Star Guitar won the Louisiana Premier Night Championship for the fourth consecutive time, rallying from last early to capture the $200,000 event by 3 1/4 lengths on the night of Feb. 4 at Delta Downs (VIDEO).
With the $120,000 winner's share, Brittlyn Stable's homebred 7-year-old moved ever closer to becoming the all-time leading Louisiana-bred money earner with $1,635,862. Happy Ticket leads with $1,688,838.
Star Guitar, trained by Al Stall Jr., won for the 22nd time in 28 lifetime starts as the 3-5 favorite in the field of 10. He completed the 1 1/16-mile test in 1:45.61 on a muddy and sealed track.
Under jockey Corey Lanerie, Star Guitar was taken to the back of the field before launching a sustained rally going into the far turn. When he reached the top of the homestretch, Star Guitar had leaders Classic Cascade and Populist Politics in his sights. The bay son of Quiet American found his best stride late to sweep past in the final furlong.
Classic Cascade, a 60-1 outsider, stayed for second with Richard Eramia aboard, finishing one length ahead of Populist Politics and James Graham.
"Star," as he's known locally, races for Evelyn and Maurice Benoit, who bred him. He is out of the Malagra mare Minit Towinit.
Star Guitar returned $3.20, $2.20, and $2.10. Classic Cascade paid $26.40 and $9.40 while completing a $78.20 exacta. Populist Politics was worth $2.60 to show.
In other action on Louisiana Premier Night for state-breds, Russell Welch’s homebred Warrior Maid ($14.80) took the $150,000 Distaff with jockey Eddie Martin Jr. in the saddle for trainer Eric Heitzmann. The 6-year-old daughter of Holy Bull led at every call to defeat 3-2 favorite Lawyer Tiffany by three-quarters of a length in the one-mile test for older fillies and mares.
The $125,000 Starlet for 3-year-old fillies was taken by Coteau Grove Farms’ favored Little Ms Protocol with jockey Diego Saenz up. Little Ms Protocol ($6), a homebred daughter of El Corredor, is trained by Patrick Devereux Jr. She defeated second choice Bleu Darling by a neck in the seven-furlong event.
Cajun Charlie ($10), guided by Tracy Hebert, led all the way to capture the $125,000 Prince for 3-year-olds by 6 1/2 lengths for owner Heartlines Horse Ranch and trainer Brian House. The Afternoon Deelites gelding was bred by Pete Barta.
Thomas Galvin’s Su Casa G Casa scored a win in the $100,000 Sprint at five furlongs with jockey Miguel Mena in the saddle for trainer W. Bret Calhoun. Mena won four consecutive stakes races on the Louisiana Premier Night program and Calhoun saddled a pair. Su Casa G Casa ($15), by During, was bred by Dennis Ray Bryant and Mike Brossett.
Mena was also aboard odds-on choice Speedacious, who won the $100,000 Matron for the second year in a row for Calhoun. Speedacious ($3.40), a 5-year-old mare by Yankee Gentleman , won by five lengths. She is owned by Carl R. Moore Management and was bred by Elm Tree Farm.