December 15, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Building an Empire
If the name ‘Sacrosanct’ is too hard to pronounce, just call him ‘perfect’ instead.
It got a little dicey towards the end, but the 2-year-old colt kept his slash-line unblemished through four career starts with a narrow victory over 17-1 rival National Identity in Saturday’s $500,000 New York Stallion Series (Great White Way Division).
The head’s difference decision, which marked Sacrosanct’s third career stakes title, paid a modest $3.10.
Aqueduct’s NY Stallion Series continued immediately after with the $500,000 Fifth Avenue Division for 2-year-old fillies where Stone Smuggler reigned supreme.
The Jose Lezcano mount exercised great patience before sliding ahead for the 1 ¾-length triumph. The upstart youngster’s second career tally (4: 2-1-1) paid a smooth $7.80.
Build the Statue
At this point, the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic should be renamed the ‘Touchuponastar Classic.’
The dynamic 5-year-old gelding captured his third consecutive edition of the 1 1/8-mile affair in grand fashion on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Running in front of the home crowd, the Louisiana-bred looked like the legendary 2019 LSU Tigers with an authoritative 5 ¼-length gate-to-wire score.
In completing the three-peat, Touchuponastar joined his father Star Guitar, who achieved the same feat from 2009-2011.
The Jeff Delhomme trainee, who has yet to land outside the top three through 19 lifetime starts, also booked his place in the millionaire club with the win.
As the overwhelming 1-5 favorite, Touchuponastar paid a light $2.40.
A Winning Formula
There’s no exact science for winning a horse race, but Howard Wolowitz seems to have a reliable formula down pat.
The reigning $2 million Aristocrat Franklin-Simpson (G1) champion added another item to his already shiny resume on Saturday at Turfway Park in Florence, KY.
Closing as the 2-1 choice in the $250,000 Holiday Cheer, Howard Wolowitz got off to a slow start but rebounded in timely fashion to capture his second stakes trophy by 1 ½ lengths.
Good tidings were certainly brought for both horseplayers and his connections, who each benefitted from the spirited effort.
Howard Wolowitz paid $6.36.
Live from the Winner’s Circle
According to multiple reports, Journalism had the inside scoop on the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
Leaving the five-horse contest from the fifth post position, Journalism let the 1 1/6-mile contest develop before taking command down the stretch and never relinquishing for a confident 3 ½-length score.
The 2-year-old colt looked right at home in his graded stakes debut, which came in just his third lifetime start. Overall, the Michael McCarthy charge sports a 2-0-1 line to go with nearly $160,000 in earnings.
As the second choice on Saturday afternoon, Journalism paid $7.60.
Almost Fashionably Late
While it wasn’t the seamless strut down the catwalk that she planned for, Fashionably Fab still earned top honours in Saturday’s $100,000 La Prevoyante at Woodbine.
Edging the longest shot on the board (25-1 dart throw Fortyfiveseventy) by a nose likely was not part of the 1-5 favorite’s plan but a win’s a win no matter the margin.
The strenuous effort gave Fashionably Fab a much-needed trip back to the winner’s circle after an uncharacteristic fifth last time out in the Maple Leaf (G3).
Now standing at 10-0-3 across 17 starts, the Kevin Attard trainee’s latest conquest paid a light $2.70.
