Cd Favorite Lady, under jockey Luis Valenzuela, won the $40,000 Downs Fall Quarter Horse Distaff Stakes on Saturday night at Albuquerque Downs.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—OCTOBER 18, 2025—In a strong late-closing effort, Cd Favorite Lady surged past her rivals to win the $40,000 The Downs Fall Quarter Horse Distaff Stakes at Albuquerque Downs on Saturday evening.

Covering 400 yards in 19.351 seconds, the 3-year-old daughter of leading sire Favorite Cartel earned a 96 speed index, aided by a six-mile-per-hour tailwind over a fast track.

Trained by Havid Canez and ridden by Luis Valenzuela, the California-bred filly earned $19,600 for the victory to boost her bankroll to $50,583. She races for CD Horses, Inc. and was bred by Cesar J. Dabdoub. Cd Favorite Lady is out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jessa Lady Cee.

Third in the AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby last Spring this was her first career stakes victory.

The winning connections of Cd Favorite Lady accept the Downs Fall Quarter Horse Distaff stakes trophy at Albuquerque Downs Saturday night. © Coady Media

Loose And Lethal, a 4-year-old filly by Jesse James Jr out of Easily Lethal by Corona Cartel, dueled gamely with the eventual winner before being caught in the closing strides to finish second by a half-length.

Ridden by Joseph Belloc Jr. for trainer Mark Brown, the New Mexico-bred filly earned $8,400 for owners A. Mark and Peggy A. Brown. Loose And Lethal was a 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale repurchase for $22,000 and was bred by her owners. She has earned $79,715.

Budder Off Friends, a 5-year-old mare by five-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty out of Budderfly Effect by Strawflyin Buds, finished third after breaking sharply and dueling early before weakening near the wire.

She was ridden by Sergio Dominguez for trainer Daren Jones and owner David Hinkins. The Oklahoma-bred mare, bred by Double Bar S Ranch LLC, earned $4,200 for her effort and was a $60,000 purchase at the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. She has earned $122,589 in 39 career starts.

Cd Favorite Lady paid $7.00 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.80 to show. Loose and Lethal returned $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show, while Budder Off Friends paid $3.60 to show. The $1 exacta (6-2) paid $11.80, the 50-cent trifecta (6-2-1) returned $17.70, and the $1 superfecta (6-2-1-9) paid $186.40.

The order of finish was Cd Favorite Lady, Loose and Lethal, Budder Off Friends, Moonys Lil Flicka, High Fling, Hot Lips Charlie, and Rayshas Pink Cartel.

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