HOBBS, NM—NOVEMBER 22, 2017—Reigning AQHA Racing World Champion Jessies First Down was unchallenged Wednesday afternoon at Zia Park while defending his title in the Grade 1 Zia Park Quarter Horse Championship.

Under regular rider Rodrigo Vallejo, the son of leading sire FDD Dynasty broke on top, widened while defeating runner-up Tf Im That Guy by 1-½ lengths. Jm Country Man finished half-a-length back in third.

Trainer Jimmy Padgett II saddled the Texas-homebred for owner/breeder Ted Abrams Sr. to his second straight Zia Park Quarter Horse Championship win. The 6-year-old gelding, out of Jess A Classy Lady by Mr Jess Perry, completed the 440 yards in :21.795 seconds, a 92-speed index into a 4-mph headwind.

"It’s fun to watch! Every day we are blessed to have this horse," Padgett said following Jessies First Down's 15th career win. "He's just the best there is."

The bay gelding is on the same trajectory as last season that saw him win three consecutive Grade 1 races to be crowned the AQHA Racing World Champion, Champion Aged Horse and Champion Aged Gelding.

"We’re always proud of Jessie. He’s been a phenomenal horse for us," Abrams said after the win. "Jimmy and his groom Javier do a wonderful job and Rodrigo never asks him for more than he needs to. "

Jessies First Down has won five of six starts this season including the Grade 1 All American Gold Cup, Grade 2 Sam Houston Challenge Championship and the Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship. He was second by head in Remington Park Invitational Championship June 3 in his only loss.

"He’s still the world champion and no one has shown they can beat him. There’s a small circle in California who won’t let us run. They think they can run the Champion of Champions without him," Abrahams said. "We will go to Sunland for the Sunland Park Championship and hopefully in January we’ll win another world champion title.”

Jessies First Down has compiled a (33) 15-11-1 record in four seasons at the track. Today's $90,000 Zia Championship winners' purse boosted his bankroll to $1,011,034.

Trainer Martin Orona, Jr. saddled runner-up Tf Im That Guy for owner Victory Diaz. Manuel Gutierrez was aboard the Grade 3 winning son of all-time leading sire First Down Dash.

Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC and Tate Farms, the 4-year-old picked up $33,000 to increase his bankroll to $534,814. Out of the Special Leader mare Tf Ms Special Perry, Tf Im That Guy is expected to kick-off his stallion career in 2018 at Tate Farms in near Ville Platte, Louisiana.

Also, a stakes winner, Jm Country Man earned $15,000 for this third-place effort. Cynthia Gonzalez conditions the Mr Jess Perry 3-year-old for owners Juan Castro and Sergio Castro. Mauro Salcedo rode the Arkansas-bred from the stakes winning Country Chicks Man mare Sumokin. Bred by Corner K Quarter Horses LLC, Jm Country Man has earned $194,582.

Champion and All American Futurity(G1) winner Imperial Eagle veered out and was disqualified from fifth and placed ninth.

Completing the official order of finish were De La Eagle, Rarin, Magestic Eagle, Machismo Moon Knockemout Capi, Imperial Eagle and Watch My Wallet Loto.