Star Guitar won the Louisiana Champions Day Classic for the third consecutive time at Fair Grounds
The 6-year-old Albert M. Stall Jr. trained, Star Guitar, captured a record fifth successive win on Louisiana Champions Day and his third consecutive $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic title on 10 December, 2011, against four other opponents at about
1 1/8 mile over the dirt course of Fair Grounds race course and slots.
The Louisiana bred son of Quiet American, out of mare Minit Towinit by Malagra, Star Guitar visited the winner’s circle in his 21st trip out of 26 career races. The 6-year-old horse loves the Fair Grounds race course where he has now won 9 races
out of 11 starts.
Yet to lose a race in 2011, Star Guitar before the LA Champions Day Classic was looking to stay perfect in six starts this season as he was sent off with 3 to 5 odds under jockey Corey Lanerie.
"Corey’s riding so confidently right now, that was like one of his Churchill rides where everything’s moving in slow motion for him, literally, and he didn’t even budge until, like, the three-sixteenths (pole)," Stall said. "He made sure he kept Populist
Politics tucked in there, and that was it.
Star Guitar’s only threat from getting the title for the third consecutive time was, Populist Politics, who was coming off a win in a restricted Fair Grounds Stakes on 24 November, 2011, was sent off as 11 to 10.
It was Break Up, who gained the early advantage by breaking sharply and assuming the lead from Heavenville, as Star Guitar was next in line keeping close tabs at the leader in second place.
With Star Guitar dwelling just a length off the leader, Populist Politics at the same point was settled in fourth for James Graham.
Leaving the quarter pole, Star Guitar was cut lose to challenge the leader as Populist Politics switched to the outside entering the stretch for the final decisive drive.
It was a threatening run, but Star Guitar had it all covered once he head front at the eighth pole from where he cruised home to win the race in 1 minute and 53.15 seconds while Populist Politics settled in second and Break Up in third.
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