Page 147 - Speedhorse December 2019

Mardi Gras Paint’s connections include owner Jose Alfonso Ramos, trainer Miguel Rodriguez and jockey Jorge Linares.
Louisiana Million Futurity-RG1. This score marked his third consecutive win.
“It is so much more special because of everything we’ve been through with him,” Rodriguez said. “We had to overcome some issues early on. He had a serious lung infec- tion that nearly turned into pneumonia. When we brought him back, he finished fourth in a race he needed.
“But, he came out of it great and won easy the next time out. After he won his trial, we knew he was all the way back. He is constantly improving, and he is sound now. We have started him sparingly and he has come back strong.”
Eddie Cramer and Tom and Bill Maher bred Mardi Gras Paint out of winner Summertime Dash. She has produced 100% money earners from seven starters. Mardi Gras Paint is her first stakes winner.
Rodriguez indicated that Mardi Gras Paint will get a brief freshening before tar- geting the Delta Downs Derby in 2020.
“He is by a first-crop sire and is the first foal from the mare,” Rodriguez noted. “I tend to like horses by young sires. He is bred to explode from the gate and should be able to get a distance as well.”
Runner-up No Freight
(Freighttrain B-Nobo) and jockey Benito Baca pressed the winner throughout the race, but couldn’t match strides with the winner late. The brown gelding is owned by Kirt Chaisson and Twins Realty and is trained by Justin Haug. He was a $4,500 LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale graduate.
After being fractious in the gate, Ed
O (Mr Pilito-Shezadashatcha) and jockey Heriberto Aguilar-Orozco finished third for owner Edwardo Lopez and trainer Jose Lopez. The sorrel gelding, a $4,700 repur- chase at the LQHBA Yearling Sale, finished second in the Laddie Futurity-RG2, Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1 and LQHBA Sale Futurity-RG1.
Sir Runaway Cash (Sir Runaway Dash- MCM Premio Dash), Special Politico (Apollitical Blood-Sweetness Special), Leavin You Blue (Coronas Leaving You-Thecoloroftheblues), Jess Redwhiteandblue (Jess Louisiana Blue-Ha Chi Mama), RH Jess Momo (Jess Louisiana Blue-Jet Black Bikini), Heza Lawman (Heza Fast Dah-Dashin Kate Perry) and Lifeinthefastlanes (Jess Louisiana Blue-Pantherinthefastlane) com- pleted the order of finish.
Coady PHotography