Britlyn Stable’s Ova Charged with jockey J.A. Guerrero aboard pulls away to win the 3rd running of the $100,000 -+Page Cortez Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
For her fourth stakes win of the 152nd Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots meet, Brittlyn Stable’s Ova Charged shot out of the gates and never looked back, winning the $100,000 Page Cortez Stakes by 12 1/2 lengths. Stablemate Rue La La ran second to complete the Brittlyn Stable-homebred, Star Guitar-sired exacta in the 5 1/2-furlong turf contest. One race later in the Star Guitar Stakes, Behemah Star added to the sire’s flair to complete the Star Guitar-sired stakes Daily Double.
“She’s a special, special horse,” owner Evelyn Benoit said. “So sweet. So calm. She’s just a sweetheart and so is Rue La La. She is the gift from Star Guitar that keeps giving. Star Guitar is the gift that keeps on giving–Al Stall said that years ago and it’s true. Ova Charged’s sister, Manama Gold is the talk of Dubai, undefeated. It makes me feel so good to have (Ova Charged) known internationally.”
Trained by Fair Grounds’ 2023 – 2024 leading trainer Shane Wilson, Ova Charged took jockey Jose Guerrero along for the ride, clocking in at 1:01.90.
“She broke really fast this time,” Guerrero said. “I think she outbroke me. That is a nice, nice filly to ride. I want to thank Mr. Shane and Ms. Benoit. I looked back and didn’t see anyone coming and I thought we’ll get this one easy like the last time.”
Last out in the Mardi Gras Stakes, Ova Charged asserted her dominance, beating the field of eight open company fillies and mares by 5 1/4 lengths.
Brittlyn Stable won the owner’s title, the second in the last three years for Evelyn Benoit.
Ove Charged gifted the public $2.20, $2.20, and $2.10.
In 15 starts, the “Cajun Queen” has a 12-1-0 record and $608,780 in jewels and riches.
Due to a production error, the Louisiana Horse article on Ova Charged got dropped from the magazine article about Louisiana Champions Day. Our sincerest apologies to Evelyn Benoit, Brittlyn Stables, Shane Wilson and J A Guerrero. Below is the section on Ova Charged that should have been included in the magazine.
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.
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).
Going faster than the Palmisano-winner Bron and Brow, Brittlyn Stable’s Ova Charged cruised to victory on Saturday in the $100,000 Bob F. Wright Memorial at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Trained and piloted by the current meet-leaders Shane Wilson and Jose Guerrero, the 6-year-old daughter of Star Guitar won the Wright by 6 3/4 lengths over Beleout.
“She felt amazing,” Guerrero said. “When she came out of the gate and I asked her a little bit, she went, but I said ‘not yet.’ Last race she was coming off of the layoff, but the way she warmed up today, I knew she was 100% good to go.”
Never being menaced by any of her six foes and leading at every call, Ova Charged stopped the clock in 1:09.75, which is .80 seconds faster than the male stakes winner earlier on the card.
“We knew she was going to get tired in the (Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint),” Wilson said. “I stuck my neck out after that last one and said anybody can come and try her now that we had that race under her belt. I think we showed it today–she is the best sprinting mare in the state. We’ll get her back on the turf (next). She’s undefeated on the turf so we want to show that angle again, too.”
As the 7-5 second-favorite, Ova Charged paid $4.80, $3.20, $2.10. Beleout spiced up the payouts to the tune of $8.20, $2.80. As the public’s top preference, Free Like a Girl returned $2.10.
“When I saw 1:09 I knew she was back,” Evelyn Benoit of Brittlyn Stable said. “She needed the break. Jose Camejo had taken good care of her but the Wilsons took over and everything has worked out perfectly. So excited for Star Guitar. Can’t tell you enough how much I love that stallion.”
Wilson reported he is considering the $100,000 Mardi Gras Stakes on Feb. 13 for Ova Charged’s next start. It would be her third try against open company.
Other than a second-place finish in the Victory Ride (G3) at Belmont, a loss last summer at Keeneland, and a local defeat at the hands of statebred males last spring, Ova Charged has never lost. Undefeated facing statebred fillies, she also has an open company allowance win at Monmouth and can boast a 13-10-1-0 lifetime record with $488,780 in the bank.
Touchuponastar Turns Back Tumbarumba for Consecutive Classic
Touchuponastar with jockey Timothy Thornton aboard pulls away to win the 32nd running of the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
The top three finishers in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic were bred by Coteau Grove Farms
New Orleans, La (Dec. 9, 2023) – Set-Hut’s phenom Touchuponastar set the pace and turned back Tumbarumba’s far-turn bid to win his second $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The 4-year-old son of Star Guitar out of the Lion Heart mare Touch Magic was bred by Coteau Grove, along with the second and third-place finishers, Tumbarumba and Cosmic Train.
When the top two Classic finishers went eyeball to eyeball in the far turn, it was only a matter of a few strides before Touchuponastar put Tumbarumba away and quickly took an insurmountable 3-length advantage. Tumbarumba never stopped trying to re-engage, making up ground late.
Trained by Jeff Delhomme and guided by jockey Tim Thornton, Touchuponastar finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Tumbarumba and covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.12.
“He’s all class,” Thornton said. “I knew when he got away clean in the first jump that they were going to have to run today to beat him. I was in-hand waiting. He’s such a great horse, they’ve done such a great job with him. It’s a joy to ride him.”
With a lifetime record of 13-10-2-1 and $618,100 in purses, the question remains could former NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme’s Touchuponastar step out of Louisiana and take on top stakes routers.
“The Louisiana breeders program is so great over here,” trainer Jeff Delhomme said. “It gives us the opportunity to run for the money. We don’t need to chase the money. We can stay right here. Would we like another chance next year in the Steve Sexton? Yes. Maybe try him this year in the New Orleans Classic? Yes. I don’t think we need to go far to take on better competition but I think all these Louisiana-breds are giving us all we can handle right now.”
On hand in the winner’s circle, Keith and Ginger Myers of Coteau Grove Farms were able to witness a few of the best of their breeding program run first, second, and third in the Classic.
“What’s special is where we are,” Keith Myers said. “We’re here at home in Louisiana. We’re very close to Jake (Delhomme), and we see the Delhommes as our family. Having success together makes it more special. To have three who were bred at the farm run one, two, three–it’s quite rewarding. Touchuponastar was big and athletic (as a yearling), but I don’t remember having thoughts that this was going to be the one. Really it was a little bit of a surprise.”
Mangum Cuts Back, Surges Late to Win $100,000 Sprint
Mangum wins the 2023 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint. Hodges Photo.
After winning the Classic with Touchuponastar earlier in the card, Jake Delhomme’s Set-Hut stepped back into the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots winner’s circle as Mangum surged late through traffic to surprise Bron and Brow in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint.
Finishing 1/2 lengths back, Bron and Brow survived a steward’s review to secure place honors. Trained by Jeff Delhomme, Mangum covered the six furlongs in 1:10.83.
“Jake (brother Delhomme) studied the Form last night,” Jeff said. “And the best numbers he threw were sprinting at Evangeline and Delta so we took a chance (running in the Sprint) and it worked out. We’ve got the entire family here. Winning big races on a day like this is like a dream come true.”
Winner of the Jacob V. Morreale going 1 mile 70 yards over opening weekend, Mangum was guided by Corey Lanerie in both stakes scores.
“Hats off to the entire team,” Lanerie said. “They had this horse ready. He was a lot better than the last time I rode him. We took a lot of dirt early and I was running out of goggles. We had to find somewhere to go. I was rerouting. We found a hole and luckily we had the horse to do it. It’s fun when you get there in time because a lot of times you don’t.”
In the mix against a full field of 14, bettors backed Mangum to the tune of 9-2.
With the Sprint score, the rising 3-year-old now boasts a 12-7-1-3 lifetime record totaling $315,360 in purse earnings.
According to Design Behemah Star Shines on Turf
Behemah Star with J. A. Guerrero aboard captures the 32nd running of the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
With little early speed signed on for the 33rd running of the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf, Behemah Star stole to the front ahead of the far turn and turned back Who Took the Money in the final stages to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Trainer Shane Wilson had cross-entered Brittlyn Stable’s son of Star Guitar in the Classic, but opted for the Turf.
“This was the total plan,” Wilson said. “We entered in both races. Earlier in the week I got beat on the turf when speed went to the front and we tried to be tactical but they didn’t come back to us. I handicapped this race and didn’t see any speed in here so we decided to go in this spot. (Behemah Star) had run once on the turf and he was forward to run second. We wanted to do something similar again today. It worked out.”
Ridden by jockey Jose Guerrero, Behemah Star pressed the pace through the first two calls and covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.76.
“The plan was to get him out aggressively from the gate,” Guerrero said. “It worked pretty well. I was able to get in a perfect spot behind the inside horse and he slowed down so I slowed down with him, saving energy, and when we got to the 3/8ths pole he exploded and finished it off in front from there.”
Behemah Star rewarded his backers to the tune of 18-1. With a career record of 19-5-5-4, Behmah Star’s first turf tally upped his bank to $309,821.
Ova Charged Survives Photo for Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint Three-peat
Ova Charged with jockey J. A. Guerrero aboard gets a head in front of Basalt Street to win the17th running of the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
Employing her signature stalking speed, Ova Charged beat Basalt Street by a thin lip to take her third $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint in a row. Stablemate Spirited Beauty ran third. Together with Behemah Star’s Turf win, Brittlyn Stable added two on the day for a record 17 Louisiana Champions Day victories in 33 years of running
By the ubiquitous stallion Star Guitar, the Shane Wilson trainee ran the 6 furlongs in 1:10.67. At 7-5 under jockey Jose Guerrero, Ova Charged has now won 9 times in 12 tries with one place-finish, racking up $428,780 in purses along the way.
After the race trainer Shane Wilson said, “She was coming off the layoff and we’re trying to get her ready for this date. We skipped the race opening day because I didn’t think she was ready….We hoped her talent and guts would get us there and it worked out. She got a little heavy (tired) at the end but she got there. If you want to win races in Louisiana, then breed to Star Guitar. He’s had more starters and winners today than any other stallion. If you want to be in these big races, then breed to Star Guitar. The credit goes to Miss Evelyn (Benoit). Instead of standing him in Kentucky she kept him here for the local people so we have a chance to have horses like this.”
Free Like a Girl Wires the $100,000 Distaff
Free Like A Girl with jockey Vicente Del-Cid wins the 32nd running of the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Distaff at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
Leading the pack of fillies at every call, Gerald Bruno Jr., Chasey Deville Pomier, and Jerry Caroom’s Free Like a Girl proved much the best wiring the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Distaff field on Saturday. Holding off all advances, the 4-year-old daughter of El Deal rolled down the homestretch as A G’s Charlotte scrambled to get second, a distant 4 3/4 lengths back.
Trainer Chasey Pomier had entered the versatile 4-year-old in both the Distaff and the Sprint, and just like ahead of her score last out in the Doris Hebert, it was a last-minute decision.
With Vicente Del-Cid back in the irons, Free Like a Girl covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.49.
“We made the decision to run in the Distaff instead of the Ladies Sprint this morning. It’s what we needed to do for her.” said Chasey Pomier, trainer and part-owner. “We thought about the route race last year but ended up going in the Sprint (second to Ova Charged). She’s matured (since then) and we thought she could go the distance today. Going right to the lead was not in my plan but it worked. I take it race by race. She’s going to tell me when she wants to go.”
The recently minted millionaire added $60,000 to bump her bankroll to $1,066,578 and her career record to a hard-knocking 32-15-8-4. The fans knew, making Free Like a Girl the 8-5 favorite.
Good and Stout Just Good Enough in $100,000 Juvenile
Good And Stout with jockey C. J. McMahon gets a nose in front of El Dinero to win the 32nd running of the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
C.J. McMahon’s first win at the meet came on the center stage as he guided Whispering Oaks Farm’s Good and Stout to the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile winner’s circle on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Going 6 furlongs in 1:12.22, the son of Coal Front held off the late rail rally of El Dinero by a nose. Trained by Carol Castille, Good and Stout’s freshman grade card tallies up to 5-2-1-1 along with $101,000 in the piggy bank. Prescient backers were paid $4.80 on each dollar wagered.
Owner and trainer, Carrol Castille, said of his of Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile winner Good and Stout, “We breed a bunch but we buy some at the sales too, kind of a mixture of both. He was a nice looking individual. We like him a lot. Got lucky and were able to buy the right one. Louisiana-breds dominate our stable and we like to run at home. This colt has been great from day one. He’s very smart, does everything right and he’s a really nice horse to be around. We had a little misfortune at Delta. That DQ was tough, but it’s horse racing and you just have to roll with it. He showed his talent and we got some redemption today, that’s all that matters. I think this horse will want to go further. He’s still learning and developing.
Accommodate Eva Flies Late in Lassie
Jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. makes a late charge to capture the 32nd running of the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
Flying down the center of the track late, Valene Farm’s Accommodate Eva nailed Clearly a Test to win the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie by 3/4 lengths. After routing in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies, trainer Dallas Stewart’s decision to cut back the freshman daughter proved wise.
Under Brian Hernandez Jr., Accommodate Eva was sent postward at 4-1 and covered the six furlongs in 1:11.98. With a 6-2-0-1 record, the daughter of Munnings, maiden win came at Keeneland against open company. Accommodate Eva’s freshman earnings tally $126,230.
After the race Dallas Stewart, trainer of Lassie winner Accommodate Eva, said “I love the filly. She trains great all the time. Murray Valene picked her out as a yearling. We think she’s got everything in front of her, we think she’ll be a two-turn horse, and she’s going to be very nice.”
FREE LIKE A GIRL SURPASSES $800,000 IN EARNINGS WHILE WINNING THE DISTAFF
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted its richest program of the season on Saturday evening as the 20th edition of Louisiana Premier Night took center stage. The 12-race program featured 10 stakes races and $980,000 in total purse money for Louisiana-bred horses.
The featured race on the program was the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship. The favorite, Touchuponastar did not disappoint in the race, winning easily under jockey Tim Thorton, who notched a pair of wins on the rich program.
Touchuponastar, who is owned by retired NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme’s Set Hut Stables and trained by Jeff Delhomme, was expected to set the pace in the 1 1-16-mile test for 4-year-olds and up, but an early lead was not in the cards as Brian’s Iron Mike shot to the front in the initial strides after Touchuponastar stumbled when the gates opened.
Thornton appeared to struggle with his mount early after a rough start, but he settled down and angled off the rail entering the first turn of the two-turn race. The opening quarter mile was clicked off in 23.65 seconds by Brian’s Iron Mike while Thornton guided his mount into a stalking position onto the backstretch. When the half-mile was reached in 47.47, Brian’s Iron Mike was feeling the pressure from Touchuponastar and eventually gave way to the eventual winner, who clicked off a rapid time of 1:12.89 for three quarters.
Turning for home the outcome was never in doubt, as Touchuponastar increased his lead and cruised to a final winning margin of 2-1/2 lengths over late runner Behemah Star, while recording a final time of 1:45.53. Ballinonabudjet wound up third, another three lengths behind the runner-up.
After the race, Thornton raved about Touchuponastar, whom he has ridden in all but one of his seven career starts.
“He’s a class act; does everything you ask of him,” stated the winning rider. “He stumbled out of the gate, but I was never worried.”
Touchuponastar has now won four consecutive races and five-of-seven starts overall. He banked another $90,000 for the win on Saturday and his earnings now stand at $253,100.
Bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms, Touchuponastar is a 4-year-old gelding by Star Guitar, out of the Lion Heart mare Touch Magic. He was purchased for $15,000 as yearling.
Sent off at odds of 6-5 by the fans, Touchuponastar returned $4.40 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.10 to show. Behemah Star was worth $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show. Ballinonabudjet paid $2.80 to show.
In other action on Louisiana Premier Night, Free Like a Girl won the $125,000 Distaff under jockey Pedro Cotto, Jr. for trainer Chasey Deville Pomier. The multiple graded stakes placed 4-year-old filly notched her 11thwin from 23 career starts in the race for owners Gerald Bruno, Jr., Carl J. Deville, Chasey Deville Pomier and Jerry Caroom. The $75,000 winner’s paycheck raised Free Like a Girl’s lifetime bankroll up to $829,878.
Race favorite Bron and Brow used a rail-skimming trip up jockey Rey Gutierrez to claim victory in the $100,000 Sprint. The Mark Casse trainee was well behind the leaders early in the five-furlong affair but found a seam on the inside of leader Takes Two to Tango in the stretch before drawing clear to win easily. Bron and Brow, a 4-year-old by Gormley, is owned by Gary Barber and has now won five-of-11 starts while earning $284,670.
Alpine Mist made her stakes debut a winning one in the $100,000 Starlet on Louisiana Premier Night. Under jockey Vicente Del Cid, Alpine Mist pulled the upset at odds of 11-1 for owner/breeder Melissa Cantacuzene and trainer J. Luis Garcia. Alpine Mist, a 3-year-old filly, is now a perfect three-for-three in her career and has earned $108,600.
The $100,000 Prince wasn’t without controversy this year as Allied Racing Stables’ gelding Jack Hammer made it to the wire first in the one-mile test for 3-year-olds but had to survive a jockey’s objection from C. J. McMahon, who rode runner-up Marks Promise. The objection was eventually disallowed, and the W. Bret Calhoun trainee was declared the official winner. Jack Hammer is now undefeated in his three-race career and banked $60,000 for his victory on Saturday night. His fledgling bankroll now stands at $157,755.
This year’s $100,000 Matron featured a dramatic photo finish between Snowball and Ova Charged, who hit the finished line together. After the image was examined by the placing judges, the tote board displayed a dead heat for the win.
Snowball’s effort earned her the eighth victory of her career from 47 overall starts. The 7-year-old mare has now won $470,370 for owner Tin Roof Farms, LLC and trainer Sam Breaux. Snowball was ridden to victory by jockey Vicente Del Cid.
Ova Charged, who was sent off was the heavy favorite while on a five-race winning streak, was ridden by jockey Jose Rodriguez. The Jose Camejo trainee is owned by Brittlyn Stables, Inc. Ova Charged has only suffered defeat once in her nine-race career, and that was in a graded stakes race at Belmont Park in July of 2021. Ova Charged has now earned $364,600 during her stellar career.
The biggest upset of the night came in the $60,000 Gentlemen Starter as Kevin Delahoussaye’s Freedomfi wore down pacesetter Doctor Leo in the stretch of the 1 1/16-mile event. Going off at odds of 31-1, the Glenn Delahoussaye trainee was ridden to victory by Tim Thornton. Freedomfi is now six-for-47 during his career, and he has earned $253,847.
The Mark Hibdon owned and trained D’wild Muffin took the $50,000 Bon Temps Starter under jockey Alex Birzer. The 9-year-old mare has now won six-of-16 career starts and has a bankroll of $114,704. Her local record at Delta Downs now stands at five wins and three seconds from 12 trips to the starting gate.
This year’s $60,000 LAPN Ladies Starter went to Zydeco Music under jockey Rey Gutierrez. The Shane Wilson trainee used a front-running trip to lead all the way before holding off a late challenge by A Wish for Madelyn, who made it close at the wire in the one-mile affair. Owned by Richard Anthony Tompkins, Zyedeco Music has now won 10-of-28 career starts and banked $204,440.
The final race on the card was the $50,000 Ragin Cajun Starter and it was won by Vanessa Motta’s Dixie Street under jockey Tracy Hebert for trainer Sean Alfortish. Dixie street went from last to first in the five-furlong sprint and has now won nine-of-33 career starts. He earned $30,000 for his win and now has a bankroll of $219,520.
Delta Downs has three weeks left in its 2022-23 season. The track will move to a 5:20 pm post time each Wednesday through Saturday until closing night on February 25.
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.
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 secondas 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.
Ova Charged with Jose Rodriguez aboard wins the 1st running of the Happy Ticket Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
With stable star Ova Charged showing the way and Spirited Beauty chasing her home in second, the Brittlyn Stable Star Guitar fillies filled out the exacta in the 1st running of the 6-furlong $75,000 Happy Ticket Stakes for older Louisiana-bred females, one of three restricted stakes run on the opening day Friday program at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
“She ran to our expectations of just breezing today,” trainer Jose Camejo said after the race. “We’ve been taking our time with her, giving her all summer. She went through a couple things and only worked her a couple times and she showed off today that she is the best Louisiana-bred.”
Not racing since her win last March in the Page Cortez, .30-1 Ova Charged proved she is still the top Louisiana-bred sprinter. The only fraction she didn’t lead was the first as Drop Dead Sexy shot out to the front from the outside post, stopping the quarter-mile timer in 21.78 seconds. Shuffled back after the break, Ova Charged’s rider Jose Rodriguez waited for a lane then prompted her through, quickly making the lead at 45.28, and opening up in the homestretch. Following the entire way, stablemate Spirited Beauty cruised along in second through the stretch, showing energy and shrinking the final gap to two lengths. Snowball came late for third. Ova Charged cruised under the wire, stopping the clock at 1:11.04.
“I was thinking that if she was able to get in one race over the summer, we would enter her in the Breeders’ Cup (Filly & Mare Sprint), but we decided to just let her be a horse,” Camejo said. “But that’s something we are targeting for next year. Hopefully we keep her sound and she gets in.”
On his first day riding at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, jockey Jose Rodriguez scored a riding triple.
With a 7-6-1-0 record and $264,600 in earnings, Louisiana-bred fillies across the state are saying their prayers tonight that Ova Charged will take her unique talents out of the restricted ranks and into graded stakes waters.
Evelyn Benoit & trainer Jose Camejo win two stakes on closing day
(New Orleans, Louisiana – Sunday, March 27, 2022) – In a banner season that saw her top the owner’s standings with 22 wins, eight more than her closest pursuer Allied Racing Stables, Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stables won a pair of $75,000 stakes on closing day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. She took the Page Cortez Memorial with Ova Charged, and fittingly, the Star Guitar with a son of that stallion, Behemah Star. Both horses are trained by Jose Camejo.
All 22 of Benoit’s meet wins were by horses sired by Star Guitar, whom she stands at Clear Creek Stud in Louisiana for $7,500 per live foal. With 27 wins from 100 starts, Camejo finished seventh in the trainer’s standings.
In the Page Cortez, which is named for the longtime Louisiana senator, the .60-1 favorite Ova Charged, dominated from start to finish. In what was her turf debut and first start since her Louisiana Champions Day victory in the Ladies Sprint on December 11, the 4-year-old daughter of Star Guitar was pressed early by Offspring through early fractions of 22.47 and 46.46. She put that foe away at the top of the stretch and was not menaced thereafter, stopping the timer in 1:04.44 for 5 ½ furlongs on firm turf with the rails down, even jumping a shadow in the stretch along the way. Defeated by seven lengths, Offspring held off Snowball by a nose for second.
It was the third consecutive win and fifth in six starts for Ova Charged, with her only defeat coming behind Super Sensational in the Victory Ride (G3) last summer at Belmont. The career bankroll now stands a $219,600.
One race later, Behemah Star scored a mild upset at 9.30-1 in the Star Guitar for Brittlyn Stables and Camejo, defeating a pair of Allied Racing Stable runners in Highland Creek and .90-1 favorite Who Took the Money. Earlier in the day, Chester Thomas (Allied Racing Stable) scored a stakes win of his own with trainer Bret Calhoun, taking the $75,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial with his homebred Winning Romance.
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