Jessies First Downs, under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo, easily handled the Grade 1 All American Gold Cup at Ruidoso Downs.

© Ismael Venegas / StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 17, 2017—Fresh off of a convincing win in the All American Gold Cup(G1) on September 3rd at Ruidoso Downs, 2016 AQHA World Champion Jessies First Down will make his fifth start of the year next on September 24th in the $250,000 Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship at The Downs At Albuquerque.

In his last fifteen starts, dating back to an allowance event in January of 2016 at Hialeah, the son of FDD Dynasty has won all but four—placing in all four defeats.

During that fifteen-race stint, he prevailed in the Refrigerator Handicap(G1), Zia Park Championship Stakes(G1), The Championship At Sunland Park(G1), Sam Houston Classic Stakes(G1), Sam Houston Championship Challenge(G2) and the All American Gold Cup(G1). His lifetime earnings are $766,034 from 31 starts.

Since the All American Gold Cup(G1) victory, trainer Jimmy Padgett had been contemplating the road to get the Ted G. Abrams homebred a berth into the $750,000 Champion Of Champions(G1) at Los Alamitos.

"The plan after the Gold Cup win was to look towards running him in the Bank Of American Challenge Championship(G1) at Prairie Meadows in Iowa to try get him eligible for a berth into the Champion of Champions," said Padgett. "He came out of the Gold Cup at Ruidoso feeling great, and he is a very sound horse. The Albuquerque race is this month, and we would have to wait until mid-October to run in Iowa. So we are going to try to get to Los Alamitos by running him in the Championship in Albuquerque."

Padgett indicated that he will be shipping not only Jessies First Down for the Albuquerque Fall Championship, but also will be send stable mate Dutcher to the 440-yard stakes event. Dutcher is coming off of a runner-up finish to his Jessies First Down in the Sam Houston Classic Handicap(G2).