ALBUQUERQUE, NM—AUGUST 22, 2019— Six New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses, headed by 8-5 morning-line favorite Marcus Medallion, have been entered in Sunday’s 440-yard, $95,000 First Moonflash Maturity (R).

A 6-year-old Jesse James Jr gelding trained by Jaime Aldavaz Jr. for owner Jaime Aldavaz Sr., Marcus Medallion has been assigned by racing secretary Gerald Richards to carry high weight of 129 pounds. Marcus Medallion will be stretching out in distance off of his nose victory at odds of 9-1 in th 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Handicap (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs on July 27. Marcus Medallion drew post 6 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos.

The First Moonflash Maturity honors the memory of First Moonflash, a New Mexico-bred who was the American Quarter Horse Association’s champion aged stallion in 2009.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Magnifico Dragon (Mauro Salcedo, 127), 5-2
2. Hollywoodcrown (Porfirio Cano, 126), 7-2
3. Siximoons (Alan Hernandez, 125), 10-1
4. Rocky El Roble (Martin Felix, 125), 12-1
5. Mamacita Cartel (Albert Medrano, 126), 4-1
6. Marcus Medallion (Adrian Ramos, 129), 8-5

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Ten New Mexico-bred fillies and mares, headed by multiple stakes winner Flight Song, have been entered in Saturday’s 6 1/2-furlong, $80,000 Carlos Salazar Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs.

Trained by Todd Fincher for owners R.D. Hubbard and Shaun Hubbard, Flight Song is a homebred 3-year-old daughter of Attila’s Storm. The filly will be facing older fillies and mares off of victories against 3-year-old fillies in the 6 1/2-furlong, $80,000 Petticoat Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs on July 6, and 5 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Sierra Starlet Handicap (R) at Ruidoso Downs on July 27.

Flight Song has earned $88,020 from five starts this season. The filly drew post 10 and will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr.

Other contenders include Ballinouttacontrol, a homebred 6-year-old daughter of Prince Of Fame trained by Cliff Lambert Sr. for owner Seth Howard. Ballinouttacontrol has won five of her last seven races and is coming off of a second-place finish in the 6-furlong, $50,000 Lincoln Handicap (R) at Ruidoso Downs on July 28.

Ballinouttacontrol drew post 8 and will be ridden by Miguel Perez.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Orogrande (Elvin Gonzalez), 12-1
2. Mcgoldie (Frank Reyes), 15-1
3. Short Pockets (Luis Negron), 12-1
4. Hennessy Express (Roimes Chirinos), 3-1
5. Let It Roll (Jansen Melancon), 5-1
6. Mcglorious (Enrique Gomez), 20-1
7. Tijuana (Juan Ochoa), 8-1
8. Ballinouttacontrol (Miguel Perez), 7-2
9. I’m A Dancin Who (Duane Sterling), 15-1
10. Flight Song (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 4-1

NOTES FROM THE DOWNS: The Downs will offer simulcast wagering on Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile, $1.25-million Travers Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds at Saratoga. Often referred to as “America’s Mid-Summer Derby,” the Travers has drawn a field of 12, headed by 5-2 morning-line favorite Tacitus. The Travers Stakes is one of seven graded stakes on Saratoga’s 13-race program, which starts at 9:35 a.m. MDT.

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Albuquerque Downs 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 on Louisiana and Central). For more information, visit abqdowns.com and click on the "Racing" link at the top of the homepage.