Touchuponastar never asked in fourth straight Champions Day Classic win
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Sure, it felt like a foregone conclusion, and that turned out to be true, but it still was pretty cool watching Touchuponastar win the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic for the fourth year in a row.
“Win” lacks the proper weight for this performance. Crush? Destroy? Obliterate? Maybe, but those words belie the velvety ease with which this 6-year-old gelding toyed with four foes Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Touchuponastar, among the best Louisiana-breds ever, went straight to the lead under regular rider Tim Thornton, laid down solid splits of 23.68 and 47.60, and came to the quarter pole absolutely cruising while the jockeys on the horses behind him scrubbed and cajoled. Thornton, past the three-sixteenths pole, turned and looked under his right armpit, saw his mount putting distance on all pursuers. Thornton kept his firm hold on the reins, as in a morning workout. Touchuponastar still drew farther and farther clear.
“Today, I never asked him to run at all,” Thornton said. “Sometimes, when he does win so easy, I kind of ask him a little bit. Today I didn’t have to. He’s a dream. He’s definitely a horse you don’t come across a lot.”
Three-year-old Sippin On Gin while not in the winner’s class checked in second and had five lengths on third-place Letmikefigureitout. Touchuponastar, the 1-20 favorite, paid $2.10 and ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.46.
Touchuponastar, by Star Guitar out of Touch Magic, by Lion Heart, surpassed his father’s three wins in the Champions Day Classic. He ran his career mark to 26-19-4-2 and has won 15 straight races in statebred-restricted competition. Touchuponastar also captured the Grade 2, $300,000 New Orleans Classic last March – and might be even better now than a year ago.
Jeff Delhomme trains Touchuponastar for his brother, Jake Delhomme, who races under the nom de course Set-Hut. Coteau Grove Farm bred Touchuponastar, whom the Delhommes have prudently managed, holding him out of action during hot Louisiana summers, keeping the horse fresh and happy.
What that all means for the rest of this winter Jake Delhomme kept close to the vest after Saturday’s victory. Delhomme, a few days ago, said Gulfstream Park officials had reached out to him regarding the Pegasus World Cup in January, but Touchuponastar’s schedule the last two winters has gone from Champions Day to the Louisiana-bred Premier Championship in early February at Delta Downs, and then on to the New Orleans Classic, where the gelding finished second in 2024.
There’s not a Louisiana-bred who can hold a candle to this horse right now, and Touchuponastar might not have blown out a candle coming back from his Saturday walk in the park. Almost 7, a charismatic and very fast horse still at the peak of his powers. Four Champions Day Classics in a row, and still more to come.
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