Category: Fair Grounds

“Hammer Time” in the Eddie Johnston as Jack Hammer Dominates

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Jack Hammer with jockey Reylu Gutierrez aboard pulls away from the field to win the 44th running of the $100,000 Edward J. Johnston Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

Allied Racing Stable’s Jack Hammer dominated the $100,000 Edward J. Johnston Memorial, beating eight older statebred males by 8 1/2 lengths on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Never being menaced by the second-place finisher and 4-5 favorite Behemah Star, the 4-year-old gelding now has a freshman, sophomore, and older stake win on his resume.

Trained by Bret Calhoun, the son of Jimmy Creed out of Lipstick Junky received the services of his regular pilot Reylu Gutierrez. With the day’s races taken off the turf, Jack Hammer went 1 mile 70 yards in 1:41.67 over a main track labeled “muddy.”

“That’s always the question: can they develop to the next level against older company?” Gutierrez said. “Bret (Calhoun) and his staff have done a tremendous job. Chester (Thomas, owner) and Bret gave him some time off, and he grew up. Credit to Brett, Janine, Mike and the crew. Jack Hammer has taken a step forward. Bret told me not to mess it up and I guess I didn’t mess it up.”

Calicoco was hustled hard to beat Jack Hammer to the lead out of the gates. Content to track in second, Jack Hammer left Calicoco alone as the front runner traveled through opening fractions of :23.76 and :47.41. After settling in sixth, Behemah Star began to run in the far turn but by then Jack Hammer had blitzed to the front and opened up an insurmountable lead. Wise Verdict ran steadily throughout to maintain third. Jack Hammer’s stablemate Who Took the Money, also owned by Allied Racing Stable, ran late for fourth.

“We were hoping it would be on the turf,” Chester Thomas of Allied Racing said. “We wanted to see how (Jack Hammer) would do on the turf; he’s bred for it. He’s been a real pleasure, very professional, a really cool horse. I want to give Bret and his team a lot of credit. They’ve done a beautiful job. Rey knows the horse well. It was ‘hammer time’ today.”

With an all-or-nothing lifetime record of 8-6-0-0, Jack Hammer added $60,000 winning the Eddie Johnston to bring his bankroll to $291,255. He now has three wins from four tries at the 2023 – 2024 meet.

“He had a little injury that made us give him some time off and he came back really, really well,” Calhoun said. “He’s one of those who went forward and he looks like he might be a better older horse. This horse does have a lot of breeding for the grass and we hope to have options where we can hit both spots.”

Jack Hammer cashed at $7.20, $3.40, and $2.60.

March Special Events at Fair Grounds

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Wiener Dog Racing: On Saturday, March 2, Wiener Dog Racing returns to the Fair Grounds. Fifty dogs will race in four preliminary heats to qualify for the final heat to compete for top wiener. This event is presented by Double M Feed, Garden & Pet Supply. First post is 12:45 p.m. CT

Louisiana Derby Golf Tournament: On Monday, March 11 join members of the Fair Grounds racetrack community on the links for the Louisiana Derby Golf Tournament. Proceeds will benefit the Fair Grounds’ backstretch community. Door prizes will be available in addition to a raffle. Vendor partnerships are also available. Vendors, players, and partners should contact Stacy Repath via email or phone at (504) 312-8721 for more information.

 

Starlight Racing: On March 15, Starlight Racing is back at Fair Grounds with a 5pm first post. The Pontchartrain Wrecks will perform in the Tent from 6-10PM & The Phunky Monkeys will perform in the Clubhouse from 7-11PM. As always, General Admission is $10 and Clubhouse & Starlight Tent Admission is $25. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com

 

Louisiana Derby: The 111th $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) will be run on March 23..Louisiana Derby Day will feature eight stakes worth $2.65 million including the Fair Grounds Oaks presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2), the New Orleans Classic Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard (G2), and the Muniz Memorial presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2). First post is noon.

Breast Cancer Second Line Benefiting the Shantel Lanerie Foundation: March 24th will mark the 2ndannual Breast Cancer Survivor and Memorial Second Line. The second line will take place after the last race. Participants can register online at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com/racing-information/breast-cancer-survivor-memorial-second-line/  Adult $40; Kids $20

Accommodate Eva Proves Herself Going Two Turns in the Louisiana Broodmare of the Year Stakes

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Accomodate Eva wins the Louisiana Broodmare of the Year “Lipstick Junky” Stakes. Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.

 

Valene Farms’ Accommodate Eva proved convincingly she can win going a route of ground, scoring in Saturday’s $100,000 Louisiana Broodmare of the Year “Lipstick Junky” Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Beating seven 3-year-old Louisiana-bred fillies, the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie victress covered one mile in 1:38.51 under jockey Corey Lanerie. 

Troubled early, Emily’s Bullet ran well late to get up for second over a tough-trip Lightofmaine. 

Accommodate Eva is trained by Dallas Stewart, who was with Hoist the Gold at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh for the $20 million Saudi Cup. Owner Murray Valene was on hand for the win. 

“That was terrific,” Valene said. “She’s a nice filly, who tries hard. She’s learning how to run right now and she continues to get better.”

Powering through tight quarters out of the gate, Accommodate Eva relaxed in midpack and began tracking co-favorite Clearly a Test and the leader Wonderrand who clicked through moderate fractions of :24.39 and :48.65. As the forward group of fillies bunched up at the top of the stretch, Accommodate Eva saw an opening and shot through it to take the lead with a furlong to go. From there, she poured it on under a handride, pulling away by open lengths. 

“Dallas and her team brought her over here ready,” Lanerie said. “I’d like to thank Murray Valene for letting me ride her. I was just a passenger, sitting on the inside waiting for room. I positioned myself right behind Clearly a Test. I thought she was the filly to beat and she’d take me at least to the 1/8th pole and after that I could hopefully find some running room. At the quarter pole I had to push my way out but once I found daylight it was over.”

Having broken her maiden going seven furlongs at Keeneland in October, Accommodate Eva was entered ambitiously going two turns first in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and later in the Silverbulletday, where she failed to contend in either contest. Witnessing her resolute win going long on Saturday, after the race Valene said the daughter of Munnings could try open company again.

“We may try the (Fair Grounds) Oaks, we don’t know,” Valene said. “She was pretty impressive today so we’ll see what happens.”

With two stakes wins on her resume, Accommodate Eva’s career record stands at 8-3-0-1 with $189,230 in the bank. Her backers were rewarded with $6.20, $3.80, and $3.00.

Napravnik Returns to Fair Grounds for Fourth Annual New Vocations Day at The Races

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New Orleans, La (Feb. 21, 2024) – On Saturday, Feb. 24, retired jockey and horse advocate Rosie Napravnik will be on site at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots to spearhead the fourth annual “New Vocations Day at the Races.”

A four-time local riding champion who was instrumental in the opening of the New Vocations facility in Covington, Louisiana, Napravnik will join host Joe Kristufek on the live feed during the racing day to help build awareness, promote success stories, and inspire donations for Thoroughbred aftercare.

“I am thrilled to be part of our fourth annual New Vocation’s Day at the Fairgrounds!” Napravnik said. “The Event has been a huge help in spreading awareness to our local horseman as to how New Vocations is aiding the Louisiana racing community. We hope to continue to raise funds and awareness so that we can help more horsemen and more horses!”

Recognizing the need for expanded Thoroughbred aftercare in Louisiana, Napravnik reached out to New Vocations, the largest racehorse adoption program in the country, in the fall of 2019. Held for the first time at Fair Grounds in 2021, the “New Vocations Day at the Races” has raised over $12,500 in unique donations from fans and people within the industry, including horsemen, horse owners, and jockeys.

“New Vocations is an organization the Fair Grounds is proud to support each year,” said Fair Grounds president Doug Shipley. “Their dedication to rehabilitating, retraining and rehoming horses deserves the utmost respect. We encourage everyone interested to support this amazing cause.”

Owners, jockeys and trainers can contribute a financial donation to the Louisiana chapter of New Vocations directly through the horsemen’s bookkeeper. Contact Emily Miller or Diana Bosco at 504-948-1254. In addition, contributions are welcome through the New Vocations website — visit https://newvocations.org/donate and click the button with Rosie’s picture on it in the top row to complete the process.

“Moving into our fifth year, our Louisiana facility continues to thrive, and our team has done a wonderful job with each horse that has entered the program,” said New Vocations Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford. “The continued support from the Louisiana HBPA has played a huge role in the facility’s success. We are also seeing more and more local owners, breeders and trainers reach out to utilize our services as well as support our efforts. We are grateful to have the Fair Grounds hosting another New Vocations Day at the Races. We hope the event will continue to raise awareness about our Louisiana facility and the services we provide to the racing community.”

Napravnik, who won 1,878 races in her ten-year career, retired in 2014 following her Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) win with Untapable. In 2012 she became the first female rider to capture the Kentucky Oaks (G1), guiding Believe You Can to victory, and she won the race again just two years later with Untapable. She is married to trainer Joe Sharp and together they have two sons, Carson and Tucker.

“I’m blown away by the success of our team at the New Vocations satellite facility in Covington, Louisiana over the past five years and am grateful to the LAHBPA and the Fair Grounds for their support,” Napravnik said.

In addition to promoting Thoroughbred aftercare awareness, Napravnik will also offer her race-by-race selections via the “expert picks” videos on twinspires.com and the Twin Spires app, and on the simulcast feed.

“During my riding career, I never handicapped to pick the winner, I handicapped to make my horse the winner,” Napravnik said. “But there’s a lot of insight I can give on how each of the riders could see the race unfolding and how it might play out from a pace and trip perspective. I truly enjoy being on the show and handicapping the races with Joe so it will be another fun and exciting day as we raise awareness and funds for aftercare in Louisiana!”

Ova Charged Romps in the Mardi Gras

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Louisiana-bred Ova Charged wins the Mardi Gras Stakes. Hodges Photo.

New Orleans, La (Feb. 13, 2024) – Brittlyn Stable’s Ova Charged proved her talent does not end at the stateline, as the Louisiana-bred daughter of Star Guitar romped over the nine open company fillies and mares in the 80th running of the $100,000 Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Trained by Shane Wilson and piloted by Jose Guerrero, Ova Charged completed the about 5 1/2 furlongs across the “good” turf course in 1:03.66 with the portable rails set at 21 feet. 

Breaking in front, Ova Charged was soon joined from the outside by Sweet Temperament, as they knocked off the opening fraction together in :21.91. Showing no wear from the pressure, Ova Charged soon put away her foe surging in the far turn, then extended her lead to over seven lengths in the stretch. The 3-2 favorite Oeuvre made a late run to pass rivals for second, finishing 5 1/4 lengths back.  Redifined offered a late kick for third. 

“I like her both on dirt and turf, but being the first time on the turf I loved the way she felt going around there,” Guerrero said. “She didn’t take a bad step. I believe in her and know what she can do. She’s ready for anything.”

In 2021 Ova Charged followed up an allowance win over open company at Monmouth Park with a second-place finish in the Victory Ride (G3) at Belmont. Since then she has faced open company only once, finishing sixth in an allowance at Keeneland last spring. 

“She ran so well in the (Bob F. Wright) and the timing to this race worked well so we went for it,” Wilson said.

Ova Charged has won 11 of her 14 lifetime starts, including the 2022 Page Cortez Stakes, her only other attempt on the turf. She has banked $548,780.

“Ova Charged had run one time on the turf,” Wilson said. “And it was her largest margin of victory, seven lengths the one time she ran on the turf, so it was always the goal to get her back

on the turf. Her mother never won a race on the dirt. Her mother was a turf-stakes route winner who never won going short or on the dirt.”

Sired by Star Guitar, who won 24 of his 30 lifetime starts, the Brittlyn Stable 6-year-old homebred is out of the Dehere mare Charged Cotton. 

We want to thank Evelyn (Benoit of Brittlyn Stable) so much for putting these horses in our barn,” Wilson said. “It makes us look good to have these Star Guitars–they’re so talented.”

Ova Charged returned $7.60, $3.80, $3.00. Oeuvre paid $3.00, $2.20. Redifined rewarded $3.20.

 

 

Louisiana bred Ova Charged Set to Battle Oeuvre in the Mardi Gras

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New Orleans, La (Feb. 10, 2024) – Two top female sprinters at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will battle it out for supremacy as Richard Perkins’ Oeuvre and Brittlyn Stable’s Ova Charged face seven other older fillies and mares in the 80th running of the $100,000 Mardi Gras Stakes. Oversubscribed with 12 entries and slated as the 8th race of 9 on Tuesday, Feb. 13, the 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint will be run with the portable rail set at 21 feet.

The Nelson J. Menard winner trained by Chris Block, Oeuvre was tabbed as the 3-1 morning line favorite. As versatile and game as they come, the 5-year-old mare has won 15 races at 5 different tracks on dirt, on turf, sprinting and routing. Having swept the female sprint series last year at Fair Grounds, the 5-year-old Shackleford mare bred in Illinois will break from post 7  with Jareth Loveberry aboard, attempting to rack up her second Mardi Gras.

Two-for-two at the meet and 10-for-13 lifetime, Ova Charged has proven time and again that she is the best female Louisiana-bred sprinter in training. Only one of those wins was against open filly and mare company, as she signs on to face in the Mardi Gras. In her one breeze since her dominant victory in the Bob F. Wright, the daughter of Star Guitar went 4 furlongs in :52 flat on Feb. 7. Trained by Shane Wilson, the seven-length winner of the 2022 Page Cortez over the Stall Wilson turf course will make just her second start on the sod.

“After we got that first race under her belt, she’s good to go (and doesn’t need sharp morning breezes to prepare),” Wilson said. “I really want to see her run on the turf. She’s ran one time before (in the Page Cortez) and ran a 92 Beyer, winning by 7 1/2 lengths. Her mother never won a race on the dirt or sprinting. Charged Cotton was a route, turf horse.”

Made the 4-1 3rd choice in the morning line, the Brittlyn Stable homebred will be guided from post 3 by Jose Guerrero.

John Donaldson’s Carimba returns to Fair Grounds in search of a second stakes victory after running third in the off-the-turf Menard. The Rey Hernandez-trainee sports five wins sprinting on grass, including her score in November’s Pan Zareta. Marcelino Pedroza Jr. returns above the 7-2 morning line second choice and will break from gate 2.

Horseshoe Racing’s Redifined returns after running third in the Pan Zareta last out. With multiple-stakes-placings, including a neck shy in the 2022 Matron (G3), the More Than Ready filly trained by Michelle Lovell has had three drills since scratching out of the Menard.

“It’s a tough race, a really good bunch this year,” Lovell said. “But (Redifined) has been training great. She’s going to have to fight it out and close on them.”

Jaime Torres gets the call and will break Redifined from post 4.

Here’s the complete field for the $100,000 Mardi Gras Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line): 1. Dana’s Beauty (Joel Rosario, Joe Sharp, 20-1); 2. Carimba (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., 7-2); 3. Ova Charged (Jose Guerrero, Shane Wilson, 4-1); 4. Redifined (Jaime Torres, Michelle Lovell, 6-1); 5. Brandon’smylawyer (Brian Hernandez Jr., Mike Stidham, 10-1); 6. Poppy Flower (James Graham, Bill Mott, 5-1); 7. Oeuvre (Jareth Loveberry, Chris Block, 3-1); 8. Sweet Temperament (Jose Luis Rodriguez, Keith Bourgeois, 10-1); 9. Breeze Easy (Edgar Morales, Wayne Catalano, 15-1); AE 10. Jumpin Judy (Rey Gutierrez, Karl Broberg, 15-1); AE 11. Lady Hideaway (Joel Rosario, Al Stall Jr., 12-1); AE 12. Naughty Lottie (Ben Curtis, Eduardo Ramirez, 20-1).

Fair Grounds Announces 10% Across the Board Purse Increase

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Strong Early Business Prompts Daily Bump and Stakes Boost

New Orleans, La (Jan. 9, 2024) – Inspired by strong handle during the first seven weeks of the 152nd racing season, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has announced a 10% purse increase across the board, along with $25,000 added to the purses of ten stakes.

“We’re extremely excited to announce a 10% increase to our daily purse structure along with the $25,000 boost to ten stakes,” Fair Grounds’ racing secretary Scott Jones said. “Based on the strong early handle returns and continued support from our owners, horsemen, and horseplayers, we are in a position to raise purses.”

The 10% across the board purse increase will go in effect with the soon to be released condition book #4, which begins with the Thursday, Jan. 25 card (drawn Thursday, Jan. 18).

The purse increase includes both open races and Louisiana-bred races. Maiden special weight races will now be worth $57,000.

The seven remaining stakes listed at $75,000 have been increased to $100,000: Louisiana Broodmare of the Year, Louisiana Stallion of the Year, Allen “Black Cat” Lacombe Memorial, Black Gold, Edward J. Johnston Memorial, Red Camelia, and Page Cortez. In addition, three stakes run on Louisiana Derby Day (March 23) have been boosted by $25,000. The Tom Benson Memorial, a 1 1/16 miles turf route for older fillies and mares will now be run for $150,000 purse, and both the Crescent City Derby and Oaks will now be run for $125,000.

Bron and Brow Scores Second Palmisano

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Bron And Brow with Reylu Gutierrez aboard wins the 2nd running of the Gary P. Palmisano Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

 

Driving down the lane and being defended every step of the way, Gary Barber’s Bron and Brow muscled his way into the clearing to score his second $100,00 Gary P. Palmisano at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Trained by Mark Casse and receiving the services of Reylu Gutierrez, the Louisiana-bred 5-year-old beat five foes going six furlongs in a final time of 1:10.55.

“We’re very proud of the horse and thankful to Mr. Barber,” David Carroll said, assistant trainer on the grounds to Mark Casse. “I can’t speak enough about this horse’s heart and guts, he’s a class horse to be around. Truthfully, I don’t think it was his best race. I think it was a savvy ride by Reylu. Down the backside I was a little bit concerned that he wasn’t traveling as smoothly as he normally would be. Bron and Brow at the end of the day was the best horse on the day and showed a lot of guts and determination and we’re very proud of him.”

Mike J and Not On Herb both broke sharply, but Mike J led the duel making the first two calls in :22.42 and :45.65. Breaking near the lead himself, Bron and Brow was settled, giving the leaders several lengths, and soon guided to the four-path keeping Autumns Strong Man in his sights. Invited to the rail by that foe, Bron and Brow took the bait in the far turn, leaving him in a precarious spot needing to get clear as Autumns Strong Man matched his every stride. Shouldering out at the 3/16ths pole, Bron and Brow took aim and drove past Mike J at the 1/16th pole as the convincing 2 1/4-length winner.

“Credit to the horse and the staff,” Gutierrez said. “I knew he was much more ready today (than his second-place finish in the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint). Mr. Carroll has had him in his hands for about a month now. I saved a little bit of ground in the turn and from the quarter pole home, got him in the clear. This is a tremendous horse and he beat some nice horses today.”

Sent off as the even money favorite, Bron and Brow paid $4.00, $2.40, $2.10. After doing all the dirty work on the lead, Mike J returned $3.80, $2.40. Mangum made a late move to return $2.10.

“Gary Palmisano was a great mentor to me when I first arrived (at Fair Grounds),” Carroll said. “Now with his son Gary (Jr.) working for Churchill, it is just a great thrill to win this race. After Bron and Brow ran in Ellis in June, Mark and Mr. Barber decided to give him a break, get him ready for the Fair Grounds meet. Hopefully we can continue on this route and take him back to Delta (Downs) and repeat what we did last year. It worked out beautifully today even though there were a few worrying moments.”

 

With two Palmisano’s on his resume, Bron and Brow’s lifetime stats sit at 16-6-4-3 and $384,370 in earnings. The son of Gormley was bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock & Hume Wornall.

Stovall Deploys New Tactics to Win Futurity; Guitar Solo Bests Freeburn in Fillies Futurity

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Stovall with Corey Lanerie aboard passes Carpis feet from the wire to win the 60th running of the Louisiana Futurity Colts and Geldings Division at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

 

New Orleans, La (Dec. 31, 2023) – With a change of tactics and a change in riders, Clyde Moran Sr and Jeff Plotkin’s Stovall won Sunday’s $100,000 Louisiana Futurity (Boys) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. After being in the thick of the early mix in each of the juvenile’s five races, Stovall’s trainer Samuel Breaux called upon Corey Lanerie to settle the son of Half Ours early and save his run for the last two furlongs.

“We did a few adjustments and decided to come off the pace instead of going up there,” Breaux said. “There was lots of speed in there, and he stopped the other day (in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile), so we decided to change strategies.”

With his eyes set on the even-money favorite Carpis throughout, Stovall followed that leader through the far turn. At the top of the stretch, Lanerie showed him daylight and Stovall responded to run down Carpis, officially beating that foe by a 1/2 length. Going six furlongs, the colts & geldings division of the Futurity was run in 1:11.54.

“I looked at his form and he’s always up front battling and he always sort of stops,” Lanerie said. “I hadn’t spoken to Sam (Breaux) until I got into the paddock, and he said ‘there’s a lot of speed, maybe we got to come from behind.’ We both agreed we shouldn’t take him back but we wouldn’t send him. He put me in a great spot right behind the favorite. He’s pretty strong. He wasn’t really wanting to sit back there but he wasn’t crazy rank. When I showed him daylight, he gave me another gear and it was enough.”

Later in the card, Lanerie won the fillies division aboard Guitar Solo.

Stovall returned $22.60, $6.40, $3.80. Carpis offered $2.60, $2.40. Tdzshininluckystar paid out $4.80.

After winning his first stake in his fourth try, Stovall’s 2-year-old record tops off at 6-3-0-1 with  $105,850 in earnings.

 

 

Guitar Solo Bests Freeburn in Fillies Futurity 

Guitar Solo with jockey Corey Lanerie aboard wins the 57th running of the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity Filly Division at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Jan Brubaker

Though she came up short on Louisiana Champions Day, Guitar Solo substantiated her monster debut effort with a dominant win in Sunday’s $100,000 Louisiana Futurity (Girls) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. With the lead and the rail, World War IV Racing’s homebred trained by Allen Landry saved every inch to beat six Louisiana-bred juvenile fillies to the wire  by 2 1/4 lengths over Freeburn.

“She showed up today,” Landry said. “Last time (in the Lassie) we ran her back in just nine days. It was a little quick, but we just sort of had to.”

Being pressured throughout by Freeburn, Guitar Solo ran professionally and in tune with her jockey Corey Lanerie throughout to cover the six furlongs in 1:10.87, over a half-second faster than the winner of the Boys division earlier on the card.

“I really just had to be a good passenger and hope we got a good break and she did the rest,” Lanerie said. “(Freeburn) came up to me around the turn and I wasn’t sure, I thought it was going to be close all the way to the end. She proved to be the best horse today and got the job done.”

The Star Guitar filly could be even better covering a route of ground.

“I think once we get to stretching out she’ll be better,” Landry said.

Guitar Solo paid $6.20, $3.80, $2.80. Freeburn returned $3.40, $2.60. Platinum Minit scrambled down the center of the track to edge out Clearly a Test and pay $4.20.

Capping off her freshman year at 3-2-0-1, Guitar Solo has earned $96,800.

The race week concludes on New Year’s Day with a 9-race program. First post is 12:45 p.m. CT.

 

Touchuponastar Untouchable in Louisiana Champions Day Repeat

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The Star Guitar gelding has won nine of his last 10 races.

 

Coming off convincing stakes victories, including one against open company, Touchuponastar  did exactly as expected back in against fellow Louisiana-breds, dominating the Dec. 9 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. With Tim Thornton aboard, the 4-year-old Star Guitar   gelding led gate to wire, taking the $145,500 feature by a geared-down 1 1/4 lengths in 1:50.12 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast surface.

Tumbarumba  was second, 16 1/2 lengths clear of Cosmic Train  in third. Bayou Jam  was fourth and last.

Touchuponastar, sent off at 1/5, also won this race last year, clinching Louisiana’s champion 3-year-old colt or gelding honors. Jeff Delhomme trains the regional sensation for his brother, former New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, and father, Jerry Delhomme, who race as Set-Hut. Jerry Delhomme trains Cosmic Train and all runners were individual betting interests.

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