Grade 1 Albuquerque Fall Championship Brings Elite Field Together Saturday Night

The Saturday evening card at Albuquerque Downs will feature nine races, with first post at 6:05 p.m. The night will be highlighted by one of the meet’s premier events, the Grade 1 $350,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship Stakes.

Scheduled as the eighth race on the card, the championship brings together a talented field of ten 3-year-olds and older, set to battle 440 yards at approximately 9:00 p.m. Multiple graded stakes winners will line up for the quarter-mile test, setting the stage for a competitive Grade 1 showdown.

Paradise Pete enters as the 5-2 morning-line favorite, riding a three-race winning streak. The 4-year-old gelding has put together an impressive season, including victories in the Grade 1 All American Gold Cup, the Grade 2 Mr Jet Moore Stakes, and an allowance contest. He also finished second in the Grade 3 John Andreini Stakes earlier this year.

Paradise Pete enters Saturday’s championship following one of the strongest performances of his career. In his most recent start, he captured the Grade 1 All American Gold Cup and earned a career-high 107 speed index, extending his winning streak with another major victory.

Stephen Marshall Harris’ Maryland homebred gelding is by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Fire Specialist. He is trained by David M. Gomez-Barraza and will break from post four with jockey Christian Cardenas aboard.

GF Shes Sinful brings an impressive résumé to the championship as the 7-2 second choice. The 3-year-old filly has repeatedly proven herself at the graded stakes level this season, taking on the boys in several of the year’s major derbies.

Most recently, GF Shes Sinful finished third in the Grade 1 All American Derby after being bumped at the start, holding on to third by three-quarters of a length. In the Grade 1 Rainbow Oaks against fillies, she finished second, while earlier in the season she delivered a dominant performance against the boys to win the Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby.

The daughter of Dulce Sin Tacha is out of the Foose mare BF Fooserageous and was bred in Oklahoma by Kevin A. Birrell. She races for All In Partners, which purchased her for $50,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Wesley T. Giles trains the talented filly, who will break from the outside post 10 with her regular rider, Noe Garcia, Jr., aboard.

Adding depth to the Grade 1 field are Apollitical Boogie J at 20-1 from post one; KJ Desparado at 9-2 from post two; Hard To Politic at 8-1 from post three; Eagle Aye at 20-1 from post five; Shaundas Eagle at 12-1 from post six; Naughty Politics at 10-1 from post seven; RC Corona King at 20-1 from post eight; and Toastin Heros at 8-1 from post nine. The Swamp, listed at 30-1, is the also-eligible entrant.

With accomplished graded stakes winners, proven championship contenders, and a talented filly seeking another major victory against older competition, Saturday night’s Grade 1 $350,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship Stakes has all the ingredients for a memorable 440-yard battle. Paradise Pete will attempt to extend his winning streak to four, while GF Shes Sinful and a deep field of challengers look to take their place in the spotlight under the Albuquerque lights.

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

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