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Mardi Gras Paint Headlines Delta Downs Derby Trials
LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) winner Mardi Gras Paint will head Thursday’s 400-yard Delta Downs Derby (RG3) trials for Louisiana-bred sophomores.

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Mardi Gras Paint Headlines Delta Downs Derby Trials

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

VINTON, LA—JULY 27, 2020—Mardi Gras Paint will risk his four-race win streak in Thursday’s 400-yard Delta Downs Derby (RG3) trials for Louisiana-bred sophomores.

The 6-5 morning-line favorite in the first of four trials, Mardi Gras Paint is a gelded son of Paint Me Perry trained by Miguel Rodriguez for owner Jose Alfonso Ramos. Mardi Gras Paint’s win streak includes a half-length victory in Louisiana’s richest horse race, the December 7, $1-million Louisiana QHBA Million Futurity (RG1) at Evangeline Downs.

Mardi Gras Paint has won four of eight starts and has earned $482,125. The gelding drew post 5 and will be ridden by Jorge Linares.

Lifeinthefastlanes is coming off of a three-quarter length victory on a sloppy and sealed track in the 400-yard, $50,000 Vinton Stakes (R) on July 3. The brown daughter of champion Jess Louisiana Blue is trained by Kenneth Roberts Sr. for owners Jason Richards and Michael J. Leblanc.

Lifeinthefastlanes drew the rail post and will be ridden by David Alvarez in the fourth heat.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Thursday’s trials will meet in the August 22, $150,000-added Delta Downs Derby final.

All Delta Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.