The performance of Accelerize at the Louisiana Stakes has turned heads, showcasing not only his talent but also the determination of his connections. On January 17 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, this lightly raced four-year-old, sired by Omaha Beach, stepped into the spotlight for several significant firsts in his career.
Racing under the banners of Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable, Accelerize participated in the Louisiana Stakes (G3), which was not only his inaugural outing of the season but also marked his debut in stakes racing and the longest distance he had tackled to date. He swiftly claimed the lead and took an inside position from the get-go. Even though he set fast pace fractions, he showed remarkable resilience when challenged by the race favorite, Just a Touch, in the final stretch, ultimately clinching a thrilling neck victory in a demanding 1 1/16-mile race designed for older horses.
With Flavien Prat in the saddle, Accelerize clocked a quarter-mile in an impressive 23.93 seconds and the half-mile in 47.14 seconds, all while being pressured by longshot Tarantino. Despite starting off in fourth place, Just a Touch—who was sent off as the 4-5 favorite and is a grade 1-placed son of Justify—moved wide through the backstretch and the far turn. He briefly took the lead in the early stretch, yet Accelerize wasn't finished; he regrouped and surged forward, finishing the race in a swift 1:43.43 on a fast track.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, this victory in the Louisiana Stakes marked a milestone as it was his first win in this event, preventing Brad Cox—from whom Just a Touch was trained—from achieving his sixth win since 2019.
In other notable races earlier on the card, veteran Kupuna celebrated his first stakes victory since 2024 with a strong performance, rallying from ninth place to secure a 1 1/4-length win over the 3-2 favorite, Lagynos, in the $100,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley Stakes. Having previously finished second in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes on the same course and distance, Kupuna made quite an impression in his seasonal debut, completing the race in 1:42.37 under the guidance of Luis Saez. He is trained by Norm Casse for Flying P Stable.
Additionally, Medoro, a two-time grade 1-placed horse, successfully made the trip to New Orleans and emerged victorious in the $100,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes. Under trainer Peter Eurton and rider Jose Ortiz, the five-year-old daughter of Honor Code rallied from an early fifth position to win by three-quarters of a length, finishing the 1 1/16-mile race for older fillies and mares in a time of 1:42.17.
Lastly, Usually Wrong, who had previously captured two stakes races at Lone Star Park last year, kicked off 2026 with a record-setting performance in the $100,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes. A homebred belonging to BG Stables and Selman Shaby, this five-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky took an early lead and extended it down the stretch, winning by 2 3/4 lengths. Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Usually Wrong completed the 5 1/2-furlong race for older horses in a remarkable course record time of 1:01.63 with Isaac Castillo aboard.
