ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 20, 2016—Albuquerque Downs will close its 2016 racing season with a bang this weekend, as the track will pay out a track-record total of $1.25 million in purses on Saturday and Sunday.

New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity (RG3)
Purse: $241,168—400 yards—New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds

This race is one of the oldest continuously run Quarter Horse stakes, as its history dates back to its inaugural running in 1946. Past winners include American Quarter Horse Association champions Pelican (1946), Maddon’s Bright Eyes (’48), Black Easter Bunny (’51), Now I Know (’95) and First Moonflash (2007).

The rich history of the New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity was the subject of racing journalist Ty Wyant’s Q-Racing Blog on the AQHA’s racing website (aqharacing.com).

This year’s race will be headed by Scooters Debutant, a homebred filly trained by Donna McArthur for owner Joyce D. Erickson of Albuquerque. Scooters Debutante has earned $45,130 from five races, and her resume includes a third-place finish in the July 31, $409,000 Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Other contenders include White Russsian, the runner-up in the June 19, $81,549 Four Corners Futurity at SunRay Park in Farmington. The gelded son of Swissle Stick (TB) and 2009 champion 3-year-old filly Alice K White is trained by Javier Roman Jr. for owner Cuadra San Juditas LLC.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments -- Magnifico Dragon (Mauro Salcedo), Kendall James (Raul Herrera), A Sure First (Alfredo Sigala), Daddy Queen Cartel (Daniel Amaya), Moon River (Isaias Cardenas), White Russsian (Alonso Rivera), Scooters Debutant (Benito Baca), Aries Rising (Jose Luis Enriquez), Mitey Man (Edwuin Lujan), and Go Daddy Gone (Hector Aldrete).

New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby (RG3)

Purse: $171,070—400 yards—New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds

Fastest qualifier Princess Jesse and second-fastest qualifier Chickaloni are among the 10 state-bred 3-year-olds entered back in this race.

A homebred daughter of Jesse James Jr owned and trained by Vance Mikkelson of Belen, New Mexico, Princess Jesse has won two graded stakes this season: the 350-yard, $85,000 Sunburst Stakes (RG3) at Sunland Park on April 3, and the 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Handicap (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs on July 31.

Chickaloni is trained by Larry Chavez for owners David Hinkins and Ross Hinkins of Orangevale, Utah. The gelded son of Jess A Chicks has earned $223,873 from 12 outs, and his six wins include a neck victory in last year’s 400-yard, $280,820 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) at Zia Park.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments -- First Moon Fire (Cody Jensen), Luvthem Blazinchicks (Albert Medrano), Wahoo Raider (Jaime Leos), Princess Jesse (Alfredo Sigala), First Note Medley (Edwuin Lujan), Carson City Girl (Ricky Ramirez), JJ Jessies Girl (Jose Luis Enriquez), Jameson Jr (Adrian Ramos), Chickaloni (Jose Ortiz), and Sweet Splenda (J. Martin Bourdieu).

La Fiesta Futurity
Purse: $224,558—400 yards—2-year-olds

Machismo Moon, a half brother to New Mexico State Fair Derby contender Chickaloni and the fastest qualifier, drew the rail post as the gelded son of Heza Motor Scooter seeks his first career stakes victory.

Trained by first-year trainer Seth Ferguson for owners Ramon Alvarez, Joe Alvarez, and Ysabel Medrano, Machismo Moon is coming off of a three-quarter length victory in the last of three La Fiesta Futurity trials on September 10. The gelding has banked $81,070 from four races, and his season record includes a second-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Hot Indy Chick, in the July 31, $409,000 Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Other La Fiesta Futurity contenders include A Fancy La Jolla, a stakes-winning daughter of Fantastic Corona Jr racing for Currie J. Maben of Clovis, New Mexico, and trained by Jaime Aldavaz Sr. The filly will be stretching out in distance off of her 1 3/4-length win in the 350-yard, $81,549 Four Corners Futurity at SunRay Park near Farmington on June 19.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments -- Machismo Moon (Bonifacio Perez), BF Chasing Foose (Daniel Amaya), Rebelious (Adrian Ramos), Kitty Kiernan (Cody Jensen), Toretto (Raul Herrera), O What A Night (Alfredo Sigala), A Fancy La Jolla (Ricky Ramirez), Dash Ta Desirio (J. Martin Bourdieu), Just A Little Wagon (Cipriano Vidana), and JM Country Man (Jose Luis Enriquez).

Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship
Purse: $250,000—440 yards—3-year-olds & older

One of the top older Quarter Horses in the country, multiple Grade 1 winner Zoomin Effortlessly, heads a full field of 10 sprinters in the second running of this stakes.

A 5-year-old gelding by Zoomin For Bux trained by Edelmiro Carrizales for owner Telesforo Perrett of Houston, Texas, Zoomin Effortlessly is coming off of a Ruidoso Downs summer season during which he scored a one-length victory in the 440-yards, $200,000 All American Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on September 4. Zoomin Effortlessly has earned $302,664 from four outs this season, and his resume includes wins in the 400-yard, $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1) on January 3, and the 400-yard, $100,000 Leo Stakes (G1) at Remington Park on April 2.

TF Cajun Cartel prepped for this race with a neck victory in a 400-yard allowance-optional claiming dash at Albuquerque Downs on August 26. Racing for the Cajun Partnership from the barn of trainer Fernando Carrete, the 4-year-old Corona Cartel stallion has banked $110,385 this year, and his two wins in six starts include a one-length victory in the 300-yard, $50,000 Bob Moore Memorial Stakes (G2) at Remington Park on April 23.

JM Miracle will be making his first start since April 24, when the 4-year-old gelding by Volcom ran second, a neck behind winner Once Over, in the 400-yard, $99,704 West Texas Maturity (G2) at Sunland Park. The winner of the 2014 All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs, JM Miracle is trained by Shae Cox for Javier Marquez’s J & M Racing and Farm of Monahans, Texas, and he has earned $1,489,462 from 12 races.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments -- Fly Thru The Fire (Jose L. Alvarez, 120), Bringin The Gray (Ricky Ramirez, 121), JM Miracle (Manuel Gutierrez, 122), TF Cajun Cartel (Ruben Calderon, 124), Zoomin Effortlessly (Santos Carrizales, 126), Clear Winn (Jose D. Ruiz, 119), Alis Jumpn (J. Martin Bourdieu, 121), Glock (Raul Herrera, 123), GRC Justplainazoom (Albert Medrano, 119), and Osbaldo (Felipe Garcia-Luna, 122).

New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity (R))
Purse: $170,525—6 furlongs—New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds

Rasketeer and Indian H Who, the winners from the two trials on September 10, drew posts 1 and 3, respectively.

Rasketeer is trained by Ross Amestoy for owners Pierre and Leslie Amestoy of Albuquerque and Mike Abraham of Bosque, New Mexico. The gelded son of Dome is a half brother to two graded stakes winners: Posse, the winner of the 2003 Riva Ridge Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, and Green Fee, the winner of the ’02 Kelso Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2) at Belmont.

Indian H Who races for the father-and-son team of Sam Stevens and Sammy Stevens of Lamesa, Texas. A homebred colt by the Indian Charlie stallion Indian Firewater, he is trained by Joel Marr and has won two races during the current Albuquerque meet.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments -- Rasketeer (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), Tiz Valiant (Alfredo Sigala), Indian H Who (Glen Murphy), McFirst (Miguel A. Perez), Toll Free (Jake Barton), Waltzing Attila (Roimes Chirinos), Told You So (Elvin Gonzalez), Karissa Ballerina (Gonzalo Nicolas), Tinys Storm (Casey R. Chavez), and Blazing Away (Isaias Cardenas).

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Following is the first post-time schedule for live racing at Albuquerque Downs for the meet’s final four dates, September 21-25:

• September 21, 23, 24: 6:05 p.m.
• September 25: 1:30 p.m.

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Albuquerque Downs Racetrack and Casino is located in the heart of Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair. For more information, visit abqdowns.com and click on the “Racetrack” link at the top of the homepage.