Benoit's Faith in Star Guitar Pays Off at Saratoga

As the hours wound down on a remarkable birthday July 24 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Evelyn Benoit took a moment to reflect.

The owner of Brittlyn Stable has believed in her stallion Star Guitar  from the start of his stud career, and Wednesday Benoit watched at Saratoga Race Course as Minit to Stardom dashed across the line in the $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) to become the Louisiana-bred's first graded stakes winner.

Not only did the 4-year-old filly deliver a 20-1 upset, but earlier in the day her 3-year-old brother Star Fitzstall broke his maiden at Delaware Park, making Benoit's birthday one to remember.

"Today was Star Guitar's day all the way," Benoit said. "I'm so proud of him, because I always knew he (would sire) a graded winner. Always."

Benoit, a Louisiana native, has been involved with horses since she was young. Starting at 5 years old, she groomed and rode Shetland ponies at home and has now bred 17 stakes winners under the Brittlyn Stables banner, which operates in Louisiana.

Star Guitar was one of the greatest successes, winning 22 stakes in Louisiana and nearly $1.8 million in earnings. His efforts earned him four Louisiana Horse of the Year titles before he was retired to stud at Clear Creek Stud in 2013.

The 14-year-old son of Quiet American—Minit Towinit, by Malagra, has sired stakes winner and grade-1 placed Givemeaminit, as well as multiple Louisiana stakes winners Testing One Two and Bermuda Star. Brittlyn homebred Wild About Star, a 5-year-old full sister to Minit to Stardom, is also a black-type winner after taking the May 18 The Very One Stakes on the turf at Pimlico Race Course.

Along with Star Guitar, Benoit credits trainer Jose Camejo, a former jockey, for her recent success. Camejo took over training Minit to Stardom, Wild About Star, and Star Fitzstall in the spring.

"Jose was a rider and he broke his neck, and he married my husband's niece," Benoit said. "I wanted to give him an opportunity to have a life after being a jockey. I gave him a couple horses and he did so well with them, and I gave him a couple more and I didn't want to stay all summer in the heat of Louisiana. I said, 'Let's show Star (Guitar)'s ability and let these people see how beautiful these horses are.'"

Minit to Stardom was up against proven horses in the Honorable Miss. Longines Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) winner Mia Mischief was entered for the Steve Asmussen barn, Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) runner-up Chalon has been nothing but consistent for Arnaud Delacour, and another Louisiana-bred filly, Ours to Run trained by Larry Jones, defeated Minit to Stardom twice in home-state stakes.

"When she broke, I said, 'OK, she broke great.' She was moving pretty fast, but doing it easy. Steve's trained a few horses for me also, and then Mr. Jones, I know he had his horse ready," Benoit said. "Everybody's horse looked amazing. I'm going, 'They're going to have a closer.' And then she just kept going and going and going, and then I just went, 'Oh my God.'

"I don't like to scream, but everything built up inside of me. After 45 years of breeding in your backyard, you just can't even imagine."

Benoit said she tries to put the best product into the marketplace and wants to showcase beautiful horses, and she hopes Star Guitar is really starting to show what he can produce as a stallion.

"It's about people who do it because they love it. We're hard-working and we don't give up," she said of her team. "It's what it's all about. Not giving up and having so much faith in what you do and the animals that you're producing.

"I just couldn't believe my eyes," Benoit added, reliving Minit to Stardom's victory from hours before. "I'll tell you, my emotions were very, very deep today."