First Look: Derby preps, Pegasus tuneup highlight week

The last full weekend before Christmas might not carry the star power of spring stakes season, but Saturday's card features a familiar name with bigger targets on the horizon.

Skippylongstocking returns in the Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream Park. The 6-year-old figures to use this 1 1/16-mile test as a tuneup for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Jan. 24. He finished third in that Grade 1 last year.

The road to Kentucky Derby 2026 also heats up Saturday with a pair of 10-5-3-2-1 points races for 2-year-olds. Liberty National headlines the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds after romping in his Churchill Downs maiden. At Remington Park, unbeaten Arctic Beast stretches out to a mile in the Springboard Mile after three straight sprint victories in New York.

For horseplayers looking to scout Derby prospects or back a proven stakes performer, Saturday offers solid action across three tracks.

Saturday

Gun Runner, Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 miles, 2-year-olds

Liberty National stormed into Kentucky Derby 2026 contention with a commanding maiden victory. The $525,000 Keeneland September purchase drove clear to win by 4 1/4 lengths over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29, earning an 81 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form. The Kenny McPeek-trained Maxfield colt had finished sixth in his seven-furlong Keeneland debut Oct. 16.

Untapable, Fair Grounds, 1 mile 70 yards, fillies, 2-year-olds

A career-best 80 Beyer Speed Figure highlighted Miss Call's runner-up effort by a nose in a one-mile allowance at Churchill Downs on Oct. 31. The Silver State filly, trained by Kenny McPeek, has competed exclusively on dirt since breaking her maiden on turf at Belmont at the Big A on Sept. 14. She closed from last to finish third in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Churchill on Nov. 23.

Fort Lauderdale (G3), Gulfstream Park, 1 1/8 miles, turf, 3-year-olds and up

Cugino prevailed in the Red Smith (G2) at Aqueduct on Nov. 2 by a nose, giving trainer Shug McGaughey his third victory with the 4-year-old in four 2025 starts. The Twirling Candy colt also took the Red Bank at Monmouth on Sept. 1 but came home sixth in the Fourstardave (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 2 when he failed to fire. Wolfie's Dynaghost rallied to win the River City (G3) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 8 by 2 3/4 lengths, earning a 99 Beyer Speed Figure.

Harlan's Holiday (G3), Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds and up

Fan favorite Skippylongstocking boasts more than $3.6 million in career earnings and figures to use this race as a steppingstone to the Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January. The 6-year-old placed third in that race last year and captured the Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G2) on May 26. Classic of Course has demonstrated remarkable consistency at Gulfstream Park, finishing in the top three in seven of eight starts. The 3-year-old gelding rallied from last to win a one-mile handicap on Nov. 8.

Remington Springboard Mile, Remington Park, 1 mile, 2-year-olds

Arctic Beast, 3-for-3 in New York sprints, captured back-to-back stakes at Finger Lakes after breaking his maiden at Saratoga on Aug. 15. The Mike Maker-trained colt posted a career-best 85 Beyer Speed Figure in the Sept. 22 Aspirant on a sloppy track. He most recently took the Oct. 13 New York Breeders' Futurity by 5 3/4 lengths. The son of Yaupon has yet to race beyond six furlongs.

Toby Keith, Remington Park, 1 mile, fillies, 2-year-olds

Samantha Code has posted a 2-for-2 record at Remington Park, rallying from far back in both victories. The Code West filly closed from last to capture her Dec. 4 allowance by 2 1/4 lengths after a similar come-from-behind maiden score on Nov. 13. Both wins came at 5 1/2 furlongs, making this one-mile test her first route attempt.