Star Guitar wins fourth in a row

Last month a tentative winter campaign was laid out for Star Guitar, who is arguably the top male Louisiana-bred in training. Friday night at Delta Downs, he accomplished his first objective by rolling to a two-length win in the $100,000 Gold Cup.

From here, the plan is a start in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds on Dec. 12. Further down the road, the goal for Star Guitar is a return trip to Delta for defense of his title in the $200,000 Premiere Night Championship on Feb. 6.

"He's fairly well mapped out for the time being," said Al Stall Jr., who trains Star Guitar.

Star Guitar ($2.80) moved up to second through six furlongs in 1:12.80. He took the lead in the stretch and proceeded to cover a mile on a fast track in 1:39.

Curt Bourque was aboard Star Guitar, who won his fourth straight race in the Gold Cup. His streak began on July 4, when he won the $100,000 Palo Benoit Memorial at Evangeline Downs. He proceeded to take the $100,000 Louisiana Cup Classic at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 1, and the $150,000 Evangeline Mile on Aug. 15 prior to his start at Delta.

Star Guitar is a 4-year-old son of Quiet American who races for his breeder, Brittlyn Stable. He has now won 10 of 13 starts and $618,458.

Ide Like a Double finished second in the Gold Cup, a length in front of third-place finisher Nowandforevermore.

First stakes winner for Robinson

Robby Robinson won his first stakes race as a trainer earlier on the card at Delta when Zarb's Ballerina scored a three-quarter-length win over Vickies In Town in the $100,000 Magnolia for fillies and mares bred in Louisiana. The winner was the third career stakes starter for Robinson, whose first win as a trainer came this past March at Oaklawn.

Zarb's Ballerina ($12.20) tracked the pace in third before overtaking the leaders and covering the mile in 1:40.67. Don Simington was aboard for Triple R Stable.