A new addition to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series of races is the Gun Runner Stakes.

The mile & 1/16th contest at Fair Grounds was inaugurated in 2021.

The race is named in honor of GUN RUNNER, the 2017 American Horse of the Year and a 2024 Hall of Fame inductee.

The 5th edition of the Gun Runner is Saturday and is the first in a series of four Kentucky Derby preps at the New Orleans track.

It is followed later in the winter meet by the Lecomte (G3), Risen Star (G2), and the Louisiana Derby (G2).

The Gun Runner got off to a fast start when its inaugural contest was won by EPICENTER.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, EPICENTER would go on to win the Risen Star, Louisiana Derby, Jim Dandy (G2), and Travers (G1) as three-year-old.

He also finished 2nd in the Lecomte, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness, easily making him an overwhelming choice as Champion three-year-old colt.

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

On Friday the Daily Racing Blog will take a look at the field for this years’ Gun Runner Stakes.