Hi Octane, the morning-line favorite, headlines a competitive group of 39 sophomores in the Old South Derby Trials Friday night at Delta Downs, where only the ten fastest times will advance to the May 15 final.

© William Zuazo

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott
 

VINTON, LA–April 22, 2026—Friday night at Delta Downs is set to deliver a high-octane evening of Quarter Horse racing, headlined by four electrifying trial heats for the $112,225 Old South Derby, where thirty-nine talented sophomores will blast 330 yards in a race against both rivals and the clock. With only the ten fastest times earning a return trip to the May 15 final, every stride will matter, every break will count, and every second could define a career.

The Old South Derby Trials take center stage beginning at approximately 7:30 PM in races four through seven, where a deep and competitive group of three-year-olds will look to stamp themselves as contenders.

Leading the charge is Hi Octane, the 8-5 morning line favorite in race five. The gelding brings proven class from the West Coast, having competed against elite company at Los Alamitos, including third-place finishes in both the Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge Stakes and the Grade 1 Los Alamitos 2 Million Futurity. With three wins and nearly a quarter-million dollars earned, Hi Octane carries both experience and expectation into the second trial heat.

Apollitical Jess sires the gelding out of the Valiant Hero mare Valiantinecandyrocks; he was bred in Utah by Lance and Tammy Finlinson.  Under the guidance of trainer Viviane Hill and regular rider Rodrigo S. Vallejo, he breaks from post two with his sights set squarely on a top ten clocking.

But this is no one-horse race. The trials are loaded with emerging talent, and with only ten spots available, even the smallest misstep could mean the difference between advancing and watching from the sidelines. The energy will be undeniable as each heat builds toward a dramatic leaderboard shake-up, keeping fans on edge deep into the night.

Before the trials take over, the evening kicks into gear in race three with the $50,000 Grade 3 Miss Polly Classic Stakes at 400 yards.

Dropping Dimes headlines the field from the outside post as the 5-2 favorite, making his first start of the year after a strong three-year-old campaign. With six career wins and experience in top-level Louisiana-bred stakes company, he enters with momentum and the look of a horse ready to fire fresh. Trainer Josue Ponce will leg up jockey Jorge J. Garcia as the duo looks to fend off a competitive field that promises a thrilling, blanket finish to ignite the crowd early.

The stakes action continues in race eight with the $40,000 RG3 Titanium Stakes at 300 yards, featuring a field of ten accredited Louisiana-Breds.

Paint Me Onis brings sharp recent form into the race, coming off a confident prep victory at Louisiana Downs. A stakes winner with consistency on his side, he has finished on the board in all three starts during his three-year-old season and now returns as a stronger, more seasoned four-year-old.

Paint Me Perry sires the gelding Paint Me Onis and is out of the Heza Fast Dash mare Rl Toni Lynn; he was bred in Louisiana by Scott Jeane. Trained by Joseph D. Manucy and ridden by Bobby Ransom, he breaks from post five as the 3-1 morning line favorite but will face pressure from a field eager to make their mark.

With a nine-race card kicking off at approximately 6:15 PM, Delta Downs is primed for a night that blends rising stars, proven stakes runners, and the raw intensity of trial competition. The road to the Old South Derby final begins here, and by the end of the night, ten names will rise above the rest—earning not just a spot in the gate, but the chance to chase glory under the lights.

The races at Delta Downs can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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