Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeder Association

News - Preview April 29, 2024

Moonin Rusty, Miss Pilotos Train Headline Opelousas Stakes

Evangeline Downs will host the 40,000 Opelousas Stakes (RG3) on Saturday's race card.

© Coady Photography

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

OPELOUSAS, LA--OCTOBER 31, 2023--Gene Cox's Moonin Rusty, a homebred 3-year-old son of Moonin The Eagle, is one of six Louisiana-bred sprinters entered in Saturday's 400-yard, $40,000 Opelousas Stakes (RG3) at Evangeline Downs.

Moonin Rusty made his local debut with a 1 3/4-length victory in a 400-yard, $19,500 non-winners-of-three allowance for state-breds on October 18. The grey gelding has banked $59,189 from six races this year, and his season record includes a second-place finish, 1 1/4 lengths behind winner Konnan Cartel, in the July 15, $145,000 Delta Downs Derby (RG3) for Louisiana-bred sophomores.

Moonin Rusty drew post 2 and will be ridden by Juan F. Garcia Jr. for trainer Dwayne Breaux.

Other contenders include Miss Pilotos Train, a 3-year-old homebred multiple stakes winning daughter of BP Wagon Train trained by Ray Robbins for owner Mike Inscore. Miss Pilotos Train will be stretching out in distance off of her neck victory in the October 6, $30,000 Amelia Belle Stakes.

Miss Pilotos Train drew post 3 and will be ridden by Ricardo Hernandez Jr.

All Evangeline Downs races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.

LQHBA is the official authorized representative of the American Quarter Horse racing and breeding industry in Louisiana, the unified voice of quarter Horse breedings in the State of Louisiana for purposes of communicatting the advantages and rewards of breeding Quarter Horses in the State and for the purposes of a conducting and coordinating activities with breeding and racing agencies.