Star Guitar wins second LA Champions Day Classic

Two-time Louisiana state-bred Champion Star Guitar won his fourth Louisiana Champions Day race when he successfully defended his 2009 victory in the Classic with an easy victory on Saturday at Fair Grounds, becoming a millionaire in the process.

The five-year-old son of Quiet American led out of the gate, then settled into third for the first six furlongs of the one and one-eighth miles event. He took command on the turn, and drew away to win by four lengths under a hand ride from Robby Albarado.

Al Stall, Jr has trained Star Guitar for owners Brittlyn Stable, who bred their Graded Stakes-placed horse in partnership with M. Benoit and E. Benoit. Star Guitar has now won 15 of 21 races, only finishing off the board four times in his career. Among his 13 stakes wins are victories in the 2007 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile and the 2008 Sprint, and back-to-back victories in the Premier Night Championship Stakes at Delta Downs in 2009 and 2010.

HRTV commentator Aaron Vercruysse said of Star Guitar that he is “one of those horses that is so dependable. He shows up, tries every time, and is a thoroughly genuine racehorse.”

Star Guitar was produced by Stakes winner Minit Towinit, by Malagra, who has also produced Stakes winners Grand Minit and Favorite Minit.

Quiet American is the sire of near-Triple Crown winner Real Quiet and champion Hidden Lake, among his 49 Stakes winners. As the sire of multiple Stakes winner Cara Rafaela, he is also the broodmare sire of fellow Darley stallion Bernardini.