Albuquerque Downs will host the Grade 1 $350,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship Stakes on Saturday's race card.

© Coady Media

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–SEPTEMBER 30, 2025—A high-stakes evening of elite Quarter Horse racing is on tap this Saturday night at Albuquerque Downs, with the spotlight firmly set on the Grade 1 $350,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship Stakes, scheduled as Race 9 on the card. The 440-yard sprint features a deep field of ten talented sprinters, with post time slated for approximately 9:25 PM.

The 2-1 morning-line favorite, Macdara, enters the championship off a solid third-place finish in the $50,000 Balloon City Stakes. Trained by Wesley T. Giles and ridden by Noe Garcia, Jr., the four-year-old mare will break from post nine and brings a blend of elite bloodlines and competitive experience into the contest.

Sired by Apollitical Jess and out of Amg Six Point Three (by Pyc Paint Your Wagon), Macdara was bred in Oklahoma by William E. Smith and purchased for $55,000 at the Heritage Place Sale by Marty Neugebauer. She has compiled a modest record of 3 wins from 18 starts, with total earnings of $118,425, and will be looking for a breakthrough Grade 1 performance.

Lining up on the rail is the formidable Rc Corona King (3-1), the field's top earner with a bankroll of $447,199. The five-year-old gelding, bred in New Mexico by Baldemar L. Parra, has captured major graded events including the G1 New Mexico Classic Championship, G3 West Texas Maturity, and G2 Red Or Green Stakes.

Sired by Eye Am King and out of Classyoddsofdeefirst (by Deefirst), Rc Corona King is trained by Gerardo Quinonez and will be piloted by Luis Martinez. With seven career wins and multiple graded placings, he enters the gate as a seasoned threat with the tactical advantage of the rail draw.

The Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship is contested at the classic 440-yard distance, a true test of explosive speed and perfect timing. The full field of ten promises a fast and competitive renewal, showcasing some of the Southwest’s finest older Quarter Horses. Race nine is set for 9:25 PM local time.

The Albuquerque Downs races can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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