First Look: Touchuponastar seeks repeat at Fair Grounds

December racing often flies under the radar, but Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds gives horseplayers a reason to pay attention this Saturday. The annual showcase of Bayou State talent anchors a weekend that stretches from the West Coast juvenile scene at Los Alamitos to synthetic action at Turfway Park.

Touchuponastar headlines the Louisiana Champions Day Classic looking to defend his 2024 title. The 6-year-old has been nearly perfect this year, with his only loss coming in the Grade 3 Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park. Trainer Jeff Delhomme brings back a horse who has won five of six starts in 2025 and looks primed to make it back-to-back titles in the $150,000 feature.

With juvenile stakes and Derby hopefuls emerging across multiple tracks, Saturday gives handicappers plenty to dig into before the racing calendar slows for the holidays.

Saturday

Louisiana Champions Day Classic, Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up

Touchuponastar returns to defend his title after dominating Louisiana-bred competition in 2025, winning five of six starts including the New Orleans Classic (G2) and back-to-back stakes at Delta Downs. The 6-year-old son of Star Guitar posted a career-best 109 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form, when cruising to a 10-length score in the Delta Mile on Nov. 8. His lone defeat in 2025 came in the Sexton Mile (G3) at Lone Star Park.

Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile, Fair Grounds, 6 furlongs, 2-year-olds

A 9 1/2-length maiden score Nov. 14 at Delta Downs highlighted Scar Ship's recent form, as the Midshipman colt posted a 67 Beyer Speed Figure. The homebred had ventured into stakes company before breaking through, finishing sixth in the Louisiana Legacy Stakes Nov. 1 after debuting with a runner-up effort Oct. 11.

Louisiana Champions Day Lassie, Fair Grounds, 6 furlongs, fillies, 2-year-olds

Little Miss Curlin captured her Oct. 22 debut by 4 1/4 lengths in a maiden special weight at Delta Downs, then stepped up to stakes company and won the Donovan Ferguson Memorial by five lengths at Fair Grounds on Nov. 21. The Charlatan filly earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure in her stakes victory for trainer Patrick Devereux Jr.

Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), Los Alamitos, 1 1/16 miles, 2-year-olds

Buetane flashed early promise when the $1.15 million OBS April purchase romped by 3 1/2 lengths in his Aug. 3 debut at Del Mar for trainer Bob Baffert. The Tiz the Law colt tested Grade 1 waters Sept. 1 in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and finished a clear second, 8 1/2 lengths behind dominant winner Ted Noffey.

Prairie Bayou, Turfway Park, 1 1/16 miles, synthetic, 3-year-olds and up

Cameo Performance finished third in the Autumn Stakes (G3) at Woodbine on Nov. 8. The 4-year-old, conditioned by Brendan Walsh, was beaten 1 3/4 lengths and earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. He also placed third in the Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds on March 22 and the Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 28.