Juddmonte's Touch of Fire (Constitution) tracked an easy pace on Fair Grounds debut Jan. 8 and kicked into high gear in the lane, putting some seven lengths on his rivals to earn 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard status. Accordingly sent off the 2-5 favorite for the Feb. 28 Black Gold Stakes in New Orleans, the homebred had things his own way on the lead, but could not quite see it out and settled for second to the promising Black Hornet (Essential Quality).Back into allowance company here as the 11-10 choice, Touch of Fire was purposely taken back to race off the speed this time around, “maybe not quite that far,” according to trainer Brad Cox, and settled three from the tail while proving handful beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr.Much more relaxed through the middle furlongs, the favorite was under way at the quarter pole, but still had plenty of work to do in upper stretch. Switched out into the clear, he went through his gears inside the final furlong and drove past Mendels Mate (Mendelssohn) to score by a neck. According to the Gmax chart, the winner covered his final quarter-mile in a smart :23.05.Cox said that Touch of Fire has been given an entry for the $1-million GI American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 2.A Group 3 winner and third in the 2015 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) in France for trainer Andre Fabre, Mexican Gold was repatriated and posted a third in the GIII Athenia Stakes for Chad Brown in October 2016.A half-sister to G1 Prix Jean Romanet victress Announce (GB) (Selkirk) and to the dam of Grade III winner and GI Kentucky Derby fourth Final Gambit (Not This Time), Mexican Gold is also the dam of the 2-year-old filly Rumana (Tapit) and fillies by Flightline foaled in 2025 and 2026.3rd-Keeneland, $120,000, Alw, 4-10, (NW1X), 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.20, fm, neck.TOUCH OF FIRE (c, 3, Constitution–Mexican Gold {GSW & G1SP-Fr, GSP-US, $234,810}, by Medaglia d'Oro) Lifetime Record: SP, 3-2-1-0, $120,290. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H Cox. #1 TOUCH OF FIRE (4.22) by Constitution (@WinStarFarm) got in the clear and came rolling down the center of the track to win race 3 at @keenelandracing. @iradortiz was up for @bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/rWSWuPWNry— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 10, 2026The post Constitution ‘Rising Star’ Touch of Fire Up Late to Score at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.