SUNLAND PARK, NM—DECEMBER 31, 2016—Ted Abrams homebred Jessies First Down held off post-time favorite Zoomin Effortlessly by a nose to win the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park Saturday afternoon. It was the third consecutive grade 1 win for the son of leading sire FDD Dynasty.

With Rodrigo Vallejo in the saddle, Jessies First Down rocketed to the front at the start of the 440 yard classic. The 3-1 second choice poured on the speed and led by half a side through the stretch but Zoomin Effortlessly produced a wicked late run to make matters close. Jessies First Down held on for a photo finish win over his arch rival and defending champion Zoomin Effortlessly. Only four one-thousands of a second separated the top two finishers. The winner clocked the quarter mile in a fast 21.232 seconds, good for a 94 speed index.

Trained by the nation’s leading Quarter Horse conditioner Judd Kearl, Jessies First Down completed a tremendous 2016 with 8 wins from 11 starts. The five-year-old bay gelding by Fdd Dynasty won over 6 different tracks: Hialeah, Sam Houston, Ruidoso Downs, Lone Star Park, Zia Park and Sunland Park.

Judd Kearl said, ''He’s been training super. And just when I think he can’t get any better, he does.''

In the past 11 months he has won the Grade 1 Zia Park Championship, Grade 1 Refrigerator Handicap, Grade 2 Sam Houston Classic and Miami-Dade County Stakes. He was also second in the Grade 1 All American Gold Cup at Ruidoso and Grade 1 Sam Houston Challenge Championship.

A proud winning owner Ted Abrams said in the winner’s circle, ''He’s as fast as any horse in the United States. We never ducked the competition. He beat a lot of horses at a lot of racetracks. I think he deserves the title of World Champion Quarter Horse.''

The Texas-bred, out of Jess A Classy Lady by Mr Jess Perry, won eight of 11 races this year and was second in his other three starts. The $160,200 Championship winners' purse boosted his career mark to $582,107 and established him as a leading contender for championship honors.

Last year's Championship at Sunland Park (G1) winner Zoomin Effortlessly suffered his second straight loss to Jessies First Down. The son of Zoomin For Bux finished a head back in the $150,000 Zia Park Championship(G1) on November 23.

Edelmiro Carrizales conditions the multiple graded winner for owner Telesforo Perrett. Bred in Texas by Tommy Charbula, Zoomin Effortlessly has won 15 of 25 starts and earned nearly $670,000 after pocketing $73,200 for today's runner-up effort. Santos Carrizales was riding. He is out of the Royal Quick Dash mare Royal Quick Affair.

J and M Racing and Farm's Ferarri Gt was a game third after drifting all the way to the outside rail from the 10 post under jockey Manuel Gutierrez. Paul Jones saddled the Pyc Paint Your Wagon 3-year-old out of Ferarri Fast Prize by Mr Jess Perry. The multiple grade 1-placed gelding earned $35,200 to boost his earnings mark to $167,659.

Tf Im That Guy, First Valiant Sign, Rattle N Battle, Roman Soldier Cd, Apollitical Ok and Specials Jess completed the field. Tf Cajun Cartel was scratched.

Live racing resumes on Sunday at 12:45 p.m. (MST). The $65,000 Bold Ego Handicap (8th race) and the $85,000 Four Rivers/John Deere Stakes (9th race) are the Thoroughbred feature races.