New Orleans may be famous for the Mardi Gras, but for horsemen, Saturday’s Gun Runner Stakes kicks off another well-known event in New Orleans. The 2-year-old stakes opens Fair Grounds’ Road to the Kentucky Derby, which also includes the Lecomte Stakes and Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes and culminates March 21 with the 1 3/16-mile Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, the longest prep for the run for the roses. The Gun Runner will offer a total of 21 Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a scale of 10-5-3-2-1 to the top five finishers.

1. Mesquite (9-2 morning-line odds): Came to life when stretched out to two turns in his second start. Gets the rail and a top jockey and will be a main threat if the pace is lively enough.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux

2. Chip Honcho (9-2): Showed a nice turn of speed to break his maiden in quick time in his second start after settling for second in his debut. This will be his first try at two turns, and it’s interesting to note that Jose Ortiz, who rode this one last time out, opted to ride Mesquite here.

JOCKEY: Paco Lopez; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

3. Liberty National (7-2) Another who reached the winner’s circle in his second try. Closed from seventh to win easily at this 1 1/16-mile distance at Churchill Downs. Put in a nice breeze on the Fair Grounds main track and should be a key factor.

JOCKEY: Brian J. Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Ken McPeek     

4. Quality Mischief (10-1): Make it four in a row who broke their maiden in their second start. His came at Horseshoe Indianapolis in slow time against a field of off-the-turf runners. Others are more appealing.

JOCKEY: Marcelino Pedroza Jr.; TRAINER: Brad Cox

5. Crown the Buckeye (5-1): He’s the lone entrant with something on his résumé besides a maiden win. He has won both of his last two starts in stakes, but they came in stakes restricted to Ohio-breds. The times were fast, but he’ll get tested for class here.  

JOCKEY: Jareth Loveberry; TRAINER: Mike Maker

6. Arabia Wild (8-1): Has a win at this track and distance but the time was mediocre. He’s a son of Gun Runner so maybe a victory is in the genes.

JOCKEY: Axel Concepcion; TRAINER: Brad Cox

Gun Runner contender Very Connected (Coady Media)

7. Very Connected (9-2): He has graded stakes experience — a fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and a third in the Street Sense Stakes — which gives him a valuable edge in experience. He’s also a closer who will be helped by a fast pace.   

JOCKEY: Colby Hernandez; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

8. Mister Punch (6-1): Trainer Brad Cox’s third entrant may be the best one. He also broke his maiden in start No. 2, but it was his first on dirt and was a big step up in terms of speed figures. Could work out a beneficial stalking trip from the outside post and deserves a long look, especially at the morning-line odds. 

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Brad Cox

THE PICK: Mister Punch

LIVE LONGSHOT: Mister Punch

SUPERFECTA: 8-7-1-3