Racing for Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable in the Louisiana Stakes (G3) Saturday, marking just his fourth career start, Accelerize made his season debut, his stakes debut and the longest start of his career. He secured the lead and inside position early on, and despite posting fast fractions he proved to be tested when challenged by the race favorite Just a touch on his way to a neck victory in the 1 1/16 mile class for older horses.
With Flavien Prat at the top, Accelerize completed a quarter mile in:23.93 and a half mile in:47.14, while challenged by a long shot Tarantino . Just a Touch, sent off at 4-5, raced fourth but wide through the backstretch and into the far turn. Yet Just a Touch, a 1st placed son of To justify continued its rally and briefly took the lead early in the stretch. But Accelerize still had something left, regrouped and drove to the line, completing the race in 1:43.43 on the fast track.
Accelerize is trained by Todd Pletcher, who first broadcast a winner in Louisiana; Just a Touch trainer Brad Cox denies him his sixth victory in the race since 2019.
Video: Louisiana S. Presented by Hagyard (G3)
- Previously on the card veteran Grandma achieved his first victory since 2024 when the 7-year-old son of Hard spun rallied from ninth to post a 1 1/4 length victory over the 3-2 favorite Lagynos in the $100,000 Colonel E.R. Bradley Stakes.
Kupuna finished second in the December 20 Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes on the same course and distance. In his season debut on Saturday, Kupuna completed the race in 1:42.37 under Luis Saez on firm grass. Kupuna was trained by Norm Casse for Flying P Stable.
- Medoro a two-time 1-placed winner in the 3rd class in Southern California, successfully shipped to New Orleans, where he went from an early fifth place to a three-quarter victory in the $100,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes.
Trained by Peter Eurton and with Jose Ortiz, the 5-year-old daughter of Code of honor completed the 1 1/16 mile test for older fillies and mares in 1:42.17 on firm grass.
- Usually wrong who captured a few stakes last year while sprinting on the grass Lonely star parkopened 2026 with a record victory in the $100,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes. A private breeder of BG Stables and Selman Shaby, the 5-year-old son of Watching Lucky seized the early advantage and pulled away down the stretch to score by 2 3/4 lengths.
Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Usually Wrong completed the 5 1/2-furlong trial for older horses in a course record of 1:01.63 on the firm surface. Isaac Castillo was awake.
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