Touchuponastar makes it four in a row for Louisiana Premier Night Championship
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Touchuponastar moved into second on the all-time leading earners list among Louisiana-breds on Saturday night when he cruised to an 11 1/2-length win in the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship at Delta Downs.
Touchuponastar won the race for the fourth consecutive year to equal a record set by his sire, Star Guitar. In the process, Touchuponastar boosted his career earnings to $1,760,000. The development catapulted him from fourth – surpassing Happy Ticket ($1,688,838) and Star Guitar ($1,749,862) – to second behind $2.5 million earner Free Like a Girl, according to a list posted on the website of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
The Championship was one of six stakes on the annual Premier Night. The divisional races are for Louisiana-breds, and they help make for the richest card of the meet at Delta Downs.
Touchuponastar ($2.10) broke well and pushed Saint Gabriel through an opening quarter in 23.39 seconds. The two continued on through a half-mile in 46.88 before Touchuponastar took the lead through six furlongs in 1:11.58 and increased his advantage with each stride. He covered the 1 1/16 miles for 4-year-olds and up in 1:44.03.
Timothy Thornton was aboard for trainer Jeff Delhomme.
Mangum, also trained by Delhomme, finished second in the Championship. Both Touchuponastar and Mangum race for the Set-Hut Stable of retired NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme.
Touchuponastar is now 20 for 27; all his wins have come under Thornton.
“Jake and Jeff and everybody have done such a great job with him,” Thornton said in a post-race interview broadcast by Delta. “Like I always say, I’m just fortunate to be part of it.”
The margin of victory Saturday was the third largest for Touchuponastar in his career to date. The 7-year-old won last year’s Championship by 12 1/4 lengths and won his maiden by 21 1/4 lengths.
Touchuponastar came into the Championship off a record fourth consecutive win in the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds.
Double for Chatters
Trainer Benard Chatters had a stakes double on the card and the wins came on his birthday, it was announced by Delta.
The barn first got in the win column with Whisper Me a Smile ($14.40), who wired the field in the $125,000 Starlet for 3-year-old fillies. She won by 3 1/2 lengths over Midnight Passion while covering seven furlongs around two turns in 1:26.90. Julio Ramirez Jr. was aboard the daughter of Carpe Diem for Chatters, who also owns Whisper Me a Smile.
Later on the card, Nodah ($22.40) rallied for a length win over pacesetter Secret Faith in the $125,000 Distaff that was scratched down to three horses. It was another 8 3/4 lengths back in third to Supa Speed. Nodah covered the mile for fillies and mares in 1:39.81. Edward Santiago was aboard the daughter of Mor Spirit for Kenneth Roberts Racing Stable.
In other stakes, Scar Ship ($5.40) broke on top and kept going for a three-length win over favorite Mor Force in the $125,000 Prince for 3-year-olds. The winner covered seven furlongs around two turns in 1:27.14. Vicente Del-Cid was aboard Scar Ship for trainer Ricky Courville. Scar Ship is a son of Midshipman who races for his breeder, Rebecca Farms.
*** Strong Promise ($14) rallied for a 1 1/4-length win over Geaux Sugar in the $125,000 Sprint. The winner covered five furlongs in 58.14 seconds. Jansen Melancon was aboard Strong Promise for trainer Allen Landry. The winner is by Broken Vow and races for Baronne Farms.
*** Sassi Strutter ($3.20) got past Six String late for a length win over that one in the $125,000 Matron for fillies and mares. The winner covered five furlongs in 58.73. Tommy Pompell was aboard for trainer Lee Thomas. Sassi Strutter is a daughter of Sassicaia who is owned by Elite Thoroughbred Racing.
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