Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeder Association

News - Preview April 29, 2024

Mardi Gras Derby, Oaks Trials Set for Wednesday at Louisiana Downs

Restricted Grade 1 winner Special Wild Train B will make her 3-year-old debut in the Mardi Gras Oaks trials on Wednesday.

© Coady Photography

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

BOSSIER CITY, LA–MARCH 3, 2024–Wednesday's eight-race program at Louisiana Downs will be dominated by 400-yard trials for the Mardi Gras Derby (R) for state-bred 3-year-olds and Mardi Gras Oaks (R) for state-bred sophomore fillies.

First post time for Wednesday's card is set for 1:05 p.m. (CST).

Thirty-one Louisiana bred fillies are entered in four Mardi Gras Oaks trials. Special Wild Train B, a daughter of Freighttrain B leased by Bobby D. Cox, will be making her season debut in the third heat. Trained by Roy Roberts, the filly ended her juvenile campaign with a head victory in the state's richest Quarter Horse race, the December 16, $1-million Louisiana QHBA Million Futurity (RG1) at Evangeline Downs.

Special Wild Train B has earned $480,520 from nine outs. A $20,000 purchase at the 2022 Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale, the filly drew post 7 and will be ridden by Arnulfo Gutierrez.

Other prominent Mardi Gras Oaks trials entries include Eyes Just Pretty, a daughter of Carters Cartel trained by Janessa Muniz for owner Blackmon Quarter Horses LLC. Eyes Just Pretty brings in a two-race win streak that includes a nose victory in the 350-yard, $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes (RG2) on December 16.

Eyes Just Pretty drew post 4 and will be ridden by Arnulfo Gutierrez.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the March 29, $100,000-est. Mardi Gras Oaks final.

Wednesday's Mardi Gras Derby trials have drawn 31 sophomores, led by Brian L. Gunder's One Cool Corona. A son of Open Me A Corona trained by Santiago Villaseca, the bay colt is coming off of a 2-year-old season during which he banked $215,447 from six races and won the September 2, $449,000 LQHBA Sale Futurity (RG1) at Delta Downs.

One Cool Corona drew post and will be ridden by J. R. Ramirez in the second of four trials.

Hoztile Takeover, a One Sweet Jess gelding trained by Juan Diaz Jr. for owners Amanda St Amant and Luis Armando Castellanos, drew post 4 and will be ridden by Victor Urieta Jr. in the fourth heat. Hoztile Takeover will be making his first start since December 16, when he ran third, a half of a length behind winner Special Wild Train B, in the Louisiana QHBA Million Futurity at Evangeline Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $100,000-est. Mardi Gras Derby final on March 29.

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.