Touchuponastar runs away with Louisiana Premier Night Championship

Touchuponastar won the richest race of the Delta Downs meet for the third year in a row Saturday night when he coasted home by 12 1/4 lengths in the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship.

Blue Cheese finished second, while it was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Saint Gabriel.

The race was one of six divisional stakes for Louisiana-breds on the card.

Touchuponastar ($2.10) broke well and moved to the fore to set pressured fractions of 23.73 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.93 for the half-mile. He shook pace rival Tdzshininluckystar from there, and began to separate himself from the field, going on to cover the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.40.

Touchuponastar won in hand under regular rider Timothy Thornton.

“He was doing everything comfortable,” Thornton said in post-race interview conducted by Delta. “It felt like he was just floating out there galloping. He was just doing his job and he does it well.”

Jeff Delhomme trains Touchuponastar for his brother, retired NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme.

Touchuponastar is a son of Star Guitar. He has now won 14 of 20 starts for career earnings of $1,112,900.

“He’s a once in a lifetime horse,” Thornton said.

Starlet

In the $100,000 Starlet for 3-year-old fillies, Secret Faith improved her career record to 7 for 8 with her head win over Blue Fire. It was another 14 1/2 lengths back in third to Lola and Rose.

The Starlet was a seven-furlong race run around two turns.

Secret Faith ($2.10) sat just off fractions of 23.50 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.63 for the half-mile before engaging leader Blue Fire and dueling to the wire. The winner covered the distance on a fast track in 1:26.57.

Florent Geroux was aboard Secret Faith for trainer Jayde Gelner.

Secret Faith is a daughter of Aurelius Maximus and races for Norman Stables. She was winning her sixth stakes race in the Starlet and has earned $427,022.

In the $100,000 Prince for 3-year-olds, Cajun Mitole became a stakes winner when he closed for a 1 3/4-length win over Hay Jude. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to Voila Magic.

Cajun Mitole ($19.60) closed into fractions of 22.80 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.50 for the half-mile before covering seven furlongs in 1:26.88.

Alex Birzer was aboard for trainer Brett Brinkman.

Cajun Mitole is a son of Mitole who races for Coulee Croche Thoroughbreds and Clear Creek Stud. He has now won 3 of 5 starts for earnings of $125,730.

Distaff

Wonderrand closed from last to catch Clearly a Test and win the $125,000 Distaff by 1 1/2 lengths. It was another 6 1/4 lengths back in third to Tommie G.

Wonderrand ($6.40) settled off fractions of 23.15 for the opening quarter, 47.58 for the half-mile and 1:13.65 for six furlongs before closing with good energy to cover the mile for fillies and mares in 1:41.03.

Jose Rodriguez was aboard for trainer Benard Chatters.

Wonderrand is a daughter of Cloud Computing who races for Rand Metoyer. She has now won 6 of 12 starts for earnings of $222,400.

Wonderrand was winning her first stakes. She is a half-sister to multiple stakes winners Laughingsaintssong and Saints N Muskets.

*** Marks Promise ($16.40) set the pace and prevailed by a length over Geaux Sugar in the $100,000 Sprint. The winner covered five furlongs in 58.25 seconds. Vicente Del-Cid was aboard for trainer Eduardo Ramirez. Marks Promise is a son of Custom for Carlos who races for Sandy Badeaux.

*** Six String ($3.80) tracked the pace and went on to a 4 1/4-length win over Flashy Meg in the $100,000 Matron. The winner covered five furlongs in 58.75. Casey Fusilier was aboard for trainer Allen Landry. Six String is a daughter of Star Guitar who races for World War IV Racing.

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