Gun Runner

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA 10-5-3-2-1
December 20, 2025

Gun Runner Race History 

One of the newest additions to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series is the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds, which was inaugurated in 2021. Held in December shortly before Christmas, the Gun Runner is the first in a series of four Kentucky Derby (G1) preps at the New Orleans track. It is followed later in the winter meet by the Lecomte (G3), Risen Star (G2), and Louisiana Derby (G2).

The Gun Runner got off to a fast start when its inaugural was won by Epicenter. Owned by Ron Winchell and trained by Steve Asmussen (the connections also behind the race’s namesake), Epicenter would go on to win the Risen Star, Louisiana Derby, Jim Dandy (G2), and Travers (G1) at three. He also finished second in the Lecomte, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness (G1), thus making him an overwhelming choice as champion three-year-old colt.

Sons of Quality Road won the next two renewals of the Gun Runner, including the Asmussen-trained Track Phantom in 2023.

The Gun Runner awards Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 10-5-3-2-1 to the respective top five finishers.

By TwinSpires Staff/TwinSpires.com

Results

Win

Place

Show

2

Chip Honcho10

$9.80

$4.40

$3

3

Liberty National5

$2.20

5

Crown the Buckeye3

$4.40

$2.60

4

Quality Mischief2

7

Very Connected1

Payouts

Exacta

11.90

2/3

Trifecta

16.10

2/3/5

Superfecta

12.91

2/3/5/4

Double

21.00

3/2

Pick-3

334.80

8/3/2

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Entries

Jockey

Owner

Trainer

Current odds

Wagers

1

Mesquite

Ortiz, Jose L.

LBD Stable LLC

DeVaux, Cherie

9/2

2

Chip Honcho

Lopez, Paco

Leland Ackerley Racing, LLC, Sherwood, James, Shupe, Jode and Cilia, John

Asmussen, Steven M.

9/2

3

Liberty National

Hernandez Jr., Brian Joseph

Brookdale Racing, Inc., Fern Circle Stables and Magdalena Racing

McPeek, Kenneth G.

7/2

4

Quality Mischief

Pedroza Jr., Marcelino

Donegal Racing (Jerry Crawford)

Cox, Brad H.

10/1

5

Crown the Buckeye

Loveberry, Jareth

Paradise Farms Corp., Staudacher, David and Hooties Racing LLC

Maker, Michael J.

5/1

6

Arabia Wild

Concepcion, Axel

Sumaya U. S. Stables (Oussama Aboughazale)

Cox, Brad H.

8/1

7

Very Connected

Hernandez, Colby J.

Dream Big Racing, LLC (John Wade) and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek, et al.)

McPeek, Kenneth G.

9/2

8

Mister Punch

Saez, Luis

Novogratz Racing Stables, Inc.

Cox, Brad H.

6/1

Road to the Kentucky Derby

Santa Anita Derby

April 4, 2026

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Blue Grass

April 4, 2026

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Wood Memorial

April 4, 2026

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Lexington

April 11, 2026

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

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