ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 22, 2018—Ted G. Abrams’ Jessies First Down, American Quarter Horse racing’s world champion the past two seasons, kept his undefeated record this season intact with a victory in Sunday’s 440-yard, $300,000 Albuquerque Fall Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

Ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo for trainer Jimmy Padgett, Jessies First Down covered his quarter-mile trip in :21.174, and his winning margin was a half of a length from Major Bites. The homebred 7-year-old gelding earned the $181,800 winner’s share of the stakes-record purse while scoring his third Grade 1 win of the season.

Jessies First Down was making his first start since June 2, when the gelding scored a one-length victory in the 440-yard, $250,000 Remington Park Invitational Championship (G1) in a track-record :20.77. He began his season with a clear two-length win in the 400-yard, $100,000 Leo Stakes (G1) at Remington on April 28.

"This horse is a true professional," said Padgett of Jessies First Down. "We don’t have to do anything to keep his mind on business between starts. He does that himself. You can’t fault this horse in any way, shape, or form. I could stand here and try to think of something he does wrong, and I’d be here all night."

The winner of this race earned a berth in the 440-yard, $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1) on December 30, and Padgett indicated that Jessies First Down would be pointed toward that race.

"He’s getting up there in age, so we don’t want to run his wheels off," the trainer added. "We just want to pick some spots for him, races that are Grade 1 stakes, and then let him show his stuff."

Jessies First Down was bred in Texas by Abrams, a resident of Houston. According to his owner, the gelding was a late bloomer. The son of champion FDD Dynasty is out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess A Classy Lassy.

"But he was always a fast horse," Abrams said. "People often talk about how long it took him to really get this good, but even as a 2-year-old, he ran fast, he just couldn’t figure out the (starting) gates.

"And then he got hurt, so we gave him some time off and did surgery on him," he added. "Then it was the same thing with him as a 3-year-old. He’d spot his opposition a few lengths out of the gate, and he’d go and try to run them down. It all started to click when he turned 4. Ever since then he left with his opposition and closed strongly on the end, just like he did today."

Jessies First Down has won 18 of 37 races, and his 16 wins in 29 outs at the 440-yard distance include a three-quarter length victory in last year’s Albuquerque Fall Championship. The gelding has earned $1,467,002, of which $1,457,985 has been banked since the beginning of his 4-year-old season. Not since the immortal Go Man Go in 1955, 1956 and 1957 has an American Quarter Horse won three world championship titles in a row.

Multiple graded winner Major Bites earned $60,000 for his second-place effort. Jesus Carrete conditions the son of leading New Mexico sire Jesse James Jr for owner Israel Bordier. Juan Pulido had the riding call.

Bred in New Mexico by Carlos Paez, from the Major Rime mare Dyna Mo Rime, Major Bites won three consecutive state-bred stakes in three starts this season prior to the Albuquerque Fall Championship. He has compiled a (24) 8-5-3 record and banked nearly $450,000.

Coming off a win in an optional claiming race on September 1st, Putinical stepped up get third for owner Pedro Carrillo and trainer Mary Meza. A 4-year-old son of leading sire Apollitical Jess, the Oklahoma-bred is out of Kgb Agent Anna by Eyesa Special.

Making only his second career stakes appearance, Putinical earned $30,000 to bring his lifetime mark to $80,070. J. Garvan Kelly and Nancy Yearsley are the breeder. Joseph Belloc, Jr., was up.

Valiant Rogue, Mr Apollitical Dash and Franchise Player B completed the field. Abbys Zoomer and Octonaut were both scratched.

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The Downs at Albuquerque Racetrack and Casino is located in the heart of Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair, and general admission and parking are always free (via the casino entrance at Louisiana and Central) . For more information, visit abqdowns.com and click on the "Racing" link at the top of the homepage.