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.
#1 Touchuponastar takes the field gate to wire to win the Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes @fairgroundsnola as the 1/5 favorite!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 9, 2023
Jockey: Timothy Thornton
Trainer: Jeff Delhomme
Owner: Set-Hut LLC
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ddSBG7iWhz
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.
Touchuponastar has won nine of his last 10 races, with the only loss a good second when testing graded stakes company in the Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) at Lone Star Park. He is the leading earner for four-time Louisiana stallion of the year Star Guitar.
In other key Louisiana Champions Day stakes: Behemah Star, another Star Guitar gelding, won the $100,000 Turf; Good and Stout, by Coal Front, won a nose photo over El Dinero in the $100,000 Juvenile; and Free Like a Girl, by El Deal, notched her 14th stakes win in the $100,000 Distaff.
According to The Jockey Club, Louisiana has the fifth-largest breeding program in the United States by percentage of the overall foal crop. The nine stakes that comprise Louisiana Champions Day represent the biggest card of the year for horses bred in the Bayou State.
