Fair Grounds: Liberty National and Pashmina headline stakes

A competitive field of eight juvenile colts has been entered for the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes, the headline event on Road to the Derby Kickoff Day, Saturday, Dec. 20, at Fair Grounds.

Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Gun Runner serves as the first local stop on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers.

One of four stakes scheduled for Road to the Derby Kickoff Day, along with the $100,000 Untapable, $100,000 Tenacious and $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial, the Gun Runner goes as Race 11. With 12 races carded, first post on Saturday is 12:45 p.m. CST.

Liberty National, trained by Kenny McPeek for Brookdale Racing and Fern Circle Stables, heads the field after a 4 1/2-length victory going 1 1/16 miles in a maiden special weight on the Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs. The Maxfield colt earned a 91 Brisnet Speed Rating in that effort, tops among last-out figures in the field. It marked his second career start and first around two turns. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the call from post 3.

McPeek also entered Very Connected for Dream Big Racing. The full sibling to Hidden Connection has earned five points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and a third in the Street Sense (G3).

Mesquite, a homebred for LBD Stable, showed ability around two turns when breaking his maiden with a visually impressive performance in early November at Churchill. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the Union Rags colt drew the rail and will be reunited with jockey José Ortiz.

Brad Cox entered a trio of contenders, led by Mister Punch for Novogratz Racing Stables. The Into Mischief colt broke his maiden going away in early November at Churchill. Luis Saez, in town for the stakes card, has the mount from post 8.

Steve Asmussen will saddle Chip Honcho in this first of four local Derby preps. After posting a strong speed figure when second to Dr. Kapur on debut, Chip Honcho won gate to wire going one mile over a sloppy track on Nov. 20 at Churchill. The Connect colt drew post 2 and will be ridden by Paco Lopez. He adds blinkers for the first time.

Six of the eight 2-year-olds in the Gun Runner broke their maiden in their most recent start, making dual stakes winner Crown the Buckeye the lone two-time winner in the field. Trained by Mike Maker, the Ohio-bred has won his last two races by a combined margin of more than 16 lengths, including a 4 1/2-length victory in the Best of Ohio Juvenile at Mahoning Valley, his first start around two turns.

Pashmina heads Untapable field

Pashmina appears a logical top contender in the fifth running of the $100,000 Untapable Stakes on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Fair Grounds after a visually impressive maiden-breaking victory for Red White and Blue Racing.

At 1 mile 70 yards, the Untapable serves as the first local stop on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Oaks, awarding 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers. The race attracted a field of eight 2-year-old fillies and goes as Race 10 of 12 on Road to the Derby Kickoff Day.

Handled like she was much the best throughout in her local debut, Pashmina powered away to win her second career start by more than 10 lengths under jockey Ben Curtis, who retains the mount Saturday. Trained by Rob Atras, the Constitution filly drew post 7.

Drawing immediately to Pashmina's outside is Actis, trained by Tom Amoss for Joel Politi. She is coming off a convincing victory in the My Trusty Cat Stakes at Delta Downs. The two-time winner by Hard Spun will be ridden by José Ortiz.

Gary and Mary West's homebred Hit Parade looms a major contender Saturday. Trained by Brad Cox, the Street Sense filly won both of her dirt starts at Churchill Downs this fall. Luis Saez has the call.

Another multiple winner in the field is Have Faith for Holy Cow Stables. Trained by Dallas Stewart, both of the Vekoma filly's victories have come in sprint races. Paco Lopez will guide Have Faith from post 2.