weight level during the Churchill Downs fall meet.

Despite dropping into a high-end maiden claimer to graduate at Churchill, Mister Punch might be the swiftest of trainer Brad Cox's three entries. He is joined by stablemates Quality Mischief and Arabia Wild.

Very Connected has taken swings at two prior Derby preps, finishing third in the Street Sense (G3) and fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). Crown the Buckeye, meanwhile, faces open foes for the first time after recording blowout victories in the Cleveland Kindergarten and Best of Ohio Juvenile versus Ohio-breds.

The Springboard Mile has attracted a full field of 12. Spice Runner, who captured the Road to the Kentucky Derby series-opening Iroquois (G3) in September, looks to bounce back to that form after rough trips in both the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Kentucky Jockey Club.

Mike Maker, who saddles Crown the Buckeye in the Gun Runner, will be represented at Remington by another son of Yaupon who has dominated state-bred rivals. Arctic Beast has been plying his trade in upstate New York, where he dominated the Aspirant S. and New York Breeders Futurity at Finger Lakes.

Another potential contender is Essential Time, who returns to the dirt after an unsuccessful foray in a grass allowance last time. Essential Time rallied for a maiden-breaking win in the 6 1/2-furlong Clever Trevor S. two back and is eminently bred to appreciate this two-turn mile.

Both the Gun Runner and Springboard Mile will offer Derby qualifying points of 10-5-3-2-1 to their respective top five finishers.

The Untapable, which offers Kentucky Oaks points on the same scale, attracted a field of eight fillies to go one mile and 70 yards. Leading contenders include Churchill allowance winners Hit Parade and Have Faith, the Mike Stidham-trained Luv Your Neighbor, and local graduate Pashmina.