Category: LTBA

DELTA DOWNS HOSTS 2023 LOUISIANA PREMIER NIGHT ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

louisianathoroughbred

NEARLY $1 MILLION IN TOTAL PURSE MONEY TO BE AWARDED TO LOUISIANA’S BEST THOROUGHBREDS DURING 12-RACE PROGRAM

 

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs is getting set for the richest race day of the season on Saturday when Louisiana’s most talented racehorses will vie for nearly $1 million in total purse money on Louisiana Premier Night. The annual event features 10 stakes races on a 12-race program that kicks off at 4:50 pm. This will be the 20th renewal of Louisiana Premier Night.

In addition to thrilling action on the racetrack, fans will also be treated to a Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Last Fan Standing Handicapping Contest with cash prizes awarded to the top five finishers; a special drawing for two (2) $1,000 Louisiana college scholarships, also sponsored by the LTBA; and an appearance by expert handicapper and national horse racing personality Martha Claussen, who will co-host the simulcast show along with track announcer Don Stevens.

The feature race on Saturday will be the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles, which will be the 11th race on the card. This year’s headliner attracted a field of nine headed by Set-Hut, LLC’s Touchuponastar (3-1 morning line favorite), who will be ridden by jockey Tim Thornton. The Jeff Delhomme trainee enters the event on a three-race winning streak and most recently defeated four other Championship runners in the Louisiana Classic at Fair Grounds on Champions Day, December 10.

The LAPN Championship field also includes top earner Who Took The Money (7-2), who won the $100,000 Gold Cup at Delta Downs earlier this season; Highland Creek (6-1), who won the Boyd Rewards Stakes at Delta Downs on December 30; Behemah Star (9-2), who finished second to Touchuponastar in the Louisiana Classic; and defending race champion Langs Day (6-1).

The overwhelming morning line favorite on the entire program is Brittlyn Stable’s 5-year-old mare Ova Charged, who will go postward in the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Matron at five furlongs. Installed at odds of 3-5 in the program, Ova Charged is a graded stakes placed runner who enters the night on a five-race winning streak, the last four of which were in stakes company. Jockey Jose Luis Rodriguez will get a leg up on the mare from trainer Jose Camejo.

The top earner on the entire program Saturday will try to win her second consecutive Louisiana Premier Night race when Free Like a Girl goes to the post in the $125,000 Distaff. The Chasey Deville Pomier trainee won last year’s Starlet as a 3-year-old and has been graded stakes placed multiple times since that effort. Overall, the 4-year-old daughter of El Deal has banked $754,878 on 10 wins from 22 starts. Jockey Pedro Cotto, Jr. will pilot Free Like a Girl, who is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the race.

In addition to the many local horsemen taking part in Louisiana Premier Night, there will also be nationally prominent trainers who will saddle horses on the program. They include Brad Cox, Karl Broberg, W. Bret Calhoun and many others.

Listed below are all 10 Louisiana Premier Night stakes races for 2023 in program order.

Race #             Purse              Stakes                                                 Distance          Age

3                      $60,000           LAPN Ladies Starter                          1 mile              4yo & up FM

4                      $50,000           LAPN Bon Temps Starter                  5 furlongs        4yo & up FM

5                      $60,000           LAPN Gentlemen Starter                   1-1/16 miles    4yo & up

6                      $100,000         LAPN Prince                                       1 mile              3yo

7                      $125,000         LAPN Distaff                                     1 mile              4yo & up FM

8                      $100,000         LAPN Matron                                     5 furlongs        4yo & up FM

9                      $100,000         LAPN Starlet                                      1 mile              3yo Fillies

10                    $100,000         LAPN Sprint                                       5 furlongs        4yo & up

11                    $150,000         LAPN Championship                          1-1/16 miles    4yo & up

12                    $50,000           LAPN Ragin Cajun Starter                 5 furlongs        4yo & up

For more information about Louisiana Premier Night and the remainder of Delta Downs’ season, which runs through February 25, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and Twitter.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE;BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles take exit 7 off Interstate 10, and from Texas take exit 4.

February Calendar of Events from the LTBA

louisianathoroughbred
 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 Farm,  and Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Click images to link to more information

Feb 1

  • Accredited Louisiana Bred Champions Ballots to mail from LTBA office.

Feb 2

  • Groundhog Day

Feb 4

  • LTBA Board of Directors Meeting 1:30 p.m., Delta Downs Human Resources Office
  • Louisiana Premier Night, Delta Downs, Vinton, 1st post 4:50
  • LTBA Scholarship two $1,000 scholarships for current college students to be drawn at the winners circle after the 5th race. Must be present to win.

Feb 13

  • Out of State Breeders Awards to mail from LTBA office

Feb 14

  • Evangeline Downs Stall Application Deadline
  • Valentines Day

Feb 18

  • Louisiana Derby Preview Day, New Orleans Fair Grounds; G3 Mineshaft H, G2 Risen Star St., G2 Rachel Alexandra S., G3 Fair Grounds S., Colonel Power S., Albert M. Stall Memorial S.

Feb 20 

  • Presidents Day

Feb 21

  • Mardi Gras
  • Mardi Gras Stakes, New Orleans Fair Grounds

Feb 25

  • Louisiana Stallion of the Year Half Ours Stakes, New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Louisiana Broodmare of the Year Buttercup’s Song Stakes, New Orleans Fair Grounds

Feb 28

  • Accredited Louisiana Bred Champions Ballots due in LTBA office. This is a firm deadline. Ballots received after Feb. 28 will not be counted.

Would you like to sponsor a newsletter? Reach @ 2,500 readers.Please contact Linda 985-386-0360, 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 985-386-0360, 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

January Calendar of Events from the LTBA

louisianathoroughbred
 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 Farm,  and Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Click images to link to more information

Dec 23-26

  • Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Office Closed for Christmas Holidays

Dec 31
YEAR END REMINDER:

  • Louisiana Stallion Registrations Due
  • Louisiana Futurity Nominations Due (pregnant mares)
  • FINAL DAY to apply for accreditation of 2022 Louisiana Bred foal at weanling rate  of $75. As of January 1, 2023, 2022 foals become yearlings and the rate increases to $250.
  • Louisiana Futurity, Divisions for Fillies and for Colts and Geldings, New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Pago Hop S., New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Woodchopper S., New Orleans Fair Grounds

Jan 1

  • New Years Day

Jan 6

  • Orleans S., Delta Downs, Vinton, LA

Jan 7

  • Sam’s Town S., Delta Downs, Vinton, LA
  • Bob F. Wright Memorial S., New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Gary P. Palmisano Memorial  S., New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Louisiana Champions Day Turf, New Orleans Fair Grounds

Jan 14

  • Nelson J. Menard Memorial S., New Orleans Fair Grounds

Jan 16

  • Martin Luther King Day

Jan 21

  • 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.

Would you like to sponsor a newsletter? Reach @ 2,500 readers.Please contact Linda 985-386-0360, 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 985-386-0360, 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

Merry Christmas from the LTBA

louisianathoroughbred
 

Dear Breeders,

 

In this busy holiday season, the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association would like to remind you of a few tasks to be completed before the end of the year.

 

Louisiana Stallion Registrations and Louisiana Futurity Nominations (for pregnant mares) are due by December 31, 2022.

Additionally December 31, 2022 is the FINAL DAY to apply for accreditation of 2022 Louisiana Bred foals at weanling rate  of $75. As of January 1, 2023, 2022 foals become yearlings and the rate increases to $250.

 

The LTBA offices will be closed Friday, December 23rd through Monday, December 26th for the Christmas holidays.

 

With warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Set-Hut’s Touchuponastar Ascends to Win the Louisiana Champions Day Classic

louisianathoroughbred
Touchuponastar, with Timothy Thornton aboard, wins the 31st running of the Louisiana Champions Day Classic. Hodges Photography / Jamie Newell.

NEW ORLEANS, La. (December 10, 2022) – The commanding speed in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic, Set-Hut’s Touchuponastar overcame a slow break to lead through all calls and pour it on late to win by 4 3/4 lengths over Behemah Star. The Star Guitar-sired exacta had plenty in the tanks after coasting through soft fractions, keeping the odds-on favorite Who Took the Money at bay.

Touchuponastar, a lightly raced-3-year-old trained by Jeff Delhomme, ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.66 to collect his first career stakes win. Timothy Thornton rode the winner for Delhomme family, Jerry, Jeff, and ex-NFL quarterback Jake.

Pausing for an instant after the gates flew upon, Touchuponastar recovered quickly, hustling by the early challenger Highland Creek in the early going to set fractions of 24.55 and 49.34. He received no pressure as Highland Creek kept 1 1/2 lengths back to his outside. Behemah Star made his move to take over in second through the final bend but never menaced Touchuponastar who extended his lead to six lengths at the stretch call. Who Took the Money stalked wide in sixth before beginning a late move that never threatened the winner but was game enough to beat Ballinonabudjet for third.  The rest finished well back.

“We knew he was a special horse all along,” Timothy Thornton said. “We knew we were coming here to beat Who Took the Money, but when I was able to get that first quarter as slow as I was going, I thought Calhoun’s horse (Highland Creek) was going to pressure me. When they left me alone, I knew I was going to have plenty left, and he was definitely able to show how special he is today.”

Touchuponastar is a son of Guitar Star out of the Lion Heart mare Touch Magic and was bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms. The four-time winner returned $12.40, $5.60 and $3.00 as the 5-1 third betting choice in the field of seven older males. 

Cosmic Train, Highland Creek, and Maga Man completed the order of finish. Beauregard was scratched.

Touchuponastar netted $60,000 for owner Set-Hut LLC and now boasts career earnings of $163,100 from a record of 4-1-1 in 6 starts.

“He’s young and has a big future ahead of him,” trainer Jeff Delhomme said. “We were leaning towards the Classic the entire time (instead of the Sprint). We didn’t run in the prep because earlier in the career we swung back in three weeks and we think that ended up being a little too fast. It opens a lot of doors for us to be able to get nine furlongs, even outside Louisiana-bred horses.”

In other stakes action on the Louisiana Champions Day Card, Kendel D. Standlee’s Big Chopper rolled from off a 44.79 opening half mile to win the $100,000 Sprint going away at 6-1 for trainer Scott Gelner and jockey Corey Lanerie. He was followed home in the trifecta by longshots Relentless Dancer (15-1) and Mike J (46-1). After pressing into a hot pace, 2-1 favorite Bertie’s Galaxy finished last of the 12. 

In the $100,000 Ladies Distaff, Thomas Galvin’s A.G’s Charlotte proved her upset win in the Big World last month was no fluke, but this time she was forced to close into moderate fractions instead of having the table set for her. The circumstances were different, but the results were the same as she scored by a narrow margin under a heady, rail-skimming ride by Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. as the 5-2 second choice for trainer Patricia West. The pacesetter Winning Romance, who walked through an opening half-mile in 49.19, battled gamely but finished second  as the 3-5 public choice. Fort Polk, last year’s Distaff winner, settled for third.

In the $100,000 Ladies Sprint, Brittlyn Stables’ Ova Charged made short work of her overmatched rivals, rolling home in gate-to-wire fashion to score by 4 ¾ effortless lengths at the 1-5 chalk for Jose Camejo. Free Like a Girl, Spirited Beauty and Snowball completed the order of finish. With the win, Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stables extended their record of Champions Day wins to 15. 

In the $100,000 Juvenile, Kevin Stedman’s Late September (5-1) broke inward from the starting gate, wired the field, and eventually survived a claim of foul to give trainer Jose Camejo his first of two Champions Day wins on the card. It was one of three scores on the day for Fair Grounds’ leading rider Jose Luis Rodriguez. Tumbarumba, the 3-5 favorite, was severely compromised at the start, but he rallied on nicely to be second in front of Calicoco, who checked in third. 

In the $100,000 Lassie, Mansfield Racing’s Free Drop Maddy (6-5 second choice) battled for the lead from the rail, took over on the turn for home and built the lead in the stretch before holding off the slow starting 1-1 favorite Norah G to win by a diminishing neck. It was far back to Tensas Candy in third. 

The two starter races were won by the mare Zydeco Music (7-5) for owner Richard Anthony Tompkins, jockey Jose Rodriguez and trainer Shane Wilson and the gelding Dixie Street for owner Vanessa Motta, trainer Sean Alforish and jockey Tracy Hebert respectively. 

Four Scholarships to be Awarded at Louisiana Champions Day Registration On Site at the Fair Grounds on December 10

louisianathoroughbred
(NEW ORLEANS, La.) – The Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots will host Louisiana Champions Day Saturday, December 10, with a post time of 1:15 p.m. CT. Plenty of activities are planned for the date that is one of the biggest day of championship racing for Louisiana breds. Nine races will be contested including six stakes.

The stakes are as follows:

Champions Day Classic: $150,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Juvenile: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Ladies Sprint: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Ladies Starter: $50,000 Guaranteed

Champions Day Distaff: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Lassie: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Sprint: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Starter: $50,000 Guaranteed

In addition on Louisiana Champions Day, the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) will award four scholarships, each valued at $1,000, to college students.

“We are looking forward to a great day of championship racing at the Fair Grounds,” said Roger Heitzmann, secretary/treasurer for the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “Students, families and friends are invited to attend and enjoy one of Louisiana’s most exciting days of racing. These championship races often help decide our Horse of the Year standings by our members. These are the top Louisiana bred race horses and there is sure to be some exciting finishes.”

Requirements for the scholarship are as follows:

  • Must be a college student enrolled full-time in an Accredited College, University or Community College for Fall 2022 or Spring 2023
  • Scholarships will be awarded by random draw.
  • Must be in good standing with the college or university.
  • Must be present to win at the Winner’s Circle when the announcement is made.
  • Must have college ID and government-issued ID.
  • Must have University ID number or Social Security number.

For Louisiana Champions Day:

  • Registration: 12:15 p,m. – 1:15 p.m. at the designated booth
  • Races begin: 1:15 p.m.
  • Drawing Time: The scholarships will be awarded after the fifth race. Post time for the fifth race is 3:15 p.m. The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.

Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association manages the best incentive program for breeding thoroughbreds in the United States. Since the organization formed, this has led to increased purses, better quality horses, and increased interest in racing and breeding horses. The thoroughbred racing and breeding industry generates over $1 billion and employs over 60,000 people in the state of Louisiana.

For more information about Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association visit louisianabred.com or call (504) 947-4676.

LTBA Year End Reminders

louisianathoroughbred

The LTBA would like to remind breeders of several important deadlines coming up before the end of the year.

 

Accreditation Fees for 2022 Foals
Louisiana Accreditation fees are $75 for 2022 weanlings.
On January 1, 2023 foals become yearlings and the rate increases to $250.
Due by December 31, 2022

 

Louisiana Futurity Nominations (Pregnant Mares)
Due by December 31, 2022

 

Louisiana Stallion Registrations
Stallion owners register your stallions as a stallion participating in the stallion award program ($200) or as a stallion standing in the state only ($20)
Due by December 31, 2022