Touchuponastar gets break, could return at Delta
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It’s summer vacation time for Touchuponastar.
The two-time winner of the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds is getting some downtime in his home state of Louisiana, according to owner Jake Delhomme.
“We’re just going to give him 30, 45 days of R & R, real laid back,” he said, “and gear up and try to see what happens in the fall.”
Touchuponastar could make his return at Delta Downs. He’s done so in the past in races like the Gold Cup or Delta Mile.
“That’s kind of the direction we go, and just kind of take it from there,” said Delhomme.
Touchuponastar, who is trained by Delhomme’s brother, Jeff Delhomme, is an earner of $2 million. He has won five of his last six starts in a campaign that began with a victory in the Gold Cup in October at Delta.
Touchuponastar then proceeded to win the Delta Mile, a fourth Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds, a fourth Premier Night Championship at Delta, and his second New Orleans Classic. For those five consecutive wins, he earned Beyer Speed Figures ranging from 101 to 108.
Touchuponastar’s streak ended in his most recent out, when he finished fourth as the favorite in the Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile on May 25 at Lone Star Park. It’s the same race he finished fifth in a year ago. This season, Touchuponastar was beaten three lengths under regular rider Timothy Thornton and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 94.
His connections could see early on in this year’s Steve Sexton that Touchuponastar was not going to fire his typical race.
“We could tell right away,” Jake Delhomme said. “And on the backside I’m watching Timmy and he’s kind of flagging him, and I’m like, ‘He’s not running.’ And Timmy came back and shook his head and he goes, ‘Never felt like him from the opening jump.’ So, that’s two years in a row. It’s just one of those deals. He came back great and is doing well. We just throw it out.”
Touchuponastar ranks third on the all-time leading Louisiana-bred earnings list published by the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
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