Louisiana Breds Shine in Stakes Races
(New Orleans, La.) - Over the weekend, nine Louisiana Bred runners delivered outstanding performances by capturing stakes races with combined purses amounting to $1,319,000. The highlight of these achievements was Touchuponastar’s impressive victory in the G2 New Orleans Classic S., where he secured his second consecutive win in this prestigious $500,000 event. Touchuponastar not only triumphed over a competitive field but also set a new track record at the New Orleans Fair Grounds, underscoring the exceptional talent present within the Louisiana breeding program.
On Saturday, the top earning son of leading Louisiana stallion Star Guitar, Touchuponastar earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure while covering the mile and an eighth in 1:46.84, breaking the previous track record of 1:47.64 set over a decade ago in 2012 by Nate’s Mineshaft. Ridden by Marcelino Pedroza Jr, the Jeff Delhomme trainee took the lead early and carried it to the wire. The 2025 Louisiana Horse of the Year improved his record to 28-21-4-2 with earnings of $2,060,000.
Star Guitar has been the leading sire of Louisiana Breds for 8 or the last nine years, and is the current leading sire in the state for 2026. He stands at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana.
Aurelius Maximus runners won four stakes over the weekend, three Louisiana bred stakes all run at Fair Grounds 2026 closing weekend, plus an open stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.
On Saturday, Braken Poppa won his second career stakes, taking the Fasig-Tipton Crescent City Oaks. After a second-place finish in his first start at 2, Braken Poppa is undefeated thus far at 3. Also on Saturday, Liteupthenite won the Texas Thoroughbred Association Oaks Presented by Lonestar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers (LOPE) at Sam Houston Park. Her record now stands at 9-2-2-4 with $203,999 in earnings.
Then Sunday, two more Aurelius Maximus runners won Fair Grounds stakes. Blue Fire bumped her lifetime earnings to over half a million dollars with her win in the Shantel Lanerie Memorial S. He’s Late Again added his fourth stakes victory with the Star Guitar S. presented by Brittlyn Stable.
Aurelius Maximus is currently the second leading 2026 sire of Louisiana Breds. He stands at Red River Farms in Coushatta, Louisiana.
Sunday also had Louisiana stallions winning a pair of $100,000 stakes at the Fair Grounds.
Our Moneyman, a son of Mr. Money, won the Crescent City Derby for owner/breeder Allied Racing Stable LLC. The three-year-old colt has finished 1st or 2nd in each of his six starts. Mr. Money stands at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana.
Sassi Strutter defeated rivals in the Ova Charged S. for her third 2026 stakes victory. The five-year-old mare by Sassicaia has accumulated $379,000 in earnings. Sassi Strutter is the first stakes winner for Sassicaia who stands at Elite Thoroughbreds in Folsom, Louisiana.
Louisiana Breds Nine Part and Thebabeslayer respectively won the Costa Rising S. at Fair Grounds and the Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby Presented by Texas Thoroughbred Association at Sam Houston Park.
Son of Louisiana based Exaggerator, Skippylongstocking added another graded stakes victory to his record, winning the G3 Essex H. at Oaklawn Park. While not a Louisiana Bred, Skippylongstocking has won a phenomenal twelve graded stakes including the 2026 G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. with earnings approaching $6 million. Exaggerator, who stands at Elite Thoroughbreds in Folsom is currently ranked 15th among North American Sires by Earnings.
The remarkable achievements highlighted throughout the recent racing season underscore the strength and excellence of the Louisiana breeding program. The consistent performance of Louisiana-bred runners in stakes races, both within the state and at renowned tracks elsewhere, illustrates the high caliber of horses produced by local breeders.
Leading stallions such as Star Guitar, Aurelius Maximus, Mr. Money, Sassicaia, and Exaggerator have played a pivotal role in elevating the reputation of Louisiana breeding. Their progeny's victories in significant stakes events and their growing earnings are a testament to the quality and competitiveness of Louisiana stallions. This ongoing success speaks volumes about the dedication and expertise found within the Louisiana breeding community.