Touchuponastar smashes track record in New Orleans Classic

Fair Grounds Race Course has been in existence for more than a century and a half. On Saturday, the Louisiana-bred Touchuponastar ran 1 1/8 miles over the New Orleans strip faster than any horse has, and by a significant margin.

Favored at 6-5 to defend his title in the $465,000 New Orleans Classic (G2), Touchuponastar did so, but it got tight at the very end, After building up a three-length lead with an eighth to go, Touchuponastar held on by only a half-length over Corporate Power after setting a strong pace.

Under Marcelino Pedroza, Touchuponastar reeled off fractions of :22.77, :46.40, and 1:09.96. He finished up in 1:46.84 over a fast track, demolishing the previous track mark of 1:47.64 set by Nates Mineshaft in winning the 2012 edition of the race.

Touchuponastar also became the fourth horse to win two editions of the New Orleans Classic, previously known as the New Orleans Handicap. The others were Marriage (1943-44), Tenacious (1958-59), and Honor Medal (1987-88).

Owned by Set-Hut and trained by Jeff Delhomme, Touchuponastar paid $4.40. Corporate Power finished 5 1/4 lengths ahead of Life and Times, while the strung-out field was completed by Not This Boy and Westwood.

A gelded son of Star Guitar, Touchuponastar has now earned more than $2 million. He's won 21 of 28 starts, 18 of which have been stakes. A Fair Grounds legend going into Saturday, he's even more of one now.

Lagynos confirmed himself as the best turf horse of the Fair Grounds racing season with a one-length triumph in the $294,000 Muniz Memorial Classic (G2).

Sent off as the 8-5 choice following a 2 1/4-length triumph in the Fair Grounds (G3), Lagynos won going away under Jose Ortiz. Second was Tom's Magic, who had one length on Program Trading. Chasing the Crown, Montador, Faber, and Idratherbeblessed completed the order of finish.

Owned by Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud and trained by Steve Asmussen, Lagynos paid $5.20. He completed nine furlongs on firm turf in 1:48.17.

A five-year-old by Kantharos, Lagynos has won seven of 25 starts, including five stakes. He might next see action in the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day.

In the first open stakes of the card, Way to Be Marie surged late to successfully defend her title in the $100,000 Tom Benson Memorial, a 1 1/16-mile grass test for fillies and mares.

The 11-10 favorite while making her first start for Twin Oaks Bloodstock, which bought her for $750,000 at the Keeneland January sale, Way to Be Marie denied long-time leader Sophie's Cruiser by a neck. Second choice Ready for Shirl was a half-length behind in third.

Trained by Eddie Kenneally, and ridden by Luis Saez, Way to Be Marie covered the course in 1:41.78 and paid $4.20. A five-year-old daughter of Not This Time, Way to Be Marie has now won four of 16 starts, all of which have occurred over the Fair Grounds turf.