TOUCHUPONASTAR CRUISES TO THIRD STRAIGHT LOUISIANA PREMIER NIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP AT DELTA DOWNS

LOUISIANA-BREDS TAKE CENTER STAGE FOR RICHEST NIGHT OF THE SEASON

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted the 22ndedition of Louisiana Premier Night on Saturday and fans were treated to an 11-race program that featured more than $900,000 in total purse money for horses bred in the Bayou State.

The featured race on the card was the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship and the heavy favorite was Set Hut, LLC’s Touchuponastar, who was attempting to win the race for the third consecutive year. Under jockey Tim Thornton the Jeff Delhomme trainee did not disappoint as he romped home to win easily in the 1-1/16 test for older horses.

Touchuponastar broke perfectly in the Championship before engaging Tdzshininluckystar during the first half mile of the race. The pair volleyed for the lead while covering the quarter mile in 23.73 seconds and the half mile in 46.93. 

As the field raced up the backstretch Touchuponastar eased away from his rival and began to build a lead that would only grow during final stages of the event. After clicking off a ¾ mile time of 1:11.47, Touchuponastar was in a race by himself and reported home 12-1/4 lengths to the good of Blue Cheese, who finished second. Saint Gabriel was another ¾ of a length behind in third. The final time was 1:44.40 over a fast track.

Thornton was asked about the pressure his mount dealt with in the early part of the race. “I wasn’t worried about it at all. At no point was I worried about the pace. He’s just a very nice horse.”

Winning for the sixth time in seven starts at Delta Downs, Touchuponastar has now visited the winner’s circle a total of 14 times from 20 outs during his career. The $90,000 first-place prize he garnered on Saturday raised his earnings mark to $1,112,900.

Bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms, Touchuponastar is a 6-year-old bey gelding by Star Guitar, out of the Lion Heart mare Touch Magic.

Sent to the gate at odds of 1-9, Touchuponastar returned $2.10 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Blue Cheese was worth $6.40 to place and $3.60 to show. Saint Gabriel paid $2.60 to show.

The $125,000 Distaff was won by Rand Metoyer’s Wonderrand ($6.40) under jockey Jose Luis Rodriguez for owner Rand Metoyer and trainer Benard Chatters. The win came in last-to-first style, and it marked the sixth win from 12 overall starts for the 4-year-old bay filly by Cloud Computing, out of the Vindication mare Laughing Saint. She was bred in Louisiana by J. E. Jumonville, Jr. & Bunny Jumonville.

The $100,000 Sprint was won by the Eduardo Ramirez trainee Marks Promise ($16.40), who was ridden to victory by jockey Vicente Del Cid. The win was the fifth of Marks Promise’s 17-race career. He is owned by Sandy Badeaux.

Marks Promise is a 5-year-old gelding by Custom for Carlos, out of the Private Vow mare Private Promise. He was bred in Louisiana by Southern Legacy Thoroughbreds, LLC.

Cajun Matole ($19.60) scored a nice win in the $100,000 Prince with jockey Alex Birzer in the saddle. The Brett Brinkman trainee held off favorite Hay Jude in the final strides to notch his third win from five overall starts. Cajun Matole is a 3-year-old chestnut colt by Mitole, out of the Flower Alley mare Cajun Flower. He is owned by Coulee Crouche Thoroughbreds, LLC, who also bred the runner. 

It was an absolute thriller in the $100,000 Starlet as 1-9 wagering favorite Secret Faith ($2.10) won a tight photo finish with Blue Fire. It was Secret Faith’s seventh win from eight career starts. Her only loss came to Blue Fire on December 14 at Fair Grounds in the $100,000 Louisiana Lassie on Champions Day.

Secret Faith banked $60,000 for her win in the Starlet and now has a career bankroll of $427,022.

Secret Faith was ridden to victory by Florent Geroux and is trained by Jayde J. Gelner. The gray filly is owned by Norman Stables. Bred in Louisiana by Jay Adcock & Hume Wornall, Secret Faith is a 3-year-old filly by Aurelius Maximus, out of the Macho Uno mare St. Jean.

Six String ($3.80) was victorious in the $100,000 Matron under jockey Casey Fusilier. The 4-year-old daughter of Star Guitar, out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Oh Whata Holiday, is trained by Allen Landry and is owned by World War IV Racing and Rebel Tide Racing, LLC. The win marked Six String’s eighth trip to the winner’s circle from 13 overall starts. She was bred in Louisiana by her owners.

The Gentlemen Starter Stakes was won by Roger G. Smith’s Allnight Moonlight ($4.40) under jockey Elio Barrera. The Sam Breaux trainee notched his seventh win from 19 career starts in the race after finishing fifth to three-time Championship winner Touchuponastar at Fair Grounds on December 14. Bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms, Allnight Moonlight is a bay gelding by Ransom the Moon, out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Gingertini.

Fort Polk ($11.80) saved her best for last in the $60,000 Ladies Starter on Premier Night. Under jockey Julio Ramirez, Jr. the 9-year-old mare rumbled past pacesetter Blue Ridge Queen in the final strides to score the win for owner Ramirez Racing and trainer Rosa Ramirez, who happens to be the jockey’s sister. Fort Polk has now won 13-of-58 starts. Fort Polk is a bay mare by Behindatthebar, out of the Military mare Military Miss. 

The $50,000 Ragin Cajun Starter went to Baronne Farms, LLC’s Hardly Able ($6.60) after he was moved up from second to first following a disqualification of Charco. Hardly Able was ridden to victory by jockey Casey Fusilier and is trained by Allen Landry. The win was the seventh of Hardly Able’s 18-race career.

Hardly Able was bred in Louisiana by William Kyle Harris. He is a dark bay or brown gelding by Custom for Carlos, out of the Interactif mare Taking Tips.  

The final race on the program was the $50,000 Bon Temps Starter Stakes for fillies and mare and it was won by Won Day ($3.80), who was ridden to victory by Tim Thornton. The Allen Landry trainee is owned by Myers Horse Racing, LLC. Won Day has now won 10 of her 30 career starts. She is a 6-year-old chestnut mare by Time Bandit, out of the Buzzy’s Gold mare Sock O Rocks.

Delta Downs will now embark on its final three week of Thoroughbred racing. The track will conduct live programs each Wednesday through Saturday until closing day, Saturday, February 22. Post time each night is at 4:50pm CT.