Tuckers Prize Enjoys a Well Deserved Retirement

Tuckers Prize, the intrepid Louisiana-bred gelding, has been retired by his owner and trainer, Preston Jourdan, following his 64th career start.

It is a happy conclusion for a horse who has meant so much to his connections and racing fans in the Pelican State for the past eight years.

Bred in Louisiana by Kirby and Phillip Bruchhaus, the son of Fast Prize Dash out of the Game Patriot mare BB Secrets Game was born on February 16, 2016. The dark brown gelding made his debut on May 5, 2018, winning the 300-yard sprint in gate-to-wire fashion under rider Damian Martinez at Delta Downs.

His connections never ran him out of state, but there was clearly no need to compete elsewhere as he continued to rack up the wins at Evangeline Downs and Louisiana Downs in his 3-year-old season. He earned his first graded stakes victory on December 14, 2019, at Fair Grounds in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day QH Derby(G3), in which he won by a nose over Igottarampage in the 400-yard stakes.

Tuckers Prize made eight starts as a 4-year-old, stepping up to the stakes level where he was winless, but had second-place finishes in the Opelousas Stakes(G3) and Mid-City Stakes(G3) at Evangeline Downs.

Sound and still very competitive, Jourdan, who was born in Sulphur, Louisiana and training since 2010, was still a believer in the talent of Tuckers Prize as he began his 5-year-old season. In his first start of the year at Louisiana Downs, his stable standout entered the starting gate with a new rider by the name of Ubaldo Luna. The 37-year-old jockey began riding in Louisiana 11 years ago and was steadily building his reputation as a hard worker who got his mounts out of the gate well.

Jourdan was very protective of Tuckers Prize but was looking for a better start heading into his 2021 campaign.

“Ubaldo was eager to ride for me and began galloping my horses,” explained Jourdan. “Tuckers Prize loved to run but could be difficult to ride.”

Whether it was his maturity or the talent of Luna in the saddle, Jourdan saw something as his 5-year-old began the year with a solid win in the 400-yard allowance for Louisiana-breds. He rallied well over the sloppy track, winning by a nose at odds of 4-1.

“That sealed the deal for me,” said Jourdan.

Tuckers Prize won five additional races and made his last start on August 16, 2026, at Delta Downs. Versatile at many distances, he completed his career with 20 wins, 15 thirds from 64 starts.He was the top earner for Jourdan, banking $428,190.

“We were hoping to win his final race but are grateful for the 20 wins he gave us,” stated Jourdan, “I have turned down plenty of offers for Tuckers Prize and have no regrets on the choice to retire such sound horse. He spent the winter with Luna and his wife, Kristen, and we know that he will have a good life on their farm.”

Ubaldo Luna continues to be one of the top riders in Louisiana; he has piloted several graded stakes winners, includingSan Lorenzo Jezz in the 2026 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1), Hoztile Takeover in the 2024 Delta Downs Louisiana-bred Derby, and Jess Flying Cowgirl in the 2023 Sam Houston Futurity (G2). Tuckers Prize ranks as his fourth highest money earner, but first in his heart.

“Tuckers Prize will always be special to me,” stated Luna. “He was my first big horse and opened many doors for me as a jockey.I have so many memories of our wins and will always remember his heart in last year’s EVD Dash.”

His sentiments are shared by his wife, Kristen S. Amant, who served as his agent, and even more so with their 7-year-old son, Landon.

“Tucker is such a cool horse and has been a total gentleman in his retirement on our farm,” Kristen added.

Already enjoying time in the pasture with several weanlings, Tuckers Prize has already taken to his Western saddle with Landon aboard. While he might miss the excitement of the racetrack, he seems to enjoy life on their Opelousas farm. Fellow residents include dairy cows Clarabelle and Butter; young calves Romeo and Annabelle, as well as babydoll sheep named Pops and Tinkerbell.

Jourdan will have 20 stalls at Evangeline Downs for their 2026 Quarter Horse meet, which gets underway on October 2. He knows that Tuckers Prize will be missed greatly by racing fans, his wife, Ella and their son and assistant trainer, Preston Jordan, Jr.

“You can be sure we will come see him,” said Jourdan regarding their beloved stable star. “My wife visited him all the time at the racetrack; as energetic as he was on the race track, he was also gentle in his stall and would come right up to her for pets.”

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Martha Claussen has been involved inracing since 1997, when she served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education, and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Louisiana, Texas, Indiana, and other regions in North America.

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