Magnitude To Begin Road to the Derby in Gun Runner; Amarth Holds Edge as Eight Evenly Matched Fillies Enter Untapable

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Magnitude To Begin Road to the Derby in Gun Runner

New Orleans, La (Dec. 15 2024) – 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.

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.

Amarth Holds Edge as Eight Evenly Matched Fillies Enter Untapable

New Orleans, La (Dec. 15, 2024) – Entries have been drawn for “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Saturday, Dec. 21. Run at 1 mile 70 yards, the 4th running of the $100,000 Untapable attracted an evenly matched field of eight freshman fillies. Slated as Race 11 of 12, the Untapable will award 10-5-3-2-1 points as the final 2-year-old Kentucky Oaks prep race of the calendar year.

Green Lantern Stables Amarth holds an edge over her competition as the only 2-time winner, backing up her maiden win sprinting at Keeneland with a game score going two turns against allowance company at Churchill Downs. In that race, the Eddie Kenneally trainee defeated Dick Perkins’ Stable Currency, who was entered in the Untapable by trainer Chris Block. Amarth will be piloted by Luis Saez.

With the addition of blinkers, Gary and Mary West’s homebred California Sunset won impressively at second asking for Brad Cox. The Quality Road filly scored her lone win going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs in late October, outfinishing Girl Math to the wire. Florent Geroux will be back aboard California Sunset. Cox and Geroux teamed up last year to win the Untapable with Alpine Princess.

After finishing third on debut to California Sunset, Fern Circle Stables, Cypress Creek Equine and Magdalena Racing’s Golden Gamble disposed of eight foes with ease, breaking her maiden by 9 lengths when going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs. Golden Gamble is trained by Ken McPeek, the conditioner of the 150th Kentucky Oaks winner, Thorpedo Anna. Brian Hernandez Jr. takes the call.

Having teamed up to take the 2022 edition of the Untapable with Pretty Mischievous on her way to victory in the 149th Kentucky Oaks, Godolphin and Brendan Walsh entered Paris Lilly in Saturday’s Oaks prep. The last out maiden winner at one mile will be piloted by Jose Ortiz.

Trainer Whit Beckman has two fillies entered: Legion Racing’s Woodbine shipper Drexel Hill and Grantley Acres’ Her Laugh, who won at Churchill Downs in her lone effort. Both Beckman trainees boast a field-best 86 Brisnet Speed figure, which each earned sprinting.

Rounding out the Untapable field is Marablue Farm’s Prima Bella. The Brett Brinkman trainee rallied impressively in her local maiden breaker, which was her first try at two turns.

Eight added money events have been carded for “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day,” each offering $100,000 purses, including the Gun Runner, Sugar Bowl, Letellier, Tenacious, Richard R. Scherer Memorial, Blushing KD, and Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes. First post is scheduled for noon CT.

-30-

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 153rd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 112th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 22, 2024 through March 23, 2025. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.