DELTA DOWNS HOSTS 2025 LOUISIANA PREMIER NIGHT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1
OVER $900,000 IN TOTAL PURSE MONEY TO BE AWARDED TO LOUISIANA’S TOP THOROUGHBREDS THROUGHOUT STAR-STUDDED 11-RACE PROGRAM
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs is preparing for the richest program of its 2024-25 Thoroughbred season on Saturday, February 1. Louisiana Premier Night is an annual event that celebrates the top horses in the state with 10 stakes races on an 11-race program. The marquee event on the card will be the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles. The excitement gets underway with the first post time at 4:50pm.
In addition to the top-notch racing on the track, students will have the chance to win a $1,000 scholarship to a Louisiana college or university in a drawing sponsored by the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. A total of two (2) scholarships will be awarded. Entries will be accepted between 3:50 – 4:50 pm. The winners will be announced after the fifth race in the winner’s circle. Must be present to win.
The Championship will take place in race 10 on the program and it features a field of nine horses headed by Louisiana superstar Touchuponastar. The 6-year-old gelding recently surpassed the $1 million mark in career earnings with a win in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds in New Orleans on December 14. The Jeff Delhomme trainee will be ridden by current Delta Downs leading jockey Tim Thornton and has been installed as the 4-5 morning line favorite.
Touchuponastar will attempt to win his third consecutive Championship on Saturday night and has a record of five wins from six starts at Delta Downs. His only loss came earlier this season when he finished third in the $100,000 Delta Mile, an open-bred race, on November 8. Overall, the son of Star Guitar has won 13-of-19 starts during his illustrious career.
Another horse attempting to win his third consecutive Louisiana Premier Night race on Saturday is the Steve Asmussen owned and trained Bron and Brow (8-1). The 6-year-old gelding will have a tough assignment as he will be facing 7-5 morning line favorite Geaux Sugar in the five-furlong showdown. Geaux Sugar defeated Bron and Brow twice at the current Fair Grounds meeting in stakes company.
Other horses sure to get the fans attention on Saturday night include the Steve Asmussen-trained Blue Fire (2-1) in the $100,000 Starlet; Brittlyn Stable’s Clearly a Test (9-5) in the $125,000 Distaff; as well as Voila Magic (2-1) and Hay Jude (7-2) in the $100,000 Prince.
Listed below are all 10 Louisiana Premier Night stakes races for 2025 in program order.
Race # Purse Stakes Distance Age
2 $100,000 LAPN Starlet 7 furlongs 3yo Fillies
3 $50,000 LAPN Ragin Cajun Starter 5 furlongs 4yo & up
4 $60,000 LAPN Ladies Starter 1 mile 4yo & up FM
5 $60,000 LAPN Gentlemen Starter 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up
6 $125,000 LAPN Distaff 1 mile 4yo & up FM
7 $100,000 LAPN Matron 5 furlongs 4yo & up FM
8 $100,000 LAPN Prince 7 furlongs 3yo
9 $100,000 LAPN Sprint 5 furlongs 4yo & up
10 $150,000 LAPN Championship 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up
11 $50,000 LAPN Bon Temps Starter 5 furlongs 4yo & up FM
For more information about Louisiana Premier Night and the remainder of Delta Downs’ season, which runs through February 22, visit the track’s website at www.deltadowns.com/race. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and X.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, is the premier racing and gaming entertainment venue in Vinton, LA. Named “America’s Best Horse Racing Track” for 2023 by readers of USA TODAY 10Best, Delta Downs features a six-furlong oval track, 15,000 square feet of casino space and more than 1,500 of the most popular slot machines. Amenities include two restaurants, chart-topping entertainment at the Delta Event Center and the FanDuel Sportsbook.