Mardi Gras Paint Prevails in $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day QH Derby (RG3)

Mardi Gras Paint with Raul Ramirez, Jr. aboard wins the 30th running of the Grade III $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day QH Derby at Fair Grounds.

© Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Louisiana Champions Day at the Fair Grounds continued with second stake of the day, the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Derby (RG3). Mardi Gras Paint earned an early lead and won convincingly in the 400-yard stake for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds.

Mardi Gras Paint ($12.80) and Raul Ramirez, Jr. overcame traffic at the start to win by a half-length over Hh Gailforce and Jess U R Blue. The final time was 19.904 and the winner earned a 102 speed index.

Mardi Gras Paint is a multiple stakes winning son of Paint Me Perry. Miguel Rodriguez trains the gelding for owner Jose Ramos. He was bred by Eddie Cramer, Tom Maher and Bill Maher, out of Summertime Dash, by Royal Quick Dash.

"We gave him a little bit of time off after the (LQHBA) Million", said Rodriguez. He had a bad start in the Delta Downs Derby, so we just got him ready for this race. When I saw him get a clean break, I knew he had a good chance."

In 12 starts, Mardi Gras Paint has five wins and $533,375 in earnings. Most notably, he is the winner of the 2019 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity (RG1) at Evangeline. As a 3-year-old, he has competed in the Flying Breed Stakes at Delta and finished third in his most recent start, the Gentilly Dash at Evangeline.

Hh Gailforce edged out Jess U R Blue for second place by a head with Juan Garcia, Jr. aboard. The Freighttrain B filly is trained by Joel Cantu for the Egoizzta Partnership. She was bred by Harvey Hayes, out of Open My Prize, by First Prize Perry.

Hh Gailforce is a multiple stakes winner with $246,747 earned in her 14 lifetime efforts. She recently won the French Quarter Stakes at Evangeline and was third in the Louisiana Bred Derby (G3) at Delta this summer. She made her mark as a 2-year-old winning her first three career starts, including the Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2). That year, she also finished fourth in both the Lassie Futurity (RG2) and the Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Juvenile (RG2).

Jess U R Blue entered Saturday’s stake after finishing sixth in the Texas Classic Derby (G1) at Lone Star last month. The Jess Louisiana Blue gelding won the Mardi Gras Derby this spring at Louisiana Downs and was fourth in the Louisiana Bred Derby (RG3) at Delta.

Jess U R Blue was ridden by Luis Vivanco for trainer Fernando Lopez and owner Jose Oviedo. He was bred by Jumonville Farms out of the Walk Thru Fire mare U R Blue.

Completing the field were Good Timing Mann, Flash of Light, Jess Redwhiteandblue, Brileys Prize, Special Politico, Patriot On Ice, Painted by Perry, Rlr Coronas Girl and Apollitical Bug.