Star Guitar bids for third success on LA Champions Day

Star Guitar has won 10 of 13 career starts (Lou Hodges Jr./Fair Grounds) Eight-time stakes hero STAR GUITAR (Quiet American) has starred on the past two editions of the Louisiana Champions Day program, and in Saturday’s renewal, he will attempt to win his third different race during the state-bred party at Fair Grounds. Successful in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile S. in 2007, the Al Stall Jr. charge captured the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint S. in 2008, and this time, the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic S. is his aim. Star Guitar has been virtually unbeatable against his fellow Pelican State natives, compiling a nine-for-10 mark in those ranks. The four-year-old bay hasn’t done badly in open company either. Third in the Alysheba S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day, he defeated open rivals in the Evangeline Mile H. two back. Star Guitar extended his current winning streak to four in the Delta Gold Cup S. versus state-breds last out, and keeps Curt Bourque in the saddle here. For those who may be looking for a way to oppose the likely heavy favorite, and 124-pound highweight, the one question mark could be the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Classic. Star Guitar threw in the only unplaced effort of his career in the New Orleans H. (G2) in his lone try at the trip. That was a much stiffer test than he’ll face in the Classic, however, and Star Guitar looms as the overwhelming class of the short field.

Of his five opponents, four have already succumbed to Star Guitar in the past
— IDE LIKE A DOUBLE (Ide); TAKIN’ THE BULLET (Red Bullet); STAR PRODUCTION (Run
Production), who was just worn down in last year’s Classic; and ironically, Star
Guitar’s own half-brother, GRAND MINIT (Grand Slam). The new shooter is BREAK UP
(Sunday Break [Jpn]), the winner of the 2008 Champions Day Juvenile who has
captured a pair of stakes over other three-year-olds this season.

The Classic is the richest prize on the 12-race card, which features eight
Thoroughbred stakes and three stakes for Quarter Horses. Each of the remaining
stakes is worth $100,000, except for the $50,000
Louisiana Champions
Day Starter H. that kicks off the Thoroughbred stakes action.

SUPERIOR STORM (Stormy Atlantic) is back to defend her title in the 1
1/16-mile

Louisiana Champions Day Ladies S. Like Star Guitar, she is also seeking a
Champions Day hat trick, having garnered the Lassie S. in 2007. Superior Storm
has beefed up her resume since last year, finishing second in both the Apple
Blossom H. (G1) and Ouija Board Distaff H. (G3), while capturing three more
state-bred stakes. Among her seven rivals are MISS BEAN WAH (Afternoon Deelites),
who came within a head of upsetting her in the Louisiana Cup Distaff S. two
back, and stakes veteran HISSE (Buddha) from the Steve Asmussen barn.

DESERT WHEAT (Wheaton), hero of the

Louisiana Champions Day Turf S. in 2006, will tackle the about 1 1/16-mile
test for the fourth straight year. The Bill Mott trainee finished third in 2007
and was just overhauled by WILDRALLY (Wild Event) here last year. Wildrally will
be making his third consecutive appearance in the Turf, having placed second in
2007 before going one better in 2008. To continue his sterling record in this
race, he must improve off his uncharacteristic seventh behind Desert Wheat in
the Mr. Sulu S., the local prep. Also worth a look are the respective second and
third from the Mr. Sulu, NOWANDFOREVERMORE (Sky Classic) and LEE’S SPIRIT (Leestown).
The Turf has drawn a field of 10, including Ide Like a Double, who is
cross-entered to the Turf and Classic.

The
Louisiana Champions Day Sprint S. features a couple of past runners-up —
TORTUGA STRAITS (Gold Tribute), second in 2007, and MR. BARRACUDA (Rubiano), who
chased Star Guitar last year. Neither enters the six-furlong scramble in
particularly sharp form, opening the door for impressive stakes debutant FLASHY
WISE CAT (Catastrophe), who dominated POWER SURGE (Holzmeister) in his allowance
prep last time out for Troy Young. Other intriguing types in the 12-horse field
are the Tom Amoss-trained MR. PORTER (Road Rush) and CHIEF JAY (Ile St. Louis)
off the bench for Sam Breaux.

Sophomores appear to hold a strong hand in the

Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint S., which has attracted 11 distaffers.
MASTER LINK (Dance Master), queen of the 2008 Champions Day Lassie S. at this
track and trip, has maintained her form well this campaign for Morris Nicks. A
badly hampered third to YARE (Time Bandit) in her allowance tune-up, Master Link
is eligible to turn the tables with a clean trip. SEVEN SEVENTYTHREE (Littlexpectations),
the beaten favorite in last year’s Lassie, has improved since joining Asmussen
in March and could relish dropping back to six furlongs. CAJUN CONFERENCE (Gold
Tribute) romped in an allowance last time out, and if the Eric Guillot pupil can
repeat that effort on two weeks’ rest, she would rate as a prime contender. Of
the older brigade, CARMEL COFFEE (Holy Bull) merits respect off her runner-up
effort to Grade 3 veteran Victorina (Delaware Township) in the Harvest S. at
Fresno two back.

Thirteen are set to clash in the six-furlong
Louisiana
Champions Day Juvenile S., with top contenders including Louisiana Stallion
S. romper RED RALLY (Reformer Rally), the uncoupled Stall duo of MR. WILDLEE
(Wildcat Shoes) and CAN’T COMPLAIN (Leestown), Asmussen’s HEAVENVILLE (Offlee
Wild), and recent allowance winner JAYS WILDCAT (Wildcat Shoes).

The companion race for juvenile fillies, the

Louisiana Champions Day Lassie S., has drawn a field of 12. Unbeaten
Louisiana Jewel S. heroine SHEZACRAZYGIRL (Ide) will make her first start for
Stall in the six-furlong affair, where she will renew rivalry with Jewel third
SCARLET TRIBUTE (Gold Tribute) and fourth HAPPYFROMTHEGITGO (Easyfromthegitgo).
SHEZA SEXY A. P. (A. P. Delta) comes off a driving allowance score for Wes
Hawley, while the Bret Calhoun-trained SPEEDACIOUS (Yankee Gentleman) steps up
off a 6 3/4-length maiden victory.