The parallels between Magnitude and Gun Runner became more pronounced after the former's hard-fought win Friday in the $595,000 Clark (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen got his Preakness Day off to a literal fast start on Saturday by saddling the first two stakes winners on the card, both in dirt sprints.

Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna notched her sixth career Grade 1 victory in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.

Upsets were prominent on Tuesday's Blue Grass Day undercard at Keeneland, the biggest being Positano Sunset's 14-1 surprise over the favorite Emery in the $623,338 Madison (G1) for fillies and mares.

The Steve Asmussen stable's prospects for the Kentucky Derby (G1) took a serious hit last month after Magnitude was sidelined following a dynamic victory in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. They were revived to an extent on Saturday when Tiztastic confirmed his participation in the Churchill Downs classic with a 2 1/4-length win in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2).

The 43-1 longshot Magnitude shook up the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a front-running upset of Saturday’s $500,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Keeneland offered a pair of “Win & You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge series on the main track Saturday, and East Avenue and Zeitlos stamped their respective tickets for the Juvenile (G1) and Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) in opposite manner.

Brilliant Berti regained top honors in Sunday’s Gun Runner S. at Kentucky Downs, and promising juveniles Tiztastic, May Day Ready, and Kilwin scored their first stakes victories.

The stakes-packed Friday evening card at Charles Town provided a chance for proven stakes winners to add rich victories to their decorated resumes.

Cogburn impressed in Saturday’s Jaipur (G1) over Saratoga’s turf, establishing a new North American record while turning 5 1/2 furlongs in :59.80.

Dual Grade 1-placed Clearly Unhinged can now be called a graded stakes winner following a score in the $248,750 Winning Colors (G3) for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs on Memorial Day.

Gun Pilot secured his first victory at the stakes level when upsetting Saturday's $1 million Churchill Downs S. (G1) at Churchill Downs.

On Saturday at Churchill Downs, Cogburn reiterated his status as a grass dasher of distinction by winning the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2).

I'm Very Busy showed a glimpse of his improving quality when a narrowly beaten second to the world-class filly Warm Heart in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) in late January. On Saturday at Fair Grounds, I'm Very Busy made it pretty clear he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the older mare turf division this season with a sparkling 3 3/4-length romp in the $300,000 Muniz Memorial (G2).