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.

The first open stakes of the meet, the $225,000 Thanksgiving Classic, has evolved into a graded quality race in recent years, and the 2024 edition of the six-furlong dash is a case in point.

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

After a trio of second-place efforts earlier in the Fair Grounds meet, Beatbox earned a well-deserved victory Saturday in the $175,000 Fair Grounds (G3).