Touchuponastar conquers open company in Delta Mile

Touchuponastar went over $500,000 in career earnings Friday night when he defeated open company for the first time in a gusty, three-quarter-length victory in the $100,000 Delta Downs Mile. Miles D closed for second, while it was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Five Star General.

The Delta Mile is the premier open company stakes of the meet and it drew a host of shippers. Touchuponastar, a top Louisiana-bred, was making his second start against open company following a close second-place finish in the Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile in May at Lone Star Park.

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Touchuponastar ($2.60) broke well and was joined out of the gate by Five Star General, with the pair moving to the fore together through an opening quarter in 22.88 seconds. They continued on through a half-mile in 46.33 with Touchuponastar taking command after six furlongs in 1:11.17. Five Star General continued on as a threat and Miles D came running in the lane, but Touchuponastar found more and covered the distance on a fast track in 1:38.19.

Timothy Thornton was aboard the winner for trainer Jeff Delhomme.

Touchuponastar has now won 9 of 12 starts and earned $528,100 for his owner, the Set-Hut operation of Jake Delhomme. He is 4-for-4 on the track at Delta and was winning his second stakes of the meet following the Gold Cup in October.

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