Touchuponastar stays the king of New Orleans.
The twin Louisiana-bred Horse of the 12 months—who defeated 2024 Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1) winner Sierra Leone , amongst others, within the 2025 New Orleans Basic Stakes (G2)—repeated within the $465,000 race March 21 at Truthful Grounds Race Course & Slots. Main all through, Touchuponastar outlasted a hard-charging Company Energy by a half-length, setting a monitor document for 1 1/8 miles, timed in 1:46.84 on a quick monitor.Touchuponastar, b, 7/g
Star Guitar — Contact Magic, by Lion Coronary heart
Proprietor: Set-Hut, LLC (Jake C. Delhomme)
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms, LLC (LA)
Coach: Jeff Delhomme
Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza, Jr.
Info supplied by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Star Guitar stands at Clear Creek Stud, LLC for $7,500 (2026).
Sale Historical past
TEXAUG2020 • $15,000 • Consignor: Eaton Gross sales • Purchaser: Set-Hut / Jake Delhomme.
Lagynos, ch, 5/h
Kantharos — Steamy, by Speightstown
Proprietor: HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud
Breeder: Robert Spiegel (KY)
Coach: Steven M. Asmussen
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Info supplied by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Kantharos stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms for $10,000 (2026).
Sale Historical past
KEESEP2022 • $200,000 • Consignor: Valkyre Stud • Purchaser: Chad Schumer, agent.
His time was greater than a second sooner than his 1:48.10 clocking a yr earlier and eclipsed Nates Mineshaft ‘s monitor commonplace of 1:47.64 when he took the 2012 New Orleans Basic, then run as a handicap.
Going through different pace in Saturday’s race—in distinction to final yr’s race when he was the lone front-runner—Touchuponastar wanted to set a quick tempo, establishing fractions of :22.77, :46.40, and 1:09.96, although he all the time gave the impression to be touring comfortably for jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr. Pedroza, subbing for an injured Timmy Thornton, Touchuponastar’s common rider, then turned his mount free in early stretch, placing apart a bid from Life and Occasions , who would retreat to be a distant third.
Runner-up Company Energy obtained near Touchuponastar late, reducing into the winner’s 3-length midstretch lead, however he fell a minimum of just a few strides wanting catching Touchuponastar.Join BloodHorse Each day
Pedroza referred to as Touchuponastar “a pleasure to journey.”
The winner, a 7-year-old bay gelding by Star Guitar bred by Coteau Grove Farms in Louisiana out of the Lion Coronary heart mare Contact Magic , received for the twenty first time in 28 begins. A $15,000 buy by his proprietor, Jake Delhomme of Set-Hut, Touchuponastar now has earnings of $2.06 million. His brother, Jeff, trains the horse.
Touchuponastar, who returned $4.40 to win as the favourite in a discipline of 5, obtained applause from followers after a winner’s circle presentation.
“And he has a giant following, and truthfully, it is a huge accountability on our half as a result of we need to ensure when he is able to run each time he comes (out), and he makes our job fairly straightforward,” mentioned Jake Delhomme, a retired NFL quarterback.
Video: New Orleans Basic S. Introduced by Hagyard (G2)
Lagynos Additionally Turns into a MultiMillionaire in Taking Muniz Memorial Basic
A race later, Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s Lagynos additionally surpassed $2 million in earnings in capturing the $294,000 Muniz Memorial Basic Stakes (G2T), probably the most prestigious grass race at Truthful Grounds.
Sitting a candy journey below Jose Ortiz, Lagynos stalked the leaders earlier than angling out to separate horses on the head of the lane en path to outfinishing the opposition. Lagynos defeated runner-up Tom’s Magic by a size, with Program Buying and selling settling for the present.
The winner was timed in 1:48.17 for 1 1/8 miles on agency turf, closing from a few lengths behind fractions of :23.53, :48:33, and 1:12.37 set by Idratherbeblessed , who weakened to complete final within the seven-horse discipline. Favored Lagynos returned $5.20 to win for a $2 win wager.
“He all the time exhibits up,” Ortiz mentioned after notching his fifth victory of the afternoon.
Lagynos, a chestnut 5-year-old son of Kantharos bred by Robert Spiegel out of the Speightstown mare Steamy , received for the seventh time in 25 begins and repeated within the graded ranks after taking the Truthful Grounds Stakes (G3T) final month.
“I do consider, together with his final two wins, he is discovered a brand new stage of confidence,” Corridor of Fame coach Steve Asmussen mentioned.
Video: Muniz Memorial Basic S. Introduced by Horse Racing Nation (G2T)