ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 20, 2018—Albuquerque Downs will close its 2018 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing season this weekend with a track-record purse distribution of $1,595,597 on Saturday and Sunday.

The Downs’ closing weekend action consists of 20 races, 10 on Saturday and 10 on Sunday. There will be six stakes races, one on Saturday (first post time, 6:05 MDT) and five on Sunday (first post 1:30).

Five of this weekend’s stakes will be for Quarter Horses, topped by Sunday’s 440-yard, $300,000 Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship (G1), which achieved Grade 1 status for the first time this year and has drawn two-time defending American Quarter Horse Association world champion Jessies First Down. The winner of this race will earn a berth in the 440-yard, $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1) on December 30.

This year’s closing-weekend purse total beats by 6 percent the previous record of $1,507,730 for 21 races during last year’s closing weekend, and it tops by 26 percent the $1,266,609 for 22 races in 2016. Second-year racing secretary Gerald Richards has put together two programs that should be popular with handicappers, as a total of 194 horses (excluding also-eligible entries) have been entered in the 20 races, meaning that (before any late scratches) field sizes will average 9.7 horses per race, slightly below last year’s closing-weekend average of 9.9 but well above the national average.

The traditional final race of The Downs’ season, the 1 13/16-mile, $25,000 Con Jackson Claiming Stakes, is New Mexico’s longest Thoroughbred race and one of the longest in North America. Hunter’s Appeal, a 4-year-old gelding owned and trained by Jose Luna Silva and the 5-2 morning-line favorite, has won the first two legs of The Downs at Albuquerque Marathon Series, the first division of the July 28, 1-mile Downs at Albuquerque Marathon Claiming Stakes, and the August 19, 1 1/16-mile Billy Powell Claiming Stakes.

Saturday’s penultimate card at The Downs is topped by the 73nd running of the New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3) for state-bred 2-year-old Quarter Horses, one of the sport’s oldest continuously run stakes races. The State Fair Futurity was first contested in 1946, and past winners include AQHA champions Pelican, Maddon’s Bright Eyes, and Black Easter Bunny.

Following are complete previews of all six stakes races to be run this weekend at Albuquerque Downs. (All times listed are Mountain Daylight and approximate.):

NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR FUTURITY (RG3)
Purse, $335,549 -- 400 yards -- New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds
Saturday, September 22; 9th race; 9:25 p.m.

Ten state-bred 2-year-olds, topped by fastest qualifier Winerette, have been entered back in the New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3), which this year will offer a stakes-record purse of $335,549.

A homebred daughter of gray daughter of Big Daddy Cartel and 2009 champion 3-year-old filly Alice K White, Winerette is trained by Jimmy Padgett for Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms of Veguita, New Mexico. Winerette has won both of her starts, including the third of six State Fair Futurity trials on September 7.

Winerette is a half sister to Astica, the sport’s champion 3-year-old filly three years ago and the current holder of the 400-yard track record at Albuquerque Downs. Winerette drew post 7 and will be ridden by Alonso Rivera.

Jess Fire Chick, a two-time graded futurity winner during the Ruidoso Downs summer meet, drew the rail post and will be ridden by Agustin Silva for trainer Wes Giles. A homebred daughter of Jess A Chicks owned by Mike Abraham and Paul Blanchard, Jess Fire Chick has earned $322,540 from five races, and her two wins include a head victory in the June 16, $346,000 Mountain Top Futurity (RG3), and a half-length score in the July 29, $410,000 Zia Futurity (RG1).

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Jess Fire Chick (Agustin Silva), 4-1
2. Legend Of The Vine (Justin Shepherd), 15-1
3. EB Rapidito (Juan Pulido), 15-1
4. Cartel Mister (Adrian Ramos), 15-1
5. Jess Versiontino (Federico Martinez), 7-2
6. Nevado Cartel (Joseph Belloc Jr.), 5-1
7. Winerette (Alonso Rivera), 3-1
8. CM Rowdy James (Jaime Leos), 12-1
9. Stuntin Like Daddy (Edgar Martinez), 12-1
10. Jade (Daniel Amaya), 8-1

NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR THOROUGHBRED FUTURITY (R)
Purse: $165,199 -- 6 furlongs -- New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds
Sunday, September 23; 5th race; 3:10 p.m.

A full field of a dozen state-bred 2-year-old Thoroughbreds have been entered in this race, the lone Thoroughbred stakes of the weekend.

No Pasa Nada, a recent maiden winner over the track, drew post 6 and will be ridden by Tracy Hebert. A homebred son of Attila’s Storm trained by Dan Dennison for owners Robert M. Driggers, Del Rae Driggers, and Ben Lee Ivey, the gelding will be stretching out in distance off of his dominating nine-length victory in a 5-furlong, $20,000 maiden-special-weight race for New Mexico-breds on September 9.

No Pasa Nada is a full brother to Tilla Cat, a mare whose three stakes wins include this year’s La Coneja Stakes (R) at Sunland Park. The gelding has earned $16,745 from three starts.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Roll On Diabolical (Alejandro Medellin), 3-1
2. Snow In The North (Jansen Melancon), 15-1
3. Send The Storm (Duane Sterling), 15-1
4. Russian Rye (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 8-1
5. Sea Ole’ Go (Alfredo Sigala), 20-1
6. No Pasa Nada (Tracy Hebert), 4-1
7. Santita S S (Enrique Garcia), 10-1
8. Sofia’s Gift (Justin Shepherd), 12-1
9. Flying Falcon (Francisco Amparan), 6-1
10. The Whups (Juan Carlos Rivas), 20-1
11. Lil Latigo (J. Martin Bourdieu), 20-1
12. Biscuit Snatcher (Elvin Gonzalez), 9-2

LA FIESTA QUARTER HORSE DERBY
Purse: $149,530 -- 440 yards -- 3-year-olds
Sunday, September 23; 6th race; 3:35 p.m.

Apollitical Brooke, a Grade 1-winning daughter of 2010 world champion Apollitical Jess owned by Samantha Leyba and Lilly Leyba, will make her second start of the season in this race.

Trained by Ruben Leyba Jr., Apollitical Brooke ran fourth as the 11-10 favorite in the first of two La Fiesta Derby trials on September 7. The Texas-bred filly is coming off of a 2-year-old campaign during which she earned $142,361 from nine races and scored an upset victory in the 440-yard, $200,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship (G1) at Zia Park.

Apollitical Brooke drew post 3 and will be ridden by Irving Delgado-Bustillos.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. High Rate Of Motion (G.R. Carter Jr.), 12-1
2. Mr Bay Legs (Alonso Rivera), 9-2
3. Apollitical Brooke (Irving Delgado-Bustillos), 8-1
4. Kiss My Ivory (Alejandro Medellin), 12-1
5. Strykr Force (Juan Pulido), 4-1
6. Seminole Senator (L. Salvador Martinez), 6-1
7. Flash Cannon (Alfredo Sigala), 10-1
8. Luminatre (Agustin Silva), 20-1
9. Jess Shantastic (J. Martin Bourdieu), 3-1
10. Swankee (Ricky Ramirez), 20-1

AE-Famosita (Irving Delgado-Bustillos), 20-1
AE-Ms Secret Dynasty (Alfredo Sigala), 20-1

LA FIESTA QUARTER HORSE FUTURITY
Purse: $257,876 -- 400 yards -- 2-year-olds
Sunday, September 23; 7th race; 4:00 p.m.

Fastest qualifier Faster Then U lived up to his name on September 8, as the Oklahoma-bred Ivory James gelding scored a 2 1/4-length victory as the 11-10 favorite in the second of four La Fiesta Futurity trials.

Trained by Jimmy Padgett for owner Faster Then U Partners, Faster Then U has won both of his outs during the current Albuquerque meet, including a 350-yard, $16,000 maiden-special-weight dash on July 29. The gelding, a $70,000 purchase at last year’s Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City, drew post 2 and will be ridden by Alonso Rivera.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Taking The Stage (Luis Yescas), 12-1
2. Faster Then U (Alonso Rivera), 5-2
3. High Exchange Rate (L. Salvador Martinez), 12-1
4. Pricey Girl (Agustin Silva), 15-1
5. Significant Royal (Juan Pulido), 7-2
6. Miss Eysa Senator (J. Martin Bourdieu), 15-1
7. Miss Blue October (G.R. Carter Jr.), 4-1
8. Magnum Moonflash (Ricky Ramirez), 8-1
9. Dor (Reyes Gomez), 20-1
10. First Cerveza Moon (Benito Baca), 10-1

AE-Dashing For Lilly (Irving Delgado-Bustillos), 20-1
AE-FDD Knockout (Ricky Ramirez), 20-1

NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR QUARTER HORSE DERBY (R)
Purse: $138,543 -- 400 yards -- New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds
Sunday, September 23; 8th race; 4:25 p.m.

Owner/trainer Fred Danley of Anthony, New Mexico, a mainstay on the state’s racing circuit since he began his training career in 1976, will send out two contenders in this race, including fastest qualifier Jessa Diva.

The 3-1 morning-line favorite, Jessa Diva is coming off of a 1 1/4-length win in the last of three trials on September 9. The bay daughter of Jesse James Jr has earned $15,160 from seven starts this year, and her season record includes a second-place finish in the 400-yard, $40,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes (RG3) at SunRay Park on May 11.

Jessa Diva drew post 5 and will be ridden by J. Martin Bourdieu. Danley will also be represented by second-fastest qualifier Hollywoodcrown, a homebred multiple graded stakes placed Heza Motor Scooter filly. Hollywoodcrown drew post 6 and will be ridden by Porfirio Cano, who also rode Jessa Diva in her trial.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Flash Moonfire (Alonso Rivera), 8-1
2. Scooters Crown Jewel (Alejandro Medellin), 10-1
3. Insurmountable BB (David Pinon), 10-1
4. Masons Moon (Irving Delgado-Bustillos), 15-1
5. Jessa Diva (J. Martin Bourdieu), 3-1
6. Hollywoodcrown (Porfirio Cano), 4-1
7. Sixes Are Special (Michael Ybarra), 20-1
8. Regard The Rose (Alfredo Triana Jr.), 4-1
9. My Regards To You (Luis Yescas Jr.), 20-1
10. Jenna Cartel (Joseph Belloc Jr.), 8-1

AE-Miles Of Flash (Porfirio Cano), 20-1
AE-Gonna Moon Ya (Justin Shepherd), 20-1

ALBUQUERQUE FALL QUARTER HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP (G1)
Purse: $300,000 -- 440 yards -- 3-year-olds & older
Sunday, September 23; 9th race, 4:50 p.m.

Jessies First Down, the American Quarter Horse Association world champion the past two seasons and the winner of this race last year, returns to defend his crown on Sunday.

Trained by Jimmy Padgett for owner Ted Abrams of Houston, Texas, Jessies First Down will be making his first start since June 2, when the 7-year-old son of champion FDD Dynasty scored a one-length victory in the 440-yard, $250,000 Remington Park Invitational Championship (G1) in a track-record :20.77.

Also during the Remington spring meet, the gelding scored a dominating two-length win in the 400-yard, $100,000 Leo Stakes (G1) on April 28.

The 6-5 morning-line favorite, Jessies First Down drew post 8 and will be ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo. Padgett will also send out another graded stakes winner at Remington, Valiant Rogue, for owner Wyok Ranch LLC. Valiant Rogue scored a neck victory on a sloppy track in the 300-yard, $50,000 Bob Moore Memorial Stakes (G2) on April 21. The 5-year-old gelding has also won both of his starts against open-condition allowance company at Albuquerque Downs this season.

Valiant Rogue drew post 4 and will be ridden by Alonso Rivera. Other contenders include Israel Bordier’s Major Bites, a winner of all three of his races against New Mexico-bred stakes company this season. Trained by Jesus Carrete, the 5-year-old gelding is coming off of a wire-to-wire, 1 1/4-length score in the 440-yard, $70,000 First Moonflash Maturity (R) at Albuquerque on August 26.

Major Bites drew post 6 and will be ridden by Juan Pulido.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Putinical (Joseph Belloc Jr., 121), 15-1
2. Mr Apollitical Dash (Martin Felix, 120), 20-1
3. Octonaut (Ricky Ramirez, 121), 15-1
4. Valiant Rogue (Alonso Rivera, 122), 4-1
5. Abbys Zoomer (Irving Delgado-Bustillos, 121), 6-1
6. Major Bites (Juan Pulido, 124), 3-1
7. Franchise Player B (Jansen Melancon, 119), 20-1
8. Jessies First Down (Rodrigo Vallejo, 128), 6-5

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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.