Star Guitar wins the Premier Night Championship at Delta Downs
Date: 02/04/2012
On Saturday, Delta Downs hosted Louisiana Premier Night, a series of 10 stakes races for Louisiana-breds with a total of $1 million in purses. Rains through the day and during the early part of the card rendered the track sloppy, with temperatures in the low 60's. The highlight race of the night was the $200,000 Premier Night Championship, for older horses going 1 1/16 miles. Star Guitar was sent off as the 3-5 favorite in the field of 10, going for his unprecedented fourth win in this event. In to challenge him included 7-2 Unitas and 9-2 Populist Politics. Jockey Diego Saenz sent Unitas to the lead and he set fractions of 22.87, 46.95, and 1:12.11 over the muddy, sealed surface while pressed by 66-1 longest shot Classic Cascade. Into the stretch, Classic Cascade took a short lead but Star Guitar, who was slowest early, closed with a rush on the outside to win going away by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:45.61. It was another length back to late-running Populist Politics third.
Full results chart
Star Guitar in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Al Stall Jr. (far left in photo) said, "I'm glad that's over with. He couldn't stand up on this racetrack He was struggling, but that's the difference between a horse that's made $1.5 million and a regular horse. It's just a good thing the horse was looking perfect and training perfect. He needed everything he had to get there tonight." Jockey Corey Lanerie added, "He stumbled a couple times, and I got a little worried down the backside he might not handle this track."
Warrior Maid wins the Premier Night Distaff at Delta Downs
Immediately before the Championship, a field of 10 older fillies and mares contested the $150,000 Premier Night Distaff at 1 mile. Jockey Eddie Martin Jr. sent 6-1 Warrior Maid to the front immediately and she set fractions of 22.63, 46.70, and 1:12.24 while as many as 3 lenths in front of 17-1 Lee City and 3-2 favorite Lawyer Tiffany. Lawyer Tiffany put in a late rally through the stretch but Warrior Maid held her off by 3/4 lengths for the win in 1:40.04. It was a long 6 1/2 lengths back to 9-1 Rileys Monarch third.
Warrior Maid was cross-entered in the Distaff and the Matron but trainer Eric Heitzmann kept the 6-year-old daughter of Holy Bull in the Distaff.
Cajun Charlie wins the Premer Night Prince Stakes
A full field of 10 Louisiana-bred three-year-olds sprinted 7 furlongs around two turns in the $125,000 Premier Night Prince Stakes. Jockey Tracy Hebert sent 4-1 second choice Cajun Charlie to an uncontested 3 length lead as he set fractions of 22.61, 47.07, and 1:12.64 with 7-1 Masculino stalking in second. Entering the stretch, 9-2 third choice Zip Motion, 5th early, rallied past tiring horses but Cajun Charlie was drawing away, finishing 6 1/2 lengths in front in 1:26.62 over the sealed sloppy track. It was another 2 lengths back to 15-1 Freddie One Bite third, while even money favorite and previously undefeated Beanwah'smachine showed no rally and checked in 8th beaten 17 1/4 lengths.
Cajun Charlie, a son of Afternoon Deelites, remains perfect at Delta Downs and improved his record to 3 wins, 1 second, and 0 thirds in 5 starts, earning $193,908 for owner Heartlines Horse Ranch and trainer Brian House.
Little Ms Protocol wins the Premier Night Starlet Stakes
The distaff counterpart to the Prince is the $125,000 Premier Night Starlet Stakes for three-year-old fillies also sprinting 7 furlongs. 3-1 Bleu Darling dueled for the lead with 6-1 Izzie's Gold through fractions of 22.57, 47.13, and 1:13.72. Izzie's Gold tired on the far turn, while 2-1 favorite Little Ms Protocol and jockey Diego Saenz, 8th early, circled the field entering the stretch. Little Ms Protocol closed with a rush to catch Bleu Darling by a neck in 1:27.80. It was a long 6 1/2 lengths back to 61-1 longest shot Lindomo third.
Speedalicious wins the Premier Night Matron Stakes
Second place finisher Little Polka Dot
The $100,000 Premier Night Matron Stakes featured older fillies and mares sprinting 5 furlongs around 1 turn. Why Wear Shoes and Adamandaustinsgirl dueled down the backstretch and around the turn through an opening quarter of 22.27, while stalked by 7-10 favorite Speedalicious. Entering he stretch the pacesetters tired as Speedalicious with jockey Miguel Mena took over the lead through a half in 46.52, and drew off to win by 5 lengths over 7-5 second choice Little Polka Dot in 58.19 seconds. It was a long 4 1/4 lengths back to 13-1 Esther Carl third.
Su Casa G Casa wins the Premier Night Sprint Stakes
A field of 9 older horses went to post in the $100,000 Premier Night Sprint also at 5 furlongs. 4-5 favorite Bold Recruit contested the pace with 6-1 Su Casa G Casa and jockey Miguel Mena through fractions of 22.21 and 45.87. In the final furlong, Bold Recruit tired allowing Su Casa G Casa to draw clear to a 2 length win over late-running 4-1 second choice Call in 58.35. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to favorite Bold Recruit third.
Get In Da House wins the Premier Night Gentlemen Starter Stakes
The $70,000 Premier Night Gentlemen Starter Stakes featured 10 older horses going 1 1/16 miles. 21-1 Oriza set an uncontested pace of 23.25, 47.29, and 1:12.39 before tiring. 1-2 favorite Get In Da House, 7th early, circled the field on the turn under jockey Miguel Mena and drew off to win by 5 1/2 lengths over 29-1 Dorsey's Dream in 1:46.16. It wass another length back to 8-1 Willist third. Dorsey's Dream was disqualified out of the money due to interference in mid-stretch.
Nana Knows winner of the Premier Night Ladies Starter Stakes
The distaff counterpart to the Gentlemen Starter is the $70,000 Premier Night Ladies Starter Stakes, with 10 older fillies and mares also going 1 1/16 miles. 14-1 Anna Jane's Crane contested the lead with 7-1 See the Stream through fractions of 23.22, 47.43, and 1:13.32. 4-1 Nana Knows, 6th early, closed on the outside under jockey Miguel Mena and outfinished See the Stream by a head in 1:41.12. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to 2-1 favorite Moon Larry third.
Sweet Little Sleet wins the Premier Night Bon Temps Starter Stakes
The first stakes race on Saturday was the $55,000 Premier Night Bon Temps Starter Stakes for older fillies and mares sprinting 5 furlongs. 12-2 Ruston Kitty battled on the pace with 9-1 Feefiebobanna through a quarter in 21.93. Ruston Kitty opened up a 2 length lead mid-stretch through a half in 45.94, but 12-10 favorite Sweet Little Sleet, 6th early, closed late to pass her at the 1/16 pole under jockey C.J. McMahon for a 1 3/4 length win in 59.38. It was another 3/4 length back to 29-1 La Belle Te Fille third.
Redhotrush wins the Premier Night Ragin Cajun Starter Stakes
The Saturday nightcap at Delta Downs was the $55,000 Premier Night Ragin Cajun Starter Stakes for older horses sprinting 5 furlongs. 5-2 favorite Redhotrush and jockey C.J. McMahon battled with 10-1 Huffs Hunter with jockey Carlos Lozada. In deep stretch, Redhotrush surged ahead to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 58.34. It was just a neck back to late-running 9-2 Brendyn Jo third.
