ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 7, 2017—This weekend’s live racing action at Albuquerque Downs will be dominated by stakes and trials for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses.

Friday’s nine-race program at Albuquerque Downs, which gets underway at 6:05 p.m. (MDT), will be headlined by six 400-yard New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3) trials for state-bred 2-year-olds and two 440-yard La Fiesta Derby trials for 3-year-olds.

Thirteen 3-year-olds have been entered in the La Fiesta Derby trials. One Famous Ribbon, a sorrel daughter of One Famous Eagle trained by Wes Giles for owner Melvin Neugebauer of Manzanola, Colorado, will risk her three-race winning streak in the second heat. A $40,000 purchase at the 2015 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, One Famous Ribbon is coming off of a one-length victory in a 440-yard All American Derby (G1) trial at Ruidoso Downs on August 20.

One Famous Eagle post 4 and will be ridden by 10-time American Quarter Horse Association champion jockey G.R. Carter Jr.

The first La Fiesta Derby trial is headed by Kitty Kiernan, a Grade 1 finalist during the recently concluded Ruidoso Downs meet. Trained by Justin Joiner for owners Patrick Guthrie, Billy G. Smith, Paul Blanchard, and Fred Grooms, the stakes-placed Fdd Dynasty filly has earned $92,667 from 10 starts, and she placed seventh in the July 22, $1.15-million Rainbow Derby (G1).

Kitty Kiernan drew post 6 and will be ridden by Cody Jensen. The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $75,000-added La Fiesta Derby on September 23.

Friday’s six New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity trials have drawn 51 state-bred 2-year-olds. Wdc Woody B Fast and Osbaldo Blue Diamond, the winner and runner-up, respectively, in the May 14, 350-yard New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG3) at SunRay Park, will renew their rivalry in the first trial.

Wdc Woody B Fast races for Barton Ranch Stables LLC and trainer Blake Rust. The bay son of Woodbridge has won both of his starts and has banked $53,600. Martin Felix will ride the gelding from post 4. Osbaldo Blue Diamond is trained by Javier Roman Jr. for owner Hubaldo Solis of Peralta, New Mexico. A gray daughter of Osbaldo, the filly broke her maiden with a one-length victory in a 350-yard maiden-special-weight sprint at Albuquerque Downs on July 22.

Osbaldo Blue Diamond drew the rail post and will be ridden by Luis Apodaca.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Friday’s trials will meet in the September 23, $100,000-added New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity final.

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The Downs will open its 10-race program on Saturday (first post time, 1:30 p.m.) with four 400-yard La Fiesta Futurity trials.

High Rate Of Motion, the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the fourth heat, drew post 8 and will be ridden by Cody Jensen for owner High Rate Partners 2017 and trainer Justin Joiner. A gelded son of second-year sire High Rate Of Return, High Rate Of Motion will be making his first start since June 11, when he finished sixth in the 350-yard, $800,000 Ruidoso Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Seminole Senator, a stakes-winning son of Louisiana Senator trained by Joiner for owners Joe David Yates, Richard Young, Richard Sturdevant, and Terry Wootan, drew post 6 and will be ridden by Salvador Martinez in the fourth trial. Seminole Senator has banked $42,263 from five outs, and his resume includes a victory in the June 18, 350-yard Four Corners Futurity at SunRay Park.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $100,000-added La Fiesta Futurity on September 24.

Saturday’s two New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity (R) trials have drawn 17 state-bred 2-year-olds, headed by stakes winner Storm The Beach. Trained by Fred Danley for owner J & SM Inc. of Fort Stockton, Texas, Storm The Beach rallied to win the 6-furlong, $50,000 Manzano Stakes at Albuquerque Downs on August 12.

Storm The Beach has won three of five starts and has earned $72,370. The Attila’s Storm gelding drew post 7 and will be ridden by Enrique Gomez in the first trial.

The top six finishers from each heat will meet in the 6-furlong, $200,000-est. New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity on September 24.

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Sunday’s 400-yard, $50,000 Balloon City Stakes at Albuquerque Downs has drawn a full field of 10 fillies and mares.

Pedro Carrillo’s Alis Jumpn, the 3-1 morning-line favorite, will be making the first official start of her 7-year-old season. Trained by Michael Megariz III, Alis Jumpn ended her 2016 campaign with a third-place finish, 1-3/4 lengths behind eventual AQHA world champion Jessies First Down, in the 440-yard, $150,000 Zia Park Championship (G1) on November 23. Alis Jumpn has won 12 of her 32 starts, including four of eight at Albuquerque Downs, and she has earned $318,768. The mare drew post 3 and will be ridden by J. Martin Bourdieu.

BF Fooserageous, a homebred 4-year-old daughter of champion Foose trained by Wes Giles for owner Kevin Birrell, drew post 6 and will be ridden by Salvador Martinez. BF Fooserageous has won seven of 15 outs and has banked $157,325, and she ended her sophomore season with a second-place finish in the 400-yard, $25,000 Las Damas Handicap (G3) at Los Alamitos.

The Balloon City Stakes will be the fifth race on The Downs’ 10-race program. Estimated post time is set for 3:10 p.m. The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Daddy Queen Cartel (Martin Felix), 10-1
2. Singin On Diva (Flavio Lozano), 8-1
3. Alis Jumpn (J. Martin Bourdieu), 3-1
4. Pilota On Fire (Jose Enrique Ortiz), 12-1
5. Ratifys Egyptianking (Jose Luis Enriquez), 4-1
6. BF Fooserageous (Salvador Martinez), 7-2
7. Easily Bono (Tanner Thedford), 12-1
8. Wild Mares Milk (Alfredo Sigala), 6-1
9. Memphis D Nasty (Edgar Martinez), 20-1
10. Mamasito Magic (Agustin Silva), 15-1

Also, Sunday’s 400-yard New Mexico State Fair Breeders’ Derby (RG3) trials have drawn a total of 22 state-bred 3-year-olds in three heats, an increase from last year’s 17 in two trials.

Mitey Man, a First Moonflash gelding owned by Bobby Simmons of Midland, Texas, drew post 5 and will be ridden by Ricky Ramirez for trainer Trey Wood. Mitey Man has earned $174,059 from 12 starts, all in New Mexico, and he is coming off of a third-place finish in the 400-yard, $176,000 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs on July 30.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the September 24, $200,000-est. New Mexico State Fair Breeders’ Derby final.

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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. General admission and parking (valet and self-parking) are always free. For more information, visit abqdowns.com and click on the “Racetrack” link at the top of the homepage.