ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 7, 2018—Bouncing off a troubled seventh place effort in the All American Derby trials on August 19, Jess Shantastic was speed all the way as she won the first of two trials for the La Fiesta Derby Friday night at The Downs in Albuquerque to get the top qualifying mark.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to The Downs on Friday, September 22nd to vie for the winner's share of a $150,000-est. race over 440 yards.

Ridden by jockey Manuel Gutierrez, Jess Shantastic completed the classic Quarter Horse distance in :21.710 seconds into a 15 mph headwind.

Tony Sedillo conditions the daughter of Fantastic Corona Jr for owner/breeder Stanley Forbes. The stakes-placed Texas-bred 3-year-old is out of Jess Candy by Mr Jess Perry. Third in the Rainbow Juvenile at Ruidoso Downs last year, Jess Shantastic has compiled a (15) 2-2-4 record and banked $29,506.

Strykr Force, under jockey Juan Pulido, posted a 1 ¼ length win in the second trial to get the second fastest time of :21.723 seconds, into a 13 mph headwind.

Owned-and-trained by Jesus Carrete, the son of All American Futurity(G10 winner No Secrets Here won the La Fiesta Futurity at The Downs last season.

Bred in Washington by Malon Cowgill, the brown gelding is out of Fly Thru Time by Strawfly Special. Lightly raced, he has won four of seven career starts and banked over $152,704.

For the complete list of La Fiesta Derby qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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Live racing resumes at Albuquerque Downs with a 10-race card on Saturday, beginning at 1:30 p.m. (MDT). Saturday’s program features four 400-yard La Fiesta Quarter Horse Futurity trials, and a 1-mile, $21,300 Thoroughbred allowance-optional claiming feature which has drawn seven entries, topped by David Jacobson’s Harlan Punch. Trained by Justin Evans, Harlan Punch on June 30 scored a 5 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile, $100,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.

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The Downs at Albuquerque Racetrack and Casino is located in the heart of Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair, and general admission and parking are always free (via the casino entrance at Louisiana and Central) . For more information, visit abqdowns.com and click on the "Racing" link at the top of the homepage.