Louisiana legend Star Guitar makes it three straight in Champions Day Classic

Louisiana legend Star Guitar makes it three straight in

Champions Day Classic

Star Guitar continues to rewrite the history books in the Louisiana Champions Day (Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography) Star Guitar did not disappoint his legion of fans in Saturday's $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic, registering his third straight victory in the showcase event for Louisiana-bred horses at Fair Grounds. Trained by Al Stall Jr., the six-year-old furthered his previous mark with a record fifth Champions Day win, taking both 2007 Juvenile and 2008 Sprint as well, and he's fast approaching the all-time state-bred earnings mark. With the $90,000 payday, Star Guitar increased his earnings to $1,515,862 from a 27-21-0-2 record. The 18-time stakes hero is one of only three millionaires bred in the Pelican State and had already eclipsed the trailblazing Scott's Scoundrel ($1,270,052). The bay horse now trails Happy Ticket ($1,688,838) by less than $175,000. "He's a great horse. What else can you say?," Stall said. "On a day to day basis he comes back from the track sound, eats well, coat's beautiful, his mind's not sour after all these years of grinding away. We'll just continue to space his races and keep on going as far as he'll take us."

With jockey Corey Lanerie up, Star Guitar stalked in second as Break Up

established slow opening splits in :25 1/5 and :50 4/5 in the 1 1/8-mile race.

The 3-5 favorite continued to bide his time, about a length back of the

pacesetter, after three-quarters in a pokey 1:16 1/5, and wasn't asked for his

run until the stretch drive.

Star Guitar easily collared Break Up in the straightaway and began to edge

past his rival just inside the quarter-pole, but Populist Politics was still in

with a chance in midstretch. The even-money second choice angled off the rail

and tried to go after Star Guitar in the final furlong, but the winner had

plenty in reserve and comfortably held his three-year-old challenger at bay

late, passing the wire with a 1 1/4-length cushion.

The Brittlyn Stable homebred stopped the teletimer in 1:53 over the fast

track.

"We thought the one (Break Up) would go out there just like he did," Stall

commented. "He fired hard and we fired hard. Corey's riding so confidently right

now, that was like one of his Churchill rides where everything's moving in slow

motion for him, literally, and he didn't even budge until, like, the

three-sixteenths. He made sure he kept the four, Populist Politics, tucked in

there, and that was it."

"It was great," Lanerie added. "First, I want to thank (owner) Ms. Evelyn

(Benoit) and Al Stall for just giving me the opportunity to sit on a horse like

this. He's so nice to ride. He's push-button. Just keep a leg on each

side and he does the rest. He's just a phenomenal horse.

"I thought he just keeps getting better and better with age. I said he might

be one of the best horses I ever rode. I think he might be the best horse I

rode."

Stall indicated that Star Guitar would make his next start on Louisiana

Premier Night at Delta Downs on February 4.

"He is a

gifted, talented miracle," Benoit said. "And it is just such a pleasure to see him. It's not

just when he is racing. It's in the stall. It's at home watching him on

television watching the replays. He's just everything you can dream about. We

had his grandmother and his mother and it's really overwhelming. I am so excited

about the just the whole situation having the right riders and trainers all

involved. We are all just like family now.

"He is a very tough horse and that's what it takes," the owner continued. "People see us here for

Champions Day in Louisiana and they think it is really easy but it's really

not. Everybody is out here. It is just as exciting as a Breeders' Cup or

Kentucky Derby. I mean, we are all here hoping that the horse shows the best

talent on this day and I think Star is more than we can ever dream about and I

hope that everyone gets one."

Populist Politics edged Break Up by nearly a length for second, and it was a

7 1/4-length margin back to Heavenville in fourth. Eighth at Citypark trailed

throughout, and Candiano and Kissimmee Kyle were both withdrawn.

By Quiet American, Star Guitar is the last foal produced by multiple

stakes-winning Malagra mare Minit Towinit and is a half-brother to stakes

winners Grand Minit and Favorite Minit.

The Classic was supported by seven other Thoroughbred stakes on the Louisiana

Champions Day program.

Harlie's Dream (inside) got up just in time (Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography) In the $100,000 Ladies Stakes, Harlie's Dreams engaged in a thrilling stretch-long duel with 4-5 favorite Lawyer Tiffany before prevailing by a nose. Runner-up in the Magnolia Stakes at Delta Downs in her previous start, the Coteau Grove Farms-owned filly had placed in a total of four stakes before breaking through with her first success on Saturday. The dark bay improved her overall ledger to 17-4-5-4, $229,132, with the hard-fought decision and completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:47 with Robby Albarado. Fourth in the 2010 Ladies for Glenn Delahoussaye, the four-year-old filly was transferred earlier this season to Patrick Devereux, who recorded his first stakes win as a trainer on Saturday. Harlie's Dreams stalked the pace in fourth during the early stages Saturday and proved best as the 7-2 second choice among seven rivals. "She broke really well. I had basic instructions to keep her comfortable where she was," Albarado explained. "I was a bit concerned about the pedestrian pace on the backside but she was content with being there. Squeezed her at the quarter-pole and she came home nice. I just think today she was a big filly and she got over the bigger race track today and she ran real well."

Lawyer Tiffany wound up four

lengths clear of third-placer Cat's Production, and Riley's Monarch,

Skipping Town, Vickies in Town and Tough Issie rounded out the order of finish.

Bred by Elougia Myers, Harlie's Dreams is by Pleasant Tap and hails from the

multiple stakes-placed Zarbyev mare Zarb's Fancy.

String King (middle) had his nose down at the right time  (Lynn Roberts/Hodges Photography) The $100,000 Turf Stakes went to String King, who surged between rivals in deep stretch to win by a nose over pacesetter Kissimmee Kyle, who was in turn a nose better than 2008 Turf winner Wildrally on the far outside. Jockey James Graham had the mount on the winning three-year-old, who garnered his first stakes stakes victory and improved his overall mark to 9-3-1-1, $114,268. "Lovely trip," Graham said. "Set him behind the speed. Made a little move around the turn. He fought for it. He really had to fight for it and he did and came out on top." Kissimmee Kyle threatened to steal the race on the front end, establishing splits in :24, :49 3/5 and 1:15, but could not withstand the final bid of String King, who raced just off the pace during the early stages.

Owner/breeder Charlie Smith, a 65-year-old Louisiana resident who took out

his training license about two months ago, earned his first win as a trainer.

"He's always been a fighter," Smith said. "He runs hard. My hat's off to James Graham. He

brought him in."

Off as the 4-1 third choice among nine rivals, the bay gelding covered 1 1/16

miles in 1:45 2/5 over the firm turf.

Idefromthebayou was two lengths back of the three-horse blanket finish in

fourth. Old Bushmill, Ide Like a Double, First to Bingo, Candiano and Productive

Envoy came next under the wire, and Skipping Town was scratched.

A son of Crowned King, String King is the first stakes winner from the

winning Fly a Kite mare String Dancer.

Beanwah'smachine remained perfect in the Juvenile  (Lynn Roberts/Hodges Photography) Beanwah'smachine provided owner/breeder Brittlyn Stable and trainer Stall with their first winner of the afternoon in the $100,000 Juvenile Stakes. Now unbeaten in three career starts, the Successful Appeal colt came off the rail in midstretch and powered his way to a half-length decision in his stakes debut. Shane Sellers had the mount on the dark bay, who has now earned $99,768 from his three for three mark. Beanwah'smachine was favored at 4-5 over his eight opponents and traveled six furlongs in 1:11 3/5. "When you ride for Al he teaches these horses before," Sellers said. "I knew I could ride him with confidence and keep him behind horses and I did. "I wanted to say thank you to Ms. Evelyn (Benoit), no doubt one of the best owners in the game. She is great for our sport. And to Al, to everybody, for giving me the opportunity." Masculino, who surged to a clear lead off the far turn, was game in defeat but could not withstand the winner in deep stretch. The runner-up finished two lengths better than Validfromthegitgo in third, and Four Joes, Bucktown, Balidor Desol, Freddie One Bite, Conflict Commander and Pardoned came next under the wire. Broadway King, Courtesy Cat and Louisiana Glory were all scratched.

A 4 1/2-length debut winner at Louisiana Downs in September, Beanwah'smachine

was exiting a two-length allowance tally at Fair Grounds on November 24. He is

out of the winning Malagra mare X Strawdnair, who is also the dam of stakes

winners Brother Bean and Miss Bean Wah; and stakes-placed performers Mean

Butterbean and Good Human Bean.

"Maybe it's time to stretch him a little bit," Stall said. "He's a nimble

little horse. He's very athletic so whether it's open company or something later

down the road we are not sure but it's time to stretch him."

"His

mind is his greatest asset," Benoit said. "He's all business. He was balanced

and athletic looking when he was born."

Izzie's Gold (green hat) smoked her rivals on the front end (Alexander Barkoff/Hodges Photography) Walter New's Izzie's Gold rolled to a 42-1 upset in the $100,000 Lassie Stakes, leading wire to wire beneath Gerard Melancon. The two-year-old filly sprinted to the fore once the gates opened and led by a length after an opening quarter-mile in :22 1/5. She reached the half-mile in :46 1/5 with a two-length advantage and the Brett Brinkman-trained lass continued to draw away in the stretch, eventually scoring by a comfortable four-length margin. She stepped six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 and returned $86.40 for every $2 win wager. "I didn't have to show her the stick," Melancon said. "She was doing it so easy. I knew she had the capability of doing it. We had a few problems with her and Brett fixed her and I knew she'd show good today." Carmen's Mystery, a near 18-1 outsider in the 11-horse field, rallied from midpack to be a clear second, 2 1/4 lengths better than Sunday's Child, who was favored at 2-5 with entrymate Bleu Darling. Misty Michelle grabbed fourth and was followed by Kaki's Storm, Cape Town Bride, Effie, Bleu Darling, Shezacrazylilsis, Coteau Kitten and Tensas Salt.

Bred by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and New, Izzie's Gold easily captured her

career bow at Evangeline Downs in June. After recording a fourth and a third in

her next two starts, the bay miss finished fourth in the November 19 Louisiana

Jewel Stakes. The daughter of E Dubai has now earned $88,476 from a 5-2-0-1

line. Izzie's Gold is out of the multiple stakes-placed Yes It's True mare Yes

It's Gold.

Amanecer de Oro (inside) finished up full of run in the Sprint (Alexander Barkoff/Hodges Photography) Amanecer de Oro produced the second major upset of the afternoon when capturing the $100,000 Sprint Stakes at 31-1 odds. Trained by Steven Duke and ridden by John Jacinto, the three-year-old colt raced in second before being asked for his best at the top of the stretch and surged past pacesetter Bold Recruit en route to the one-length victory. "He broke so well," Jacinto explained. "My trainer told me to be a little behind the speed. But the way the race set up, looked like it was perfect. He was in the stalking position and relaxed. That is all I was asking for. He went on, you know?" The winner captured the A.L. (Red) Erwin Stakes on the turf earlier two starts previously but was unplaced in his last two dirt starts.

"He's done everything we asked

him to do since we had him," Duke said. "He's been his own worst enemy by going fast early so

today I reminded John to try to set him behind a horse or two and don't fight

him."

The change in tactics resulted in a $64.20 win payout for Amanecer de Oro's

supporters. The Northpointe Thoroughbreds colorbearer completed six furlongs in

1:10 3/5.

Southern Dude finished two lengths behind runner-up Bold Recruit and was

followed by My Star Runner, Chief Jay, Su Casa G Casa, Unitas, Pantara Phantom

and Ollie Baby.

By Afternoon Deelites, Amanecer de Oro is out of the stakes-placed Dynamic

Broad, a sister to Grade 2 winners Stellar Brush and Star Minister. The Broad

Brush mare is also responsible for Louisiana-bred stakes winner Dynamic Time.

Speedacious surged clear in deep stretch (Lynn Roberts/Hodges Photography) Carl R. Moore Management's Speedacious wore down pacesetter Little Polka Dot in midstretch and edged clear late to a 1 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Ladies Sprint Stakes. Miguel Mena had the mount on the Bret Calhoun-trained winner, who notched her fifth stakes win when finishing six furlongs in 1:10 3/5. She paid $6.80 to win as the near 5-2 second choice among seven foes. Little Polka Dot was 9 1/2 lengths clear of U Belong to Me in third. Cherry Forever, Scarlet Tribute and Ms Hard Cat came next under the wire. Daphne Angel was pulled up and vanned off, and Cherub Heart scratched. "This is a nice filly. We had a good trip," Mena said. "A couple of horses went for the lead. We sat right off and she kind of likes the outside. When I asked her she took off and she won easy.

"I was pretty confident. I just wanted to make sure to be on the outside because

she doesn't like the inside and she was doing good."

Winner of the 2009 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes, Speedacious also

captured the Happy Ticket Stakes earlier this season at Fair Grounds. With

Saturday's $60,000 payday, the four-year-old bay daughter of Yankee Gentleman

improved her record to 17-7-2-4, $383,150. She is out of the unraced Rahy mare

Blushing Trish and is a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed gelding Prince

Benjamin.

Get in Da House proved to be a punctual public's choice in the $50,000

Starter Handicap, the first Thoroughbred race on the Champions Day program,

recording a 1 1/2-length victory as the 3-5 favorite.

 Owned by

Robert Orth and trainer Wesley Hawley, the three-year-old gelding logged

a mile and 70 yards in 1:43 3/5 with Mena.