Fastest Qualifier Gone Cartel Returns in $264,398 Louisiana QHBA Derby

Fastest qualifier Gone Cartel drew the inside rail for Saturday’s $264,398 Louisiana QHBA Derby (R) at Evangeline Downs.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—NOVEMBER 16, 2016—Roberta Weeks’ Gone Cartel, a gelded son of Coronas Leaving You and the fastest qualifier, drew the rail post for Saturday’s 400-yard, $264,398 Louisiana QHBA Derby (R) at Evangeline Downs.

Gone Cartel is coming off of a half-length victory in the third of four trials on October 29. He has earned $81,100 from 11 outs, and he ran fourth, one length behind winner Jess A Saint, in last year’s 400-yard, $1-million Louisiana QHBA Futurity (RG1).

Gone Cartel will be ridden by John Hamilton for trainer Trey Ellis. The gelding’s eight opponents include Bobby Cox’s Jessa Louisiana Zoom, a brown daughter of champion Jess Louisiana Blue trained by Kenneth Roberts Sr. The third-fastest qualifier, Jessa Louisiana Zoom has banked $91,954 from five races this year, and her two wins include a half-length score as the 3-5 favorite in the 350-yard, $50,000 Treme Derby (R) at Fair Grounds Racecourse on August 20.

Jessa Louisiana Zoom drew post 4 and will be ridden by Donald Watson.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments--

1. Gone Cartel (John Hamilton)
2. Jess Blueby Lena (David Alvarez)
3. First Corona Down (Rodrigo Vallejo)
4. Jessa Louisiana Zoom (Donald Watson)
5. Cute Mic Jagger (Raul Ramirez Jr.)
6. Telarosa (Lucas Constantin)
7. Jess Blue Intriguing (Alfonso Lujan)
8. Perrys Jumpn Beduino (Alejandro Medina)
9. Jet Black Rogue (Joe Badilla Jr.).