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November 5, 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
© Coady Photography
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.