The long Fair Grounds stretch ultimately worked in favor of Chip Honcho in the $100,000 Gun Runner S., run under the lights early Saturday night at the New Orleans track.

Last year’s Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Saudi Crown got back to his winning ways in Saturday’s $100,000 Tenacious S. at Fair Grounds.

Saturday’s “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” at Fair Grounds features eight stakes races, led by the Gun Runner S. for Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls and the Untapable S. for Kentucky Oaks (G1) aspirants.

In addition to the quartet of juvenile stakes at Fair Grounds, the Santa Super Saturday card offered opportunities for the older brigade as well. Chief among them was Grade 1 veteran Two Emmys.

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

Before the inaugural Gun Runner S. and Untapable S. for aspiring Kentucky Derby (G1) and Oaks (G1) candidates, Fair Grounds will stage four stakes on the terrific Sunday, Dec. 26 card.

Former Road to the Kentucky Derby hero Maxfield will return in the Tenacious Stakes, nestled within 5 other stakes at Fair Grounds.