Stakes Winner Gold Gun Z heads a field of ten state-breds in the $109,596 Mardi Gras Derby on Friday at Louisiana Downs

© Ann Switalski Photography

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

BOSSIER CITY, LA–MARCH 24, 2025–Three stakes led by the $109,596 Mardi Gras Derby (R) and $100,000 Mardi Gras Oaks (R) headline Friday's eight-race program at Louisiana Downs.

A full field of 10 state-breds are entered in Friday's 400-yard Mardi Gras Derby. Graded stakes winner Gold Gun Z, a son of the One Famous Eagle stallion Gold Heart Eagle V owned by Party Tyme Racing, posted the second-fastest qualifying time with his second-place finish, a nose behind fastest qualifier MDA Demand By TLC, in the second of four trials on March 5.

Gold Gun Z was coming off of a juvenile campaign during which he earned $211,466 from six races and scored a head victory in the May 25, $292,000 Louisiana Breeders' Laddie Futurity (RG2) for state-bred colts and geldings at Delta Downs.

Gold Gun Z was a $122,000 purchase at the 2023 Louisiana QHBA Yearling Sale. The gelding drew the rail post and will be ridden by Bryan Candanosa for trainer Jose R. Espinosa.

Other contenders include GIA Equine Center's Beleavin. A gelded son of Coronas Leaving You and a $24,000 yearling buy, Beleavin is the third-fastest qualifier.

Beleavin ended his 2-year-old season with a third-place finish in Louisiana's richest Quarter Horse racing, the December 21, $1-million LQHBA Million Futurity (RG1) at Evangeline Downs.

Beleavin drew post four and will be ridden by David Alvarez for trainer Ismael Solis-Guevara.

Fastest qualifier Ruse Gold heads a group of 10 Louisiana-bred sophomore fillies entered in Friday's 400-yard Mardi Gras Oaks.

A homebred Gold Heart Eagle V filly trained by Jose R. Espinosa for owner Ruse Ranch, Ruse Gold is coming off of a half-length win in the last of three trials on March 5. The filly was a $10,000 purchase at the '23 LQHBA Yearling Sale.

Ruse Gold drew post six and will be ridden by Arturo Alvarez.

Also on Friday, seven sprinters are entered in the 250-yard, $30,000 Winner's Circle Church Stakes.

Carlos Campos' Venus TLC has won three of her five starts at the distance, including an allowance-optional claiming dash for state-breds on March 12. Francisco Campos Sr. trains the 4-year-old daughter of The Louisiana Cartel.

Venus TLC drew post three and will be ridden by Leonardo Rodriguez.

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