Fired took command early and cruised to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $14,853 Aged Invitational Stakes at Century Downs on Saturday afternoon. The five-year-old gelding covered 400 yards in :19.519 over a fast track, securing his eighth career victory.

Ridden by Alexander Marti, Fired broke second before quickly taking command and extending his advantage to 1 1/2 lengths during the race. He maintained a comfortable lead through the finish, earning a 111 speed index.

Owned by Jerry Stojan and trained by William Leech, Fired was bred in California by Steve D. Burns, DVM. The $18,000 Los Alamitos Equine Sale graduate is sired by Fly Thru The Fire and out of the winning Separatist mare Ruths Chris. He is a full brother to Black Fryday ($369,940), winner of the Southern California Derby (G2), and Stripsteak ($118,239), a two-time winner of the Evergreen Park Championship Challenge.

Saturday's victory improved Fired's career record to eight wins, ten seconds, and one third from 24 starts. The $7,872 winner's share increased his lifetime earnings to $112,976. A previous winner of the Old Timers Classic Stakes, Fired entered Saturday's contest following a fifth-place finish in the Century Downs Cup Classic Maturity.

First Famous Prize finished second under jockey O. Hernandez, holding off Jess The Train by a head. The four-year-old filly broke sharply from post two and was first away from the gate before Fired took command. She maintained second throughout the race, stopping the clock in :19.744.

Owned by Commotion Creek Contracting and WT Ranches Ltd. and trained by Buckey Stockwell, First Famous Prize was bred by Weetona Stanley. She sold for $32,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale and later for $20,000 at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. The daughter of world champion sire One Famous Eagle is out of the winning Desirio mare Fancy First Prize.

First Famous Prize has compiled five wins, five seconds, and two thirds from 17 career starts, earning $119,661. Her stakes victories include the Canada Cup Futurity (G3), Canada Cup Derby, and Century Mile Derby Challenge. She entered Saturday's race following a fourth-place finish in the Century Downs Cup Classic Maturity.

Jess The Train completed the trifecta under Daniel Garcia, finishing a head behind First Famous Prize. The three-year-old filly broke outward and drifted out leaving the chute before settling into third, where she remained through the finish. She covered the distance in :19.777.

Also owned by Commotion Creek Contracting and WT Ranches Ltd. and trained by Buckey Stockwell, Jess The Train was bred by Bob McClure. The daughter of Freighttrain B is out of the Feature Mr Jess mare Jess Ballin The Jack. She has recorded three wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 12 starts, earning $34,127. Earlier this season, she captured the All Canadian Derby.

O Seeyalater, the post-time favorite, finished fourth after lacking a late kick, while O La Dee Da completed the order of finish in the five-horse field.

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Rancho El Dorado announces that two-time graded stakes winner Electrifying Cowboy is now enrolled in the Fuego Stallion Incentive Program’s Azul Flight. He will return for his second season at stud in Anthony, New Mexico, in 2027 at a fee of $4,000.

According to the farm’s announcement, his 2026 foals and foals resulting from 2027 breedings will be eligible for the Azul Flight.

Bred in Texas by Paragon Farms, Electrifying Cowboy is owned by Tungsten Racing LLC and Ron Sugamosto. He is the only multiple graded stakes-winner and highest money-earning son of Flying Cowboy 123 standing at stud.

A MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES WINNER

Electrifying Cowboy won six of his 10 career starts, beginning with a debut victory in the 2024 West Texas Futurity (G2) trials that secured his place in the final. He later won his Ruidoso Futurity (G1) trial to qualify for the $1 million final.

In the fall of 2024, he began a four-race winning streak that included setting the fastest qualifying time for the La Fiesta Futurity (G3) and returning to win the final. He followed with a victory in the Southwest Juvenile Invitational Stakes (G2) at Zia Park.

His final victory came in a Ruidoso Derby trial. Following one additional start in the Rainbow Derby trials, his connections retired him to begin his stallion career.

A RECORD-SETTING SIRE LINE

Flying Cowboy 123 has established a series of sire records since his first runners reached the track. In 2023, he set the all-time first-crop sire earnings record with more than $4.3 million, represented by 50 winners and 17 stakes victories, including nine graded wins.

He followed in 2024 with an all-time second-year sire earnings record of nearly $5.4 million. His runners accounted for 97 winners and 17 stakes victories, including five graded wins.

Flying Cowboy 123 led third-year sires in 2025 with more than $7.2 million in progeny earnings. In 2026, with his fourth crop racing, he surpassed Apollitical Jess to establish the all-time single-season sire earnings record with more than $10.8 million.

From four crops to race, Flying Cowboy 123 has sired 351 winners and 128 black type performers from 575 starters. His progeny have earned $28 million, averaging approximately $48,500 per starter.

His runners include two All American Futurity (G1) winners: Cowboys Flying SI 111, with earnings of $2,062,793, and two-time champion Cowboys Gun Z SI 101, with $1,678,945. He also sires Lethal Cowboy 123 SI 98, an earner of $1,550,372.

A FAMILY WITH GENERATIONS OF STAKES SUCCESS

Electrifying Cowboy is a full brother to stakes-placed Cowboy 123, an earner of $169,289, and Flyn Electric Cowboy, who earned $56,137. He is also a half brother to Grade 3 winner Famous Carmilita, an earner of $56,244.

His dam, Corona Carmelita, earned $49,318 and was a finalist in the Ruidoso Derby (G1). She is a full sister to All American Futurity (G1) finalist Love Samba, an earner of $184,182. Love Samba produced stakes winner Rockin Red Rhythm, who earned $56,233, and is the grandam of stakes winner Lovely Josie James, an earner of $167,187.

Corona Carmelita is also a full sister to Darling Corona, dam of stakes winner El Tartanero Jess, an earner of $121,768, and a half sister to stakes winner Gallant Mystic, who earned $90,965.

Electrifying Cowboy’s second dam is a half sister to two-time AQHA champion Dashin Is Easy, an earner of $775,123, and stakes winner Dashin Prince Henry, who earned $178,046. His third dam is a winning half sister to Grade 3 winner Jody O Toole and to the dam of AQHA champion Eyesa Special, an earner of $1,394,911.

2027 BREEDING INFORMATION

With six career victories, two graded stakes wins and a family rich in stakes performers, Electrifying Cowboy brings established racing credentials to Rancho El Dorado’s breeding program. His enrollment in Fuego’s Azul Flight adds another opportunity for breeders considering him for 2027.

For more information or to request a breeding contract, contact farm manager Yeritza Carrasco at (575) 502-0598 or (575) 386-2912, or email ranchoeldorado290@yahoo.com.

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The AQHA Racing Challenge Championships bring together some of the sport’s finest horses and horsemen for a night of high-stakes racing. From fast-paced championship sprints to tests of speed and athleticism, the evening showcases the incredible talent of the American Quarter Horse.

One of the night’s marquee events is the AQHA Championship Challenge, a 440-yard race for 3-year-olds and up. The division features some of the industry’s finest horses.

Before the horses hit the track, get to know the contenders in the AQHA Championship Challenge. The official Pedigree Binder by Equineline.com provides an in-depth look at the horses competing in this division, including their pedigrees and past performances.

VIEW THE AQHA CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE PEDIGREE BINDER

Then, tune in to QRacingVideo.com to watch the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships live from The Downs at Albuquerque, and follow the action as the sport’s top competitors race for championship glory. Post time is 6:05 p.m. on Saturday, October 17.

Watch the races live on Q-Racing Video

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An exciting afternoon of Quarter Horse racing awaits fans at The Downs at Albuquerque on Sunday, October 18, with the Grade 3 $100,000 La Fiesta Futurity and $75,000 La Fiesta Derby headlining a nine-race program. The two stakes events will bring together talented juveniles and accomplished sophomores, each seeking another prestigious victory to add to their racing records.

The first post is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., with the two featured events closing out the afternoon’s program.

The Grade 3 $100,000 La Fiesta Futurity will headline the ninth and final race, with ten promising two-year-olds competing at 400 yards. The field returns from the September 25 trial heats, and the championship finale is scheduled for approximately 4:50 p.m.

Flying Cowboys Candy leads the field as the 5-2 morning-line favorite after an impressive 1 1/4-length, gate-to-wire victory in his qualifying trial.

The talented colt has shown consistency throughout his juvenile campaign, finishing off the board only once in nine career starts. He has finished second in the West Texas Juvenile Stakes, Four Corners Futurity, and Rainbow Juvenile Stakes. He also earned a coveted berth in the Grade 1 $3 million All American Futurity, where his chances were compromised after being crowded and checked late.

Flying Cowboys Candy races for CHR Racing, which purchased the colt for $39,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Bred in Oklahoma by PV Quarter Horse Farms, LLC, the son of Flying Cowboy 123 is out of the Cartels Candy Man mare Candy Cartels Candy. Trainer Tony E. Sedillo will saddle the colt at post six, with jockey Christian Ramos aboard.

My Golden Boy enters as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, bringing an accomplished juvenile record into the Futurity. The gelding secured his place in the final with a determined, half-length, gate-to-wire victory in his qualifying trial.

Earlier this season, My Golden Boy qualified for the Grade 1 Ruidoso Quarter Horse Futurity and the $200,000 All American Juvenile Stakes, establishing himself as a competitive contender among some of the division’s talented runners.

With two victories, two runner-up finishes, and a third-place finish, My Golden Boy has earned $57,086 for owners Christopher J. and Melody Lykins, who bought him for $45,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

The $75,000 La Fiesta Derby will be the afternoon’s co-feature in race eight, scheduled for approximately 4:25 p.m. A field of ten three-year-olds will return from the September 25 qualifying trials to compete at 400 yards.

Mr High Five headlines the Derby field as the 5-2 morning-line favorite after a strong qualifying performance. The three-year-old gelding rallied late to win his trial by half a length, securing the second-fastest qualifying time for the final.

The accomplished gelding has already enjoyed a successful sophomore campaign, highlighted by a win in the Rainbow Invitational Stakes. He also earned a berth in the Grade 1 All American Derby, where he finished fifth after racing evenly throughout the race.

With five career victories and $259,912 in earnings, Mr High Five has established himself as a proven stakes competitor. He races for Tungsten Racing Partnership, which acquired him for $155,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

Bred in Oklahoma by Sam W. Green, Mr High Five is a son of Apollitical Jess, out of the FDD Dynasty mare Ms Southern Dynasty. Trainer Marco A. Flores will send the gelding from post two, with jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr., set to guide him.

With talented juveniles seeking a breakthrough stakes win and seasoned three-year-olds aiming to strengthen their credentials, the La Fiesta Futurity and Derby promise an exciting conclusion to Sunday’s racing program.

The two featured events will offer fans and bettors competitive fields, proven stakes performers, and rising stars eager to make their mark as the fall racing season continues at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The first post for Sunday’s nine-race program is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., with the $75,000 La Fiesta Derby set for 4:25 p.m. The Grade 3 $100,000 La Fiesta Futurity closes the afternoon at approximately 4:50 p.m.

The races at Albuquerque Downs can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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