Three-time Louisiana-Bred Horse of the Year Star Guitar is retiring from an outstanding racing career to enter stud at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, La. The son of Quiet American–Minit Towinit, by Malagra, earned $1,749,862 while winning 24 of 30 lifetime starts from ages 2 to 7, making him the top earning Louisiana-bred in history. He placed twice, including a third place finish in the Alysheba Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Star Guitar was voted Louisiana-bred champion five times. As a 2-year-old, he was Louisiana-bred champion juvenile colt or gelding. At ages 4 through 7 he was named Louisiana-bred older male and selected Louisiana-bred Horse of the Year in 2009, 2010, and 2011. He won his first stakes at 2, the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile, and won every major Louisiana-bred stakes race he entered, racking up 22 stakes wins. A stakes winner at ages 2 through 7, he set a new track record at Evangeline Downs in his final start going 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.71.
"Certainly we are honored and pleased to have Star Guitar retire to Clear Creek Stud after a lengthy and stellar career," said Val Murrell, manager of Clear Creek Stud. "This has been a serious racehorse for all in Louisiana to enjoy. (Owners) Maurice and Evelyn Benoit along with trainer Al Stall, Jr., and assistant Pam Fitzgerald, did an absolutely magnificent job managing the horse's career. I think Evelyn and Maurice have decided that it's time to give Star Guitar his shot in the breeding shed and we are all excited about those prospects and a bright future.
"He is grand looking—has been phenomenal to watch, sometimes making things look easy, sometimes showing absolute true grit like being headed early in the recent Louisiana Legends Night Classic at Evangeline Downs, and basically re-breaking at mid-stretch to go on and win by three-quarters of a length in a new track record time," Murrell said.