La Fiesta Futurity And Derby Set the Stage For An Exciting Sunday Finale At Albuquerque

An exciting afternoon of Quarter Horse racing awaits fans at The Downs at Albuquerque on Sunday, October 18, with the Grade 3 $100,000 La Fiesta Futurity and $75,000 La Fiesta Derby headlining a nine-race program. The two stakes events will bring together talented juveniles and accomplished sophomores, each seeking another prestigious victory to add to their racing records.

The first post is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., with the two featured events closing out the afternoon’s program.

The Grade 3 $100,000 La Fiesta Futurity will headline the ninth and final race, with ten promising two-year-olds competing at 400 yards. The field returns from the September 25 trial heats, and the championship finale is scheduled for approximately 4:50 p.m.

Flying Cowboys Candy leads the field as the 5-2 morning-line favorite after an impressive 1 1/4-length, gate-to-wire victory in his qualifying trial.

The talented colt has shown consistency throughout his juvenile campaign, finishing off the board only once in nine career starts. He has finished second in the West Texas Juvenile Stakes, Four Corners Futurity, and Rainbow Juvenile Stakes. He also earned a coveted berth in the Grade 1 $3 million All American Futurity, where his chances were compromised after being crowded and checked late.

Flying Cowboys Candy races for CHR Racing, which purchased the colt for $39,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Bred in Oklahoma by PV Quarter Horse Farms, LLC, the son of Flying Cowboy 123 is out of the Cartels Candy Man mare Candy Cartels Candy. Trainer Tony E. Sedillo will saddle the colt at post six, with jockey Christian Ramos aboard.

My Golden Boy enters as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, bringing an accomplished juvenile record into the Futurity. The gelding secured his place in the final with a determined, half-length, gate-to-wire victory in his qualifying trial.

Earlier this season, My Golden Boy qualified for the Grade 1 Ruidoso Quarter Horse Futurity and the $200,000 All American Juvenile Stakes, establishing himself as a competitive contender among some of the division’s talented runners.

With two victories, two runner-up finishes, and a third-place finish, My Golden Boy has earned $57,086 for owners Christopher J. and Melody Lykins, who bought him for $45,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

The $75,000 La Fiesta Derby will be the afternoon’s co-feature in race eight, scheduled for approximately 4:25 p.m. A field of ten three-year-olds will return from the September 25 qualifying trials to compete at 400 yards.

Mr High Five headlines the Derby field as the 5-2 morning-line favorite after a strong qualifying performance. The three-year-old gelding rallied late to win his trial by half a length, securing the second-fastest qualifying time for the final.

The accomplished gelding has already enjoyed a successful sophomore campaign, highlighted by a win in the Rainbow Invitational Stakes. He also earned a berth in the Grade 1 All American Derby, where he finished fifth after racing evenly throughout the race.

With five career victories and $259,912 in earnings, Mr High Five has established himself as a proven stakes competitor. He races for Tungsten Racing Partnership, which acquired him for $155,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

Bred in Oklahoma by Sam W. Green, Mr High Five is a son of Apollitical Jess, out of the FDD Dynasty mare Ms Southern Dynasty. Trainer Marco A. Flores will send the gelding from post two, with jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr., set to guide him.

With talented juveniles seeking a breakthrough stakes win and seasoned three-year-olds aiming to strengthen their credentials, the La Fiesta Futurity and Derby promise an exciting conclusion to Sunday’s racing program.

The two featured events will offer fans and bettors competitive fields, proven stakes performers, and rising stars eager to make their mark as the fall racing season continues at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The first post for Sunday’s nine-race program is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., with the $75,000 La Fiesta Derby set for 4:25 p.m. The Grade 3 $100,000 La Fiesta Futurity closes the afternoon at approximately 4:50 p.m.

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

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