ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 20, 2020—Multiple stakes winner Danjer ran down Eagles Fly Higher to win the $300,000 Downs At Albuquerque Quarter Horse Championship(G1) by a neck Sunday afternoon in Albuquerque.

In a strong rally under jockey Cody Smith, Danjer completed the 440 yards in :21.084 seconds, equaling a 103 speed index into a 5 mph crosswind. It was the ninth win in 18 starts for the son of world champion sire FDD Dynasty. The $150,000 winners' purse boosted his lifetime mark to $736,955.

Trainer Dean Frey conditions the 4-year-old gelding for himself, Downtime Enterprises LLC and Billy Smith. Bred in Oklahoma Frey, Danjer is out of the Take Off Jess mare Shez Jess Toxic.

The brown gelding entered the race off a close second behind Dexxter in the $125,000 All American Gold Cup(G1) at Ruidoso Downs September 6th. Prior to that he won the Bank of America Canterbury Park Championship Challenge.

His next start could be in the Grade 1 $300,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship on October 24th at The Downs.

Coming off a win in the Bank of America Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge August 15th, Eagle Fly Higher earned $60,000 for second.

Casey Black trains the multiple graded stakes winning son of One Famous Eagle for owner Darling Farms. Bred in Oklahoma by V.H. Harman Jr. and Roberts Moudy III, Eagles Fly Higher is out of the First Down Dash mare Lone Bet. He has earned $490,000.

Danjer and Eagles Fly Higher could meet again in the aforementioned Bank of America Challenge Championship(G1) on October 24th.

Making his first start, since a third-place effort in the Grade 1 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship on May 30th, Apollitical Pence finished three-quarters off the leaders to earn $30,000.

Leading trainer Monty Arrossa saddled the 4-year-old son of Apollitical Jess for owner's Dunn Ranch and Valeriano Racing Stables, LLC. Dunn Ranch and Womack Cavender Farms bred the gelding in Oklahoma from the Tres Seis mare Send City. He has earned $714,016.

Jess A Satin Flash, Valiant Tiberias, Mi Amor Secreto, Marcus Medallion, Putinical, Apollitical Papa and No Mires A La Luna completed the field.

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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.