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Post Time Favorite Dirtwater Dash Up Late To Win Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Derby


Dirtwater Dash (#1), under jockey Bobby Ransom, gets up late over Ought To Go Tee ($9) and Get It Done Babe (#5) in the $100,000 restricted Grade 2 Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Derby at Fairgrounds Race Course Saturday.

© Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

NEW ORLEANS, LA—DECEMBER 11, 2021—Post time favorite Dirtwater Dash, under jockey Everardo Rodriguez, got up late to defeat Ought To Go Tee by half-a-length in the $100,000 restricted Grade 2 Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Derby Saturday afternoon at Fairgrounds Race Course.

Dirtwater Dash, a son of leading Louisiana sire Sir Runaway Dash, completed the 400 yards in :19.743 seconds, equaling a 107 speed index, into a 12 mph crosswind. It was the seventh career win in 14 starts for the 3-year-old.

“This horse is coming along and has done everything the right way," assistant trainer Chris Valdez said following the win. "It’s all about the family with us; my dad and my brothers are home taking care of the horses every day and every night."

It was big day at the Fair Grounds for the Valdez family who won the Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Classic (RG2), Champions Day Quarter Horse Derby(RG3) and took third in the Champions Day Quarter Horse Juvenile(RG2).

Third in the Firecracker Derby(G3), two races back, and winner of the Delta 550 Stakes last May, Dirtwater Dash has earned $124,038. Michael Carlton bred Dirtwater Dash from the Dashin Bye mare Dashin Kate Perry.

Winner of last year's Louisiana Champions Derby Juvenile(RG2), runner-up Ought To Go Tee earned $17,000 for second today. The son of multiple stakes sire Tee Cos vied early under jockey Rolando Cabrera.

ernando Lopez trains the $164,472 earner for owner Jose Oviedo. Ronald Gale bred Ought To Go Tee from the Bigtime Favorite mare Vf Ought To Go Max.

Get It Done Babe, a daughter of leading sire Heza Fast Dash, finished a nose back for owner Fausto Mendoza to earn $10,000 for third. Trainer Josue Huitron named Leonardo Rodriguez to ride the brown filly out of Mi Babe by Mr Jess Perry. Gerard Hebert bred the earner of $53,330.

Completing the field were Jettin Cartel, Apollitical Chais, Tee Zo, Bayou Kue, Cason, One Fast Cajun and Tee Britt.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.


Courtesy Ses