Delta Downs: Star Guitar captures sixth straight stakes in Gold Cup

Coady Photography

Star Guitar blows past the front-runners under Corey Lanerie to capture the $100,000 Gold Cup for Louisiana-breds.

Star Guitar won his sixth consecutive race Saturday night at Delta Downs, when he inhaled the front-runners in the stretch of the $100,000 Gold Cup and went on to score by 2 1/2 lengths. All of his wins during the current streak have come in stakes and he will attempt to continue the trend next month in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds.

 “He is truly a dream,” said Evelyn Benoit, who co-bred and co-owns Star Guitar.

The Gold Cup was one of two one-mile stakes on the card, both for horses bred in Louisiana.  In the $100,000 Magnolia for fillies and mares, Lawyer Tiffany ($20) became a stakes winner with a three-length score over Daphne Angela.

Star Guitar ($3.60) did not break sharply, and had just one horse beat into the first turn of the Gold Cup as Idefromthebayou and One Pretty Penny led the field through an opening quarter in 23.07 seconds. My Star Runner joined the pacesetters through a half-mile in 47.47, and at the same time Star Guitar began picking up horses. The eventual winner came four wide into the stretch then surged past leader My Star Runner en route to covering the distance on a fast track in 1:39.19.

“I was hoping to have pace to run at,” said Corey Lanerie, who was aboard Star Guitar for trainer Al Stall Jr.

My Star Runner held second, but was disqualified and placed fourth for interference in the stretch following a claim of foul by Don Simington, the rider of Heavenville. There was also a stewards’ inquiry into the drive. The disqualification moved Eighth at Citypark, who finished third, into second place, and Heavenville, who finished fourth, into third.

Star Guitar earned $60,000 for the win, which was his 20th from 26 lifetime starts. He has now earned $1,425,862. Star Guitar is a 6-year-old son of Quiet American. His streak began in last year’s Louisiana Champions Day Classic, and has continued with wins in the $200,000 Premiere Night Championship at Delta, the $72,000 Costa Rising at Fair Grounds, the Louisiana Showcase Classic at Evangeline Downs, and the $125,000 Evangeline Downs Mile.

In the Magnolia, Lawyer Tiffany settled in second behind Harlie’s Dreams, who led the field through an opening quarter in 23.22 seconds and the first half-mile in 47.41. Lawyer Tiffany overtook the pacesetter through six furlongs in 1:12.48, and then went on to win in 1:39.57.

Juan Larrosa rode Lawyer Tiffany for trainer H.B. Johnson Jr. The filly earned $60,000 for owners Fletcher Clement and trainer Dennis Milligan. She has now won 4 of 10 starts and $169,132.