Star Guitar scores four-peat as Louisiana Horse of the Year

Bayou circuit legend and all-time Louisiana-bred earnings leader Star Guitar was named Louisiana Horse of the Year for the fourth consecutive year last week. The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association held its annual meeting on June 8 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where it also honored several other prominent Louisiana-bred horses and state breeders.

Star Guitar, an 8-year-old son of Quiet American, retired last August after a perfect three-for-three campaign in 2012, all stakes wins. Overall, he won 24 of 30 starts and earned $1,749,862 in six seasons, with 22 stakes wins. Evelyn and Maurice Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable bred Star Guitar and campaigned him throughout his career, and Al Stall trained the horse. Star Guitar, who is out of the stakes-winning Malagra mare Minit Towinit and is a half-brother to two other stakes winners, began his stud career this year at Clear Creek in Folsom, La., where he was born.

Leestown, who died in 2008, was honored as Louisiana’s Stallion of the Year. He was represented by Delta Gold Cup winner Lee’s Spirit and three stakes-placed runners last year, and 72 winners overall.

Jay Adcock’s Red River Farms, which stood Leestown, was honored as the state’s leading breeder by breeders’ awards. The LTBA also honored Brittlyn Stable as Louisiana’s leading breeder by percentage of stakes winners, and awarded Broodmare of the Year for 2012 to the farm’s 18-year-old Malagra mare X Strawdnair. She has produced a total of five stakes winners, including 2012 Louisiana Futurity winner Sunbean.

The remaining honorees:

2-year-old colt/gelding: Westernator, dk. b. or br., g., Intimidator-Star Legend, by Stalwart
Owners: Keith and Steven Asmussen
Breeder: Keith Asmussen
Trainer: Steve Asmussen

2-year-old filly: Sittin at the Bar, b., f., Into Mischief-Fast Laner, by Mutakddim
Owner: Dale Ladner
Breeder: Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Brett Brinkman

3-year-old colt/gelding: Look at the Time, b., g., Brahms-Alashir, by Alysheba
Owner: Hooties Racing LLC
Breeder: Mike Paciera
Trainer: Dwight Viator

3-year-old filly: She’s Prado’s Idol, b., f., Screen Idol-Prado Strutter, by El Prado
Owner/Trainer: Garland Goins
Breeder: Evelyn Hobbs

4-year-old and up filly or mare: Speedacious, b., m., Yankee Gentleman-Blushing Trish, by Rahy
Owner: Carl R. Moore Management LLC
Breeder: Elm Tree Farm LLC
Trainer: Bret Calhoun