Touchuponastar heads back to statebred company

Touchuponastar is likely headed back to Louisiana-bred company at Fair Grounds after winning his first race against open foes in the $100,000 Delta Downs Mile.

Owner Jake Delhomme said Tuesday a couple of races are being debated for Touchuponastar, including the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic on Dec. 9 at Fair Grounds.

“We’ll let him tell us when he’s ready,” he said.

Touchuponastar won the Classic last year during a streak of six straight wins. He has faced open company twice in his 9-for-12 career, finishing second in the Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile in May at Lone Star Park before his three-quarter-length victory in the Delta Mile.

“I loved his race,” Delhomme said of the Delta Mile. “I thought it was a legitimate field. I have a ton of respect for Five Star General and certainly Miles D. I believe he ran third in the Travers earlier in his career. It was a tough race and they ran in racehorse time.”

Touchuponastar dueled through fractions of 22.88 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.33 for the half-mile on the laboring, sand-based track before covering the distance in 1:38.19. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95.

Touchuponastar is based at the Copper Crowne Training Center in Opelousas, La., with trainer Jeff Delhomme.

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