Off-Track Betting: Louisiana Championship Day

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Off-Track Betting and Odds

Louisiana Champions Day Showcases Elite State-Bred Talent

Louisiana Champions Day returns to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Dec. 14, spotlighting the state’s finest thoroughbreds across an exciting lineup of stakes races. With purses totaling $1 million across the card, this event celebrates the best Louisiana-bred horses and offers off-track betting enthusiasts a wealth of opportunities.

Touchuponastar Eyes Historic Victory

The marquee race of the day, the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes, features Set-Hut’s 5-year-old gelding Touchuponastar aiming for a third consecutive victory in this prestigious event. A win would solidify his place in Louisiana racing history and push his career earnings past the $1 million mark. 

Trained by Jeff Delhomme, the son of Star Guitar has dominated the state-bred competition, winning 11 of 13 restricted races, including eight stakes victories.

Despite two recent losses in open stakes company, Touchuponastar remains a firm 3-5 morning-line favorite in the field of five. His main competition includes Delanie Calais Jr.’s Cosmic Train, who rallied for a narrow victory in the Jacob V. Morreale Memorial Stakes on Nov. 23, as well as Tdzshininluckystar, Benoit, and Allnight Moonlight. The Classic Stakes, run over 1 1/8 miles, kicks off at 1:45 p.m. CT as the third race on the card.

Free Like a Girl Chases Stakes Milestone

In the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint Stakes, two-time grade 1-placed mare Free Like a Girl seeks her 20th stakes victory. Trained by Chasey Deville Pomier, the 5-year-old daughter of El Deal has earned over $2 million across 21 wins in 45 starts. Her recent triumph in the Treasure Chest Stakes at Delta Downs highlighted her continued dominance in the state-bred ranks.

Free Like a Girl faces challengers Noneya, Freeburn, and Six String, the top finishers in the Delmar R. Caldwell Memorial Stakes last month. The six-furlong Ladies Sprint offers another chance for this Louisiana-bred legend to add to her impressive resume.

Juveniles and Turf Stars Highlight the Undercard

Valene Farms’ Smoken Wicked headlines the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. The grade 2-placed colt, trained by Dallas Stewart, has competed against top-tier national competition and now returns to the state-bred company for this six-furlong race. 

Meanwhile, in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes, undefeated filly Secret Faith looks to extend her perfect record to six wins. The Jayde Gelner-trained daughter of Aurelius Maximus has dominated her rivals by a combined 33 1/4 lengths in her five starts.

On the turf, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen sends out Eye of the Pharoah in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Turf Stakes. Unbeaten in three starts, the filly will face an entire field of 11 over about 1 1/16 miles. 

The boys will tackle the same distance in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf Stakes, with Woods N Water looking to improve under new trainer Samuel Breaux following a string of near-misses.

Sprinters Take Center Stage

In the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint Stakes, Bret Calhoun-trained Jack Hammer returns from a nine-month layoff as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. With multiple stakes wins already on his record, the talented sprinter looks to reclaim his best form in this competitive six-furlong test.