The $175,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) has been a solid starting point for older horses, and Saturday’s renewal at the Fair Grounds offers a familiar storyline: a classy favorite trying to turn consistent performances into a signature victory.
That favorite is Just a Touch, the 8-5 morning-line choice in a field of eight older males. A multiple Grade 1-placed son of Justify, the 5-year-old trained by Brad Cox, arrives with a resumé that reflects both quality and unfinished business. He’s faced elite company, run well, and earned respect, but he still hasn’t captured a graded stakes trophy.
This race could finally change that.
Just a Touch has made only a handful of starts, but nearly all of them have come against strong opposition. He has shown tactical speed, durability at middle distances, and an ability to stay on when others flatten out. While his win record may look modest on paper, his best efforts suggest he belongs at this level.
Two of his three career victories have come over the Fair Grounds surface, where he debuted with an eye-catching score and later opened his 2025 campaign with authority. Some horses simply run better in New Orleans, and Just a Touch has proven to be one of them.
Trainer Brad Cox has been candid about what he wants to see next.
“He needs to step up and win a stakes race,” Cox said earlier this season.
The Louisiana Stakes offers the ideal opportunity, especially considering Cox’s history in the race. The Louisville-based conditioner has won five of the last seven editions, often with horses who were lightly raced, well-spotted, and peaking at the right time.
Adding further confidence is the presence of Irad Ortiz, Jr., who makes the trip to New Orleans to ride Just a Touch for the first time. From the outside post, Ortiz will have the freedom to let the race develop in front of him and place his mount in a comfortable stalking position.
The 1 1/16-mile Louisiana Stakes rarely unfolds at a crawl, and this year’s edition looks no different. Willy D’s (4-1), a proven stakes winner, brings early speed to the equation, while Accelerize (8-1), the lightly raced Todd Pletcher trainee, has shown enough tactical foot to be involved from the break in his first stakes attempt.
That projected pace should allow Just a Touch to settle just off the leaders — his preferred trip — before launching a sustained bid turning for home.
The Fair Grounds stretch is long, and horses already in striking position often have the edge. That bodes well for the favorite, who doesn’t need the lead but also doesn’t want to be buried at the back of the pack.
While Just a Touch owns the class edge, the rest of the field brings a mix of form, upside, and specialized strengths.
Moonlight (9-2) enters in sharp form after rallying from the back of the pack to win the Cherokee Mile at Churchill Downs. The son of Audible showed a strong late kick that day, running down heavy favorite Dragoon Guard in the final strides. Moonlight has already won at 1 1/16 miles and could be dangerous if the pace becomes contested early. However, he typically leaves himself a lot to do late; a risky strategy over Fair Grounds’ demanding surface.
Willy D’s brings proven stakes credentials and speed. He has shown he can carry his speed on a route of ground and won’t be intimidated by graded company. If left alone on the lead, he could prove stubborn to reel in.
Accelerize makes his stakes and two-turn debut after a sharp allowance victory. The 4-year-old is lightly raced and clearly improving, but Saturday represents a significant class hike. His tactical speed could place him prominently early, though his ability to finish against seasoned runners remains the big question.
Sir Greylind (5-1), from the Kenny McPeek barn, has flashed ability but has yet to prove he can deliver a winning effort against top-level opposition. He’s capable of picking up a minor share with the right trip.
Cadet Corps (8-1) and Tarantino (12-1) have shown consistency in allowance and minor stakes company, but both will need to elevate their form to threaten the favorite. Henro (20-1) rounds out the field.
All seven of Just a Touch’s rivals are also seeking a first graded stakes win, but none combine his level of graded experience, surface success, and elite connections.
This isn’t just about favoritism — it’s about fit. Just a Touch checks every major handicapping box:
This is the type of favorite that bettors can support with confidence rather than caution.
Just a Touch has spent much of his career flirting with breakthrough moments. He’s been close enough often enough that his next win feels less like a surprise and more like an inevitability.
With Brad Cox’s proven success in this race, Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons, and a pace scenario that plays to his strengths, the Louisiana Stakes sets up as the best opportunity yet for Just a Touch to finally turn promise into payoff.
If he delivers the performance his past suggests he’s capable of, the Louisiana Stakes may mark the moment when “almost” finally becomes “official.”
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
