Gun Runner

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA 10-5-3-2-1
December 21, 2024

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

Road to the Kentucky Derby

Iroquois Stakes

September 14, 2024

Churchill Downs • Louisville, KY, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Montane Developments Beresford Stakes (Group 2)

September 28, 2024

Curragh • Kildare, Ireland

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Juddmonte Royal Lodge (Group 2)

September 28, 2024

Newmarket • Suffolk, England, UK

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Breeders’ Futurity (GI)

October 5, 2024

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

American Pharoah (GI)

October 5, 2024

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Champagne

October 5, 2024

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1)

October 6, 2024

Longchamp • Paris, France

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Futurity Trophy

October 26, 2024

Doncaster • Doncaster, England, UK

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Street Sense (GIII)

October 27, 2024

Churchill Downs • Louisville, KY, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI)

November 1, 2024

Del Mar • Del Mar, CA, USA

Points: 30-15-9-6-3

Cattleya

November 23, 2024

Tokyo Racecourse • Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Kentucky Jockey Club (GII)

November 30, 2024

Churchill Downs • Louisville, KY, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Remsen

December 7, 2024

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

December 11, 2024

Kawasaki • Kawasaki, Japan

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Remington Springboard Mile

December 13, 2024

Remington Park • Oklahoma City, OK, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Los Alamitos Futurity (GII)

December 14, 2024

Los Alamitos • Cypress, CA, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Gun Runner

December 21, 2024

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Jerome

January 4, 2025

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Smarty Jones

January 4, 2025

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 10-5-3-2-1

Lecomte (GIII)

January 18, 2025

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Southwest (GIII)

January 25, 2025

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Withers (GIII)

February 1, 2025

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Robert B. Lewis (GIII)

February 1, 2025

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Holy Bull (GIII)

February 1, 2025

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Sam F. Davis (GIII)

February 8, 2025

Tampa Bay Downs • Tampa, FL, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Risen Star (GII)

February 15, 2025

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Hyacinth

February 16, 2025

Tokyo Racecourse • Tokyo, Japan

Points: 30-15-9-6-3

Sunland Derby (GIII)

February 16, 2025

Sunland Park • Sunland Park, NM, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

John Battaglia Memorial

February 22, 2025

Turfway Park • Florence, KY, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Rebel (GII)

February 22, 2025

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes

February 26, 2025

Kempton • Sunbury-on-Thames, England, UK

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Patton

February 28, 2025

Dundalk • Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

Fountain of Youth (GII)

March 1, 2025

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Gotham (GIII)

March 1, 2025

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

San Felipe (GII)

March 2, 2025

Santa Anita • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Tampa Bay Derby (GII)

March 8, 2025

Tampa Bay Downs • Tampa, FL, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Virginia Derby

March 15, 2025

Colonial Downs • New Kent, VA, USA

Points: 50-25-15-10-5

Fukuryu

March 22, 2025

Nakayama • Funabashi, Chiba, Japan

Points: 40-20-12-8-4

Louisiana Derby (GII)

March 22, 2025

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII)

March 22, 2025

Turfway Park • Florence, KY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Arkansas Derby (GI)

March 29, 2025

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Florida Derby (GI)

March 29, 2025

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

UAE Derby (GII)

April 5, 2025

Meydan Racecourse • Dubai, UAE

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Santa Anita Derby (GI)

April 5, 2025

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Blue Grass (GI)

April 5, 2025

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Wood Memorial (GII)

April 5, 2025

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Lexington (GIII)

April 12, 2025

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

FOLLOW FOR UPDATES AND EXCLUSIVES

Missed something? Catch up on past Kentucky Derby news