News - Racing March  28, 2024

Zoomin For Bugs Takes Louisiana Champions Day QH Derby


Zoomin For Bugs, with Armando Ramirez aboard, wins the Louisiana Champions Day QH Derby (RG2) at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans Saturday.

© Amanda Hodges Weir / Hodges Photography

NEW ORLEANS, LA—DECEMBER 12, 2015—Multiple stakes winner Zoomin For Bugs held off a Strong Guns by a head Saturday afternoon in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Derby(RG2) at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Heza Louisiana Dash finished a nose off the leaders in the show position.

Under jockey Armando Ramirez, Zoomin For Bug completed the 400-yard course in :20.228 seconds into a 6 mph crosswind. Trainer Danny Mittag saddled the winner for owner Joan Rood. It was the sixth win from 15 starts and the $45,000 winner's purse boosted the gray's earnings to more than $180,000.

"He broke good and ran his heart out," Ramirez said after the ride.

Dennis Miller bred the multiple stakes winning Zoomin for Bux gelding from the Toast To Dash mare, Toast To Bux.

Strong Guns put in a strong finish under jockey Ray Mayo to get the $17,000 runner-up check. Kenneth Weeks saddled the son of Strong Hope for owner Lester Colomb, Jr. V W Racing bred Strong Guns from the First Down Jewel mare Gunslinger Girl. He has earned $76,505.

Coming off a convincing win in the $267,171 LQHBA Breeders' Derby just two weeks ago at Evangeline, Heza Louisiana Dash put in a game effort under jockey Gilbert Ortiz. Kenneth Roberts, Sr. conditions the son of Heza Fast Dash for owners T M Ranch. Bred by Jumonville Farms and Burnett Ranch, the gelding added $10,000 to his bank to bring his earnings total to $222,115. He is out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Eyejesslovelouisiana.

Jes A Fast Dasher, Heza Fast Wokatee, Tf Hez Jess Rowdy, Running Game Patriot, Icanonlyemagine, Jess An Effort, Bellas Leaving You, B And G Fast Dash and Nl Boogie For Bux completed the field.

Additional reporting courtesy Martha Claussen.

Courtesy Ses