Moonin Rusty Extends Streak To Three Straight, Wins $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby

Moonin Rusty, under jockey Juan Garcia, Jr., drives down the inside to rail to win the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby(RG3) Saturday at Evangeline Downs.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 16, 2023—Under a confident ride by jockey Juan Garcia, Jr., Moonin Rusty got away well then extended his leading to win the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby(RG3) Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.

"He ran a heck of a race," said Garcia. "I was worried about the rail post over the sloppy track, but he left perfect and got the job done."

The Moonin The Eagle 3-year-old gelding picked up his third consecutive win while clocking the 400 yards in :19.520 seconds, a 98 speed index over a sloppy (sealed) racetrack.

Trainer Dwayne Breaux saddled the two-length winner for owner-breeder Gene Cox. Cox bred the gray gelding from the Coronas Leaving You mare Princess Lil Bit. The $45,000 winner's purse boosted Moonin Rustys earnings total to $145,089.

Mp Dont Look, under jockey J.R. Ramirez earned $17,000 for finishing second. Fernando Valdez trains the graded stakes-placed son of Mr Piloto for owner Rosendo Valdez. Grant Farms LLC bred the sorrel gelding from the First To Shine mare McM Dont Lok Back. He has earned  $86,897 in 16 starts.

The winning connections of Moonin Rusty accept the Louisiana Champions Day Derby stakes trophy Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. © Coady Photography

Party Wagon Train, under jockey Arturo Alvarez, finished a neck back to earn $10,000 for third. John Sargent owns the Bp Wagon Train filly out of Pattymegone by Game Patriot. Trainer Orlando Orozco saddled the Steven Miller bred earner of $94,780.

Jj Jess A Shadow, My Corona Blues, Making A Royal Dash, Zee Runaway Train, Fast Dash Fortune, San Lorenzo Moon and Tdz Moms Patriot completed the field.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs' Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

About Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.