Get ready to witness history in the making! A lightly raced 4-year-old just pulled off a stunning upset in the Louisiana Stakes, leaving fans and experts alike in awe. But here's where it gets even more fascinating: Accelerize, a son of Omaha Beach, wasn’t just making his stakes debut—he was also kicking off his 2026 season and tackling the longest race of his young career. Talk about a trial by fire! Racing for Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable, this determined colt seized the lead early and held off a fierce challenge from race favorite Just a Touch in the stretch, securing a neck victory in the 1 1/16-mile event for older horses. And this is the part most people miss: despite posting blistering early fractions, Accelerize still had enough in the tank to regroup and power home in 1:43.43 on a fast track. Is this the start of something special, or just a flash in the pan? Let’s dive deeper.
With jockey Flavien Prat in the saddle, Accelerize set the pace, clocking a quarter-mile in :23.93 and a half-mile in :47.14, all while fending off longshot Tarantino. Meanwhile, Just a Touch, the 4-5 favorite and grade 1-placed son of Justify, raced wide through the backstretch and far turn before launching a late rally. For a moment, it looked like Just a Touch might steal the show, but Accelerize dug deep, proving he’s more than just a speedster. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Accelerize handed Brad Cox—trainer of Just a Touch—his first defeat in the Louisiana Stakes since 2019. Was this a changing of the guard, or just a lucky day for the underdog? Share your thoughts below!
Earlier in the day, another veteran stole the spotlight. Kupuna, a 7-year-old son of Hard Spun, rallied from ninth to claim his first stakes win since 2024 in the $100,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley Stakes. Coming off a runner-up finish in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes, Kupuna clocked a swift 1:42.37 under jockey Luis Saez on firm turf. Trained by Norm Casse for Flying P Stable, this seasoned campaigner showed he’s still got plenty of fight left.
But the excitement didn’t stop there. Medoro, a grade 3 winner from Southern California, shipped to New Orleans and delivered a commanding performance in the $100,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes. Trained by Peter Eurton and ridden by Jose Ortiz, the 5-year-old daughter of Honor Code rallied from fifth to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:42.17 on firm turf. Is Medoro poised for a breakout year, or was this just a one-off triumph? The debate is open!
And let’s not forget Usually Wrong, who kicked off 2026 in record-breaking fashion. This 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky, a homebred for BG Stables and Selman Shaby, dominated the $100,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes, setting a new course record of 1:01.63 for the 5 1/2-furlong sprint on firm turf. Trained by Robertino Diodoro and ridden by Isaac Castillo, Usually Wrong took the lead early and never looked back, winning by 2 3/4 lengths. Are we witnessing the rise of a turf sprinting superstar, or is this just a fleeting moment of glory? Sound off in the comments—we want to hear your take!
