Category: Gormley

TOUCHUPONASTAR DEFENDS HIS CROWN IN THE $150,000 LOUISIANA PREMIER NIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP AT DELTA DOWNS

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Touchuponastar wins the Louisiana Premier Championship at Delta Downs. Coady Photography.

 

 

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted its richest program of the season on Saturday evening as the 21st edition of Louisiana Premier Night took center stage. The 11-race program featured 10 stakes races and over $900,000 in total purse money for Louisiana-bred horses.

The featured race on the program was the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship and it was won for the second straight year by Set Hut, LLC (Jake Delhomme)’s Touchuponastar under jockey Tim Thornton. The Jeff Delhomme trainee defeated five rivals in the 1 1/16-mile affair over a muddy sealed racetrack. Touchuponastar is now five-for-five at Delta Downs and has won three stakes races this season.

After breaking sharply from post position three, Touchuponastar went to the lead and dictated the pace throughout, covering the opening quarter mile in 24.35 seconds and the half mile in 49.61. He hit the ¾ mile timer in 1:14.08 and had yet to be asked for his best run by Thornton. In the upper-stretch he drew clear from Play Mo, who had been chasing the leader since the start and wound up second. The winning margin was 6-3/4 lengths on the wire. Wise Verdict rounded out the top three finishers another 1-1/4 lengths behind the runner-up. Touchuponastar covered the distance in a time of 1:45.03.

“This horse is all class; I’m thankful to be on him”, Thornton said in the winner’s circle. “He makes it look easy. He just keeps getting better and better and that’s what makes him so special.”

Overall, Touchuponastar has won 11 of his 14 career starts. He earned $90,000 on Saturday night which raised his lifetime bankroll to $708,100.

“We are blessed to have him,” said owner Jake Delhomme after the race. “There was no pace in the race so Timmy just loped him along. This horse takes his racetrack with him, but he really likes Delta Downs.”

Bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms, Touchuponastar is a 5-year-old bay gelding by all-time Louisiana-bred earner Star Guitar. He is out of the Lion Heart mare Touch Magic. Touchuponastar was sold for just $15,000 in Texas as a yearling in 2020.

Fans made Touchuponastar the lowest of favorites at odds of 1-9. He paid $2.10 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Play Mo returned $4.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Wise Verdict was worth $3 to show.

All eyes were on Louisiana millionaire and 1-9 wagering favorite Free Like a Girl in the $125,000 Distaff but 23-1 longshot Wholelottamo had other ideas.

The race unfolded as it appeared it would on paper with Free Like a Girl stalking the early pace set by Vale Male, who covered the opening quarter mile in 23.34 seconds and the half mile in 47.91. As the field of eight fillies and mares entered the second turn of the one-mile affair, Free Like a Girl under jockey Vicente Del Cid used a quick turn of foot to go by the leader and open a four-length lead at the top of the lane after going three quarters of a mile in 1:13.27.

Another win for Free Like a Girl looked to be in the cards before Wholelottamo and jockey C. J. McMahon launched a furious rally from far behind to run down the accomplished mare and win by ¾ of a length at the wire. Thetruthisthetruth finished another 5-3/4 lengths behind the runner-up. The final time for Wholelottamo was 1:41.20.

The win by Wholelottamo was the sixth of her 28-race career. She earned $75,000 for her connections of owner Thompson Racing LLC (Stephen Thompson) and trainer Jayde Gelner. Overall, she has taken home $383,865 during her career.

Bred in Louisiana by Cloyce C. Clark, Jr., Wholelottamo is a 5-year-old mare by Mo Tom, out of the A. P. Jet mare Jet’s Tradition. She was purchased as a yearling for $17,000 in 2020.

Wholelottamo paid $48.20 to win, $6.20 to place and $3.60 to show. Free Like a Girl was worth $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Thetruthisthetruth returned $3.20 to show.

The Mark Casse trainee Bron and Brow ($3.40) returned to Delta Downs and defended his title in the $100,000 Sprint this year under jockey Reylu Gutierrez. The Gary Barber-owned gelding used a dazzling late kick to slip through at the rail late and win the five-furlong dash going away. It was the seventh win from 17 career starts for Bron and Brow.

Bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock & Hume Wornall, Bron and Brow is a 5-year-old gelding by Gormley, out of the Changeintheweather mare Changing Vista. He was a $200,000 purchase as a 2-year-old in 2021.

TAV Enterprises, LLC’s El Dinero ($6) used a strong late kick to get by Good and Stout and win the $100,000 Prince on Saturday under jockey Juan Vargas. The Patrick Devereux, Jr. trainee has now won three stakes races during his seven-race career. The dark bay or brown runner broke his maiden last August in the D. S. ‘Shine’ Young Futurity at Evangeline Downs.

Bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock & Hume Wornall, El Dinero is a 3-year-old gelding by El Deal, out of the Forestry mare Money for Makeup. He was purchased for $36,000 as a 2-year-old in 2023.

Longshot Lightofmaine ($34) held off a late charge by Magnolia Avenue to capture this year’s $100,000 Starlet under jockey Jansen Melancon. The W. Bret Calhoun trainee has now won three of six career starts for owners Maury Harrington and Christopher Harrington. The Starlet was her first stakes tally.

Bred in Louisiana by Baronne Farms LLC, Lightofmaine is a 3-year-old filly by Tapwrit, out of the Deputy Minister mare Pontiana. She was purchased for $45,000 at the Keeneland September Sale in 2022.

Charlie T ($17.80), under jockey Carlos Lozada, proved best in the $100,000 Matron on Louisiana Premier Night. The Lee M. Thomas trainee held off several challengers in the five-furlong test and reported home ¾ of a length in front of runner-up Blessed Assurance. It was the seventh win for the homebred and she earned $60,000 for the effort.

Charlie T is a 5-year-old mare by My Pal Charlie, out of the Roger That mare That Real World. She was bred in Louisiana by her owner Elite Thoroughbred Racing LLC (Michelle Rodriguez).

Muchmorethanready ($3) was an easy winner in this year’s $60,000 Ladies Starter under jockey Juan Vargas. The Juan Larrosa trainee came from far behind to win by 9-¾ lengths going away for owner Laurence Jones and Evans Thoroughbred Racing, LLC. The win was her fifth from 16 career starts and her fourth in the last five trips to the starting gate.

Bred in Louisiana by T & G Farm of KY LLC, Muchmorethanready is a 4-year-old filly by Tom’s Ready, out of the Street Sense mare Astarte. She was originally sold for $20,000 at the Keeneland September sale in 2021 and was claimed by her current connections for $5,000 in November at Delta Downs.

Heza Pickle ($16.40) was victorious in the $60,000 Gentlemen Starter under jockey Corey Lanerie. The property of Terrell Jarrett, Jr. and Lara Racing Stables, LLC (Jorge Lara) used a strong late kick to gain his fifth career win from 20 overall starts. The Jorge Lara trainee was claimed for $7,500 at Delta Downs earlier this season.

Bred in Louisiana by Gerald L. Averett, Jr., Heza Pickle is a 5-year-old gelding by Yellow Meadow, out of the Planet Earth mare I Love Pickles.

The $50,000 Bon Temps Starter was won by Larry J. Romero’s Myfriendsawinner ($7) under jockey Vicente Del Cid. The Jonas B. Gibson trainee won the five-furlong sprint by three lengths over Commercial Flash. It was her eighth win from 17 career starts.

Bred in Louisiana by Penny Scarberry, Myfriendsawinner is a 6-year-old mare by Silent Pleasure, out of the Musket Man mare My Girl Max.

The closest finish of the night came in the nightcap, the $50,000 Ragin Cajun Starter when Sharp Charlie ($7.20) nosed out Double Barrel Man in a dramatic finish of the five-furlong sprint. Sharp Charlie was ridden by Joel Dominguez, who got a leg up from trainer Jorge Lara. The winner is owned by Terrell Jarrett, Jr. and Lara Racing Stable.

Sharp Charlie is a 6-year-old gelding by My Pal Charlie, out of the Rodeo mare Chic Jolie. He was bred in Louisiana by Michelle Rodriguez.

Delta Downs has three weeks left in its 2023-24 season, which wraps up on February 24. First post time each night for the remainder of the season is at 5:15 pm.

For more information about racing at Delta Downs visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about through Facebook by visiting the page ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, is the premier racing and gaming entertainment venue in Vinton, LA. Named “America’s Best Horse Racing Track” by readers of USA TODAY 10Best for 2023, Delta Downs features a six-furlong oval track, 15,000 square feet of casino space and more than 1,500 of the most popular slot machines. Amenities include two restaurants, chart-topping entertainment at the Delta Event Center and the FanDuel Sportsbook.

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.

January Calendar of Events from the LTBA

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Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association would like to share the following list of dates of interest to Louisiana horsemen and women.

Brought to you by Whispering Oaks, and Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Click images link to more information
Dec 22-25

  • LTBA Office closed for Christmas Holidays

Dec 31

  • New Years Eve
  • Louisiana Futurity, Divisions for Fillies and for Colts and Geldings, New Orleans Fair Grounds

YEAR END REMINDER:

  • Louisiana Stallion Registrations Due
  • Louisiana Futurity Nominations Due (pregnant mares)
  • FINAL DAY to apply for accreditation of 2023 Louisiana Bred foal at weanling rate  of $75. As of January 1, 2024, 2023 foals become yearlings and the rate increases to $250.

Jan 1

  • New Years Day Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Office Closed

Jan 5

  • Sam’s Town S., Delta Downs, Vinton, LA
  • Orleans S., Delta Downs, Vinton, LA

Jan 6

  • Bob F. Wright Memorial S., New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Gary P. Palmisano Memorial  S., New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Nelson J. Menard Memorial S., New Orleans Fair Grounds

Jan 20

  • Martin Luther King Day
  • Road to the Derby Day, New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • G3 Lecompte S, Silverbulletday S., Duncan F. Kenner S., G3 Louisiana S., Col. E. R. Bradley H., Marie G. Krantz Mem. S.
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Please contact Linda 504-460-5518, linda@louisianabred.com or Roger 504-947-4676, roger@louisianabred.com for cost and availability.

Do you have a date pertaining to Louisiana-breds that you would like included in an upcoming calendar? Please contact Linda 04-460-5518, linda@louisianabred.com or Roger 504-947-4676, roger@louisianabred.com for consideration.

Any questions or need more info call

Roger A. Heitzmann III, Secretary/Treasurer

Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association

504-947-4676
Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association louisianabred.com
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Correction: 2024 Gormley Stud Fee $2,500

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2024 Stud Fee for Gormley is $2,500 

The Louisiana Horse Stallion Register incorrectly lists the stud fee for Gormley as $1,500. The correct 2024 fee for Gormley is $2,500. Louisiana Horse sincerely apologizes for any confusion.

Please See Corrected Stallion Register Page for Gormley below

 
Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association louisianabred.com
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STRONG PROMISE TAKES THE LOUISIANA LEGACY

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STRONG PROMISE TAKES THE LOUISIANA LEGACY AFTER DISQUALIFICATION AT DELTA DOWNS

Strong Promise is victorious in the Louisiana Legacy Stakes. Coady Photography.

 

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs kicked off an exciting weekend of racing on Friday night with a nine-race program that featured a pair of $100,000 Louisiana-bred stakes races. Fans were treated to the Louisiana Legacy and the Louisiana Jewel with the latter featuring 2-year-old fillies. Each race was contested over a fast track and at seven furlongs.

The Legacy featured plenty of drama as 10-1 longshot Good and Stout hit the finish line in front of heavily favored and undefeated Strong Promise before he was taken down by the stewards for interference. The disqualification came after Good and Stout made contact with Strong Promise with three eighths of a mile to the finish.

Following a clean break in the Legacy, Stovall and Good and Stout shared early pace-setting duties, traveling the first quarter mile in 23.31 seconds. Nearing the half mile mark, it was Good and Stout under C. J. McMahon who owned a narrow lead while stopping the timer in 48.35. Soon after that, the pacesetter came down toward the rail, bumping Strong Promise and jockey Casey Fuselier, who then traded bumps with Stovall. For that action the stewards disqualified Good and Stout and placed him last behind Stovall, who was taken back and finished last under the wire.

The official order of finish after the disqualification put Strong Promise first by ½ length over El Dinero second. Rising Koto Star wound up another five lengths behind in third. The final time of the Legacy was 1:27.33 seconds.

The win kept Strong Promise’s record perfect at four wins in as many starts for owner Whispering Oak Farm LLC and trainer Carrol Castille. The $60,000 first place paycheck raised his overall bankroll to $215,400 and he has now won three stakes races in all.

Bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock & Hume Wornall, Strong Promise is a 2-year-old gray or roan colt by Broken Vow, out of the Macho Uno mare St. Jean. He was purchased for $125,000 by his connections earlier this year.

Sent to the post at odds of 1-9, Strong Promise paid $2.20 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. El Dinero returned $4.80 to place and $3.20 to show. Rising Koto Star paid $7 to show.

 

EMILY’S BULLET DOMINATES IN THE $100,000 LOUISIANA JEWEL STAKES

Emily’s Bullet is first to the wire in the Louisiana Jewel Stakes. Coady Photography.

 

The $100,000 Louisiana Jewel was won by Gerald Bruno, Jr., Chasey Deville Pomier and Out Blue Streaks Stable’s Emily’s Bullet, who got a perfect stalking trip before pulling clear in the stretch to win easily under jockey Vicente Del Cid.

The field for the Jewel was whittled down to just five 2-year-old fillies after Ronnie’s Deal was scratched. When the gate opened Del Cid placed his mount three paths off the rail and right behind Good N Sassy and race favorite Diamond Deal, who proceeded to volley for the lead why covered the opening quarter mile in 23.45 seconds and the half mile in 48.69. As the frontrunners turned for home the pace began to take its toll as Emily’s Bullet then made her move to the lead in the upper stretch.

At the finish line Emily’s Bullet was drawing clear and won by a comfortable 4-¾ lengths, while Diamond Deal held second over a late closing Tommie G, who wound up a length behind the runner-up. The final time for the race was 1:27.78 on the fast track.

The win by Emily’s Bullet, who is trained by Chasey Deville Pomier, was the second of her five-race career and her first in stakes company. She earned $60,000 for the effort and now has a career bankroll of $93,260.

Bred in the Bayou State by Paul Pruett, Emily’s Bullet is a bay filly by Gormley, out of the Wando mare Bessie’s Bullet.

Sent off at odds of 5-2 odds, Emily’s Bullet paid $7.40 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Diamond Deal was worth $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. Tommie G returned $3.40 to show.

 

 

For more information about racing at Delta Downs this season, including a detailed schedule and stakes dates, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information throughout the season with our social media accounts. The Facebook page is found at ‘Delta Downs Racing’, and the track’s Twitter (X) handle is @deltaracing.

Gormley Moves to Red River Farms

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Multiple Grade 1 stakes winner and millionaire Gormley, who ranks 10th among third crop national sire by cumulative earnings, has moved from Spendthrift Farms to Red River Farms in Coushatta, Louisiana.

Gormley broke his maiden in his first start at two. His trainer, John Shirreffs, was so impressed with his maiden victory that he entered him in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes, which he won by three lengths over Klimt, winner of the Del Mar Futurity.

 At 3, he won the G1 Santa Anita Derby as well as the G3 Sham Stakes. He won four times from a total of nine starts at two and three and earned $1,026,000 in his racing career.

The son of Malibu Moon out of the Bernstein mare, Race to Urga, was bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate, and raced for Jerry and Ann Moss who purchased Gormley  privately as a yearling.

A national third crop leading sire, Gormley has progeny earnings approaching $7 million and has 11 stakes horses to his credit, including G1 placed G2 stakes winner High Oak, plus graded placed winners Moody Woman, Mama Rina, and Headline Report, as well as three time Accredited Louisiana Bred stakes winner Bron and Brow.

Purchased by Nathan C. Granger, Gormley will stand at Red Rivers Farms for a 2024 fee of $2,500.

Filly From Gormley’s First Crop Tops Louisiana Sale

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A yearling filly from the first crop of Gormley  was purchased by J. Stevens Bloodstock for $70,000 to top the Aug. 20 Equine Sales Company’s Consignor Select Yearling and 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The auction was co-sponsored by the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Bred in Louisiana by Ken Clark, the sale topper was offered as Hip 68 by KP Sales, agent for the breeder. The Jan. 31, 2019, foal is out of the unraced Afleet Alex mare Homestake, a half sister to Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) runner-up Broken Spell. Second dam, the stakes-winning Exploit mare Rich Find, is a half sister to stakes winner Away, the dam of grade 2 winner Eight Belles, and stakes-placed Escape Route and All Hands.

Equine Sales reported 133 horses sold for gross receipts of $1,515,900, an average price of $11,398 and a $6,000 median. The 34 that went unsold represented an RNA rate of 20.4%.

The figures are almost identical to the 2019 sale in which 133 head grossed $1,518,500, with an $11,417 average and $6,000 median. The RNA rate was 20.4% with 34 unsold.