News


National Poll Leader Jessies First Down Expected to Start in Albuquerque Fall QH Championship
North America’s No.1-ranked older Jessies First Down is expected to start in Sunday's $300,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship.

National Poll Leader Jessies First Down Expected to Start in Albuquerque Fall QH Championship

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—SEPTEMBER 19—North America’s No.1-ranked older horse in the AQHA Racing National Polls, Jessies First Down, is expected to be in action this coming weekend in the $300,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship (G1) on Sunday, closing day of the New Mexico track.

The two-time reigning world champion who has held the top spot in the poll virtually all this year, Jessies First Down will be making his first start since winning the Remington Park Invitational Championship Stakes (G1) on June 2 in Oklahoma City.

Also in the older-horse ranks, Los Alamitos Race Course on Sunday will present the $125,000 Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap (G1), which offers a berth in the $600,000 Champion of Champions (G1) in December.

Apocalyptical Jess, who is again No. 1 in the 2-year-old poll following his win in the $3 million All American Futurity (G1) on Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs, will not racing this weekend. However, several top 2-year-olds, including All American Futurity finalist Badhabit Jess, are entered in the Hobbs America Futurity (G2) trials on opening weekend at Zia Park.

Jess Fire Chick, a winner of two graded stakes for New Mexico-breds during the Ruidoso Downs meet, is set to run Saturday at Albuquerque Downs in the $125,000 New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3).

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND OLDER

  1. JESSIES FIRST DOWN (90)
  2. BH LISAS BOY (83)
  3. HOTSTEPPER (74)
  4. HOLD AIR HOSTAGE (55)
  5. ZOOMIN FOR SPUDS (51)
  6. BODACIOUS EAGLE (42)
  7. HEZA DASHA FIRE (37)
  8. TARZANITO (34)
  9. JESS MOVE YOU (29)
  10. KVN CORONA (15)

RUCE ALLMTY (9), DF AJ GREEN LEAVES (8), FLY BABY FLY (8), JESSTACARTEL (6), PAPAWS PAINT (4), WAGON ON FIRE V (2), A POLITICAL LADY (1), APOLLITICAL SCOUT (1), J FIRE UP (1).

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 2-YEAR-OLDS

  1. APOCALYPTICAL JESS (100)
  2. MM FOURINTHEMORNING (82)
  3. WAVE HER DOWN (74)
  4. BLUE CORAZON (64)
  5. SUZE RETURNS (46)
  6. IM JESS SPECIAL V (39)
  7. LYNNDER 16 (31)
  8. LONG WAGON HO (30)
  9. WICKED AFFAIR (26)
  10. JESS FIRE CHICK (19)

POWERFUL FAVORITE (13), DANJER (10), ZEE JAMES (7), DAK (3), MR COAHUILA (2), RAPPID (2), FLYING EAGLE 07 (1), ROCKYS CANDY SHOP (1).

The integrity of American Quarter Horse racing is of utmost importance to AQHA. As part of a multifaceted effort to ensure integrity, AQHA has instituted a policy concerning awards and publicity that makes horses with racing medication positives and horses trained by trainers with racing medication positives ineligible for the AQHA Racing National Polls. CLICK HERE to read the complete policy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the AQHA Racing Newscast and visit aqha.com/racing.