Page 138 - December 2020

RACING NEWS
Louisiana Champions Day Classic-RG2
LIGHTEMUPWITHCHARM
by Michael Compton
Lightemupwithcharm successfully defended his crown in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic-RG2 at
Fair Grounds on Dec. 12, winning the 440- yard test two years in a row with another game performance.
With jockey Luciano Duenez aboard, Lightemupwithcharm pressed even-money favorite Mpshinning in the early stages. He drew alongside Mpshinning
in the lane and defeated that stubborn rival by a head at the finish, stopping the timer in :21.719, earning a 96 speed index.
Owned by Saul
Dorado and trained
by Miguel Rodriguez, Lightemupwithcharm won the Louisiana Champions Day Classic in 2019 (also by a head) and was second in the 2018 renewal. All told,
Louisiana Champions Day Derby-RG3
he has now won 10 times from 31 starts and placed in 8 others. The $45,000 winner’s share of the purse increased his total bankroll to $391,870.
“For some reason, he just loves running at Fair Grounds,” Rodriguez said. “He ran second two years ago; won last year and ran a big race today. It just seems that as he gets older, he is getting better.”
The multiple graded stakes winner is owned by Larry J. Boudreaux and is conditioned by Adrian Huitron.
Happie Happie Happie (Jumpn-Goddess Athena), making his 35th lifetime start, finished strongly under jockey David Alvarez, to nab the show spot for owner Juan Antonio Carillo Sr. and trainer Juan Carrillo Jr. The gelding has enjoyed a productive 2020 cam- paign, winning five of six.
Eysa Jess Jumpn (Heza Fast Dash-Jess Jumpn), Tuckers Prize (Fast Prize Dash-BB Secrets Game), Fabulously Black (Game Patriot-Fabulously Fast), Five Bar Jewel (Five Bar Cartel-First Down Hemp), Barjaxs (Jess Louisiana Blue-Elealicious), Achievopiloto (Mr Piloto-Achieve The Splash) and No Politics Here (Jess Louisiana Blue-In His Dreams) completed the order of finish.
Bred in Louisiana by Jumonville Farms, the 6-year-old gelding is out of winner Grace Filled Charm. She has produced four win- ners from seven starters. Lightemupwithcharm is her first stakes winner.
Runner-up
Mpshnning (Mr Piloto- Shinningperrydash) led most of the way before coming
up just a head shy of victory under Everardo Rodriguez.
MARDI GRAS PAINT
by Michael Compton
Mardi Gras Paint scored the second Graded victory of his career, powering to an impres- sive win in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions
Day Derby-RG3 at Fair Grounds on Dec. 12. Ridden by Raul Ramirez Jr., Mardi Gras Paint broke out, bumped, and drifted out in
the 400-yard event but simply dominated his rivals with a clear 1/2-length score in the fast time of :19.904. Trained by Miguel Rodriguez, Mardi Gras Paint earned a 102 speed index.
Owned by Jose Alfonso Ramos, Mardi Gras Paint is a multiple stakes win- ner, having won the 2019 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity-G1 at Evangeline Downs. He also finished third in this year’s Gentilly Dash at Evangeline.
The $45,000 winner’s share of this purse increased his bankroll $533,375.
His record now stands at 12-5(2)-2-1(1).
“We gave him a little bit of time off after the 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.”
Eddie Cramer and Tom & 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.
HH Gailforce (Freighttrain B-Open My Prize) and jockey Juan Garcia Jr., finished second
after an eventful trip that saw her get bumped at the start, forced into a foe and then drifted late. Owned
by Egoizzta Partnership, HH Gailforce is trained by Joel Cantu. The filly is a multiple stakes winner, and she was bred in Louisiana by Harvey Hayes.
Jess U R Blue (Jess Louisiana Blue-U R Blue)
finished third, just a neck behind the runner-up, with jockey Luis Vivanco in the irons for owner Jose Oviedo and trainer Fernando Lopez. Winner of the Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs earlier this year, Jess U R Blue was bred in Louisiana by Jumonville Farms.
Good Timing Mann (Freighttrain B-Alysa M), Flash Of Light (Apollitical Blood-Crystal Sola), Jess Redwhiteandblue (Jess Louisiana Blue-Ha Chi Mama), Brileys Prize (AJs Fast Dash-Ms Wandas Prize), Special Politico (Apollitical Blood-Sweetness Special), Patriot On Ice (Jet Black Patriot- Zooming On Ice), Painted By Perry (Paint Me Perry-Bugs Be Nimble), RLR Coronas Girl (Coronas Leaving You-Moehrig) and Apollitical Bug (Apollitical Blood-Tinys First Bug) completed the order of finish.
136 SPEEDHORSE December 2020
Fair Grounds
$100,000 • 440 yards :21.719 • si 96
Corona For Me
Sizzlin Cartel
In His Dreams
LIGHTEMUPWITHCHARM, ‘14-g.
Feature Mr Jess
Grace Filled Charm
Love One
Fair Grounds
$100,000 • 400 yards :19.904 • si 102
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Paint Me Perry
Baby Perry
MARDI GRAS PAINT, ‘17-g. Royal Quick Dash
Summertime Dash
Summertime High
Hodges Photography Hodges Photography