Paint Me Onis, under jockey James Flores, won the $109,596 Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs Friday afternoon.

© Ann Switalski Photography

BOSSIER CITY, LA–MARCH 28, 2025–Ridden by champion jockey James Flores, Paint Me Onis raced over a muddy (sealed) racetrack to get his first career stakes victory in the $109,596 Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs Friday afternoon.

Paint Me Onis drifted in under Flores while posting a three-quarter length winning margin. The son of multiple stakes sire Paint Me Perry covered the 400 yards in 19.960 seconds, equaling a 96-speed index into a 10 mph headwind.  It was the fifth career win in 10 starts for the Louisiana-bred gelding.

Joseph Manucy conditions Paint Me Onis for owner Mary Stratton.

"You know he was really doing good coming up to this race," Manucy said following the win. "I told my wife the other night that we’d rather be lucky than good in horse racing. This horse is doing so good, I said I’ll take good tonight."

The winning connections of Paint Me Onis accept Mardi Gras Derby stakes trophy on Friday at Louisiana Downs.
© Ann Switalski Photography

Bred by Scott Jeane from the Heza Fast Dash mare Rl Toni Lynn, Paint Me Onis was second in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile (RG2) two races back at Evangeline Downs and a finalist in the Laddie Futurity(RG2) last year.

"James rode him in Champions Day, and then coming in here, he rode him in the trials," he continued. "He (Flores) said he’ll be good in the finals. We talked about the rain; I said don’t worry about the rain. He came here in the Mardi Gras schooling races last year and romped through the mud. So I wouldn’t worry about the mud."

Paint Me Onis picked up $49,318 for the win, increasing his earnings total to $109,699.

Runner-up Gold Gun Z earned $18,631 for his second-place effort. Trainer Jose Espinosa tapped jockey Bryan Candanosa to ride the son of second-crop sire Gold Heart Eagle V for owner Party Tyme Racing.  Slash Z Quarter Horses bred the graded stakes winner from the Tres Seis mare Cf Smokin Gun.

Gold Gun Z has earned $231,497 in eight career starts.  He won the Laddie Futurity(RG2) and was a finalist in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1). last season.

Post-time favorite Beleavin chased the top two to finish three-quarters back in third. Jockey David Alvarez had the riding call aboard the Coronas Leaving You gelding for owner GIA Equine Center, LLC. Ismael Solis-Guevara trains the 3-year-old out of Eight Below 123 by Mr Eye Opener.

Jo Baya Forman bred the gray gelding who was third in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) last December. The $10,960 third-place Mardi Gras payday increases Beleavin's earnings to $152,160.

Jess Joseph M, You Fly I Buy, American Blood, Rogues Fast Prize, Thetrainrobbersace, and Blackjack Tlc completed the field.

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About Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and is owned by Rubico Acquisition Corporation. With annual Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons, the track is committed to presenting the highest quality racing programs paired with its 150,000 square foot entertainment complex offering casino gambling, dining and plasma screen televisions for sports and simulcast racing.

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