One year after romping as the favorite in the Thanksgiving Classic at Fair Grounds, Jay Em Ess Stable’s Miles Ahead returned to defend his title in less auspicious circumstances.

Fair Grounds standouts Just Might and Chess Chief were among the shining stars during Sunday's stakes-packed card at the New Orleans oval.

Speed reigned in both stakes on opening day at Fair Grounds, as Just Might wired the Thanksgiving Classic and front-running Breeze Rider fought back in the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial.

Ellis Park hosted five stakes Sunday, anchored by the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival opened Thursday with a trio of black-type events. While Con Lima rolled at 8.30-1 in the Wonder Again S. (G3), Change of Control went off at a much shorter 1.45-1 in the Intercontinental S. (G3), and Happy Soul aired as a prohibitive odds-on favorite in the Astoria S.

Juliet Foxtrot capitalized as the controlling speed in the Jenny Wiley S. (G1) on a rainy Saturday at Keeneland, while Silver Dust was determined in the Ben Ali S. (G3), and Change of Control sprang an upset in the Giant’s Causeway.