Saturday, Dec. 9, will mark the 33rd edition of Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Beginning in 1991, the annual event has gathered the top horses, owners, jockeys, and trainers from across the state, who come together to showcase horses bred in Louisiana. This event has become the highlight of Louisiana-bred racing as the best runners in the state compete for nearly $1 million in purse money.
"It's the biggest day of Louisiana-bred championship racing with some of the most exciting Thoroughbred racing of the year," said Roger Heitzmann, secretary/treasurer for the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. "These championship races often help decide our Horse of the Year standings by our members. The entries are top Louisiana-bred racehorses, and there are sure to be some thrilling finishes."
There are nine championship races slated this year, headed by the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes, which drew a field of six and will be contested at 1 1/8 miles over the main track. The 3-5 morning line favorite is the Jeff Delhomme-trained Touchuponastar, the 2022 Classic defending champion. The Star Guitar 4-year-old gelding, bred by Coteau Grove Farms, is 5-for-6 this year with one second, and 9-2-1 from 12 lifetime starts with earnings of $528,100. The Set-Hut-owned gelding has won eight of his last nine starts, losing only in the Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) May 29 at Lone Star Park.
Amerman Racing's Tumbarumba looks like the potential top threat to upset Touchuponastar. The Oscar Performance gelding comes off a blanket third-place finish, beaten only a head, in the Sept. 24 Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington Park.
The complete Louisiana Champions stakes program with estimated post times (all times ET):
Race 1: Champions Day Ladies Starter Stakes: Purse: $50,000; 1 p.m.
Race 3: Champions Day Starter Stakes: Purse $50,000; 2 p.m.
Race 5: Champions Day Classic Stakes: Purse $150,000; 3 p.m.
Race 7: Champions Day Juvenile Stakes: Purse $100,000; 4 p.m.
Race 8: Champions Day Turf Stakes: Purse $100,000; 4:30 p.m.
Race 9: Champions Day Ladies Distaff Stakes: Purse $100,000; 5 p.m.
Race 10: Champions Day Ladies Sprint Stakes: Purse $100,000; 5:30 p.m.
Race 11: Champions Day Lassie Stakes: Purse $100,000; 6 p.m.
Race 12: Champions Day Sprint Stakes: Purse $100,000; 6:30 p.m.
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, December 9, 2023, Race 5Entries: Louisiana Champions Day Classic S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Touchuponastar (LA) Timothy Thornton 124 Jeff Delhomme 3/5 2 2Behemah Star (LA) Jose Andres Guerrero 118 Shane Wilson 8/1 3 3Bayou Jam (LA) C.J. McMahon 118 Jonah Fuselier 30/1 4 4Tumbarumba (LA) Florent Geroux 121 Brian A. Lynch 2/1 5 5Cosmic Train (LA) Gerard Melancon 120 Jerry Delhomme 20/1 6 6Mangum (LA) Corey J. Lanerie 121 Jeff Delhomme 6/1
