Ruidoso QH Juvenile winner Cowboy 1 has been set as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Grade 3 $100,000-added La Fiesta Futurity at The Downs in Albuquerque Sunday.

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By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 17, 2025—Following an electrifying night of Championship action, the momentum continues Sunday at Albuquerque Downs with two premier Quarter Horse events: the $75,000-added La Fiesta Derby and the $100,000-added Grade 3 La Fiesta Futurity. Both races will showcase the top ten qualifiers from trials held on September 26, bringing together some of the most talented 2- and 3-year-olds on the circuit.

La Fiesta Derby

The $75,000-added La Fiesta Derby is slated for approximately 4:25 PM and will feature a competitive field of ten 3-year-olds going 400 yards.

Leading the field as the 3-1 morning line favorite is A Dream Fulfilled, who edged out his trial heat by a neck to punch his ticket to the finals. Bred in Oklahoma by J. Garvan Kelly and J. Lloyd Yother, the colt is by Flying Cowboy 123 out of Answer the Dream, a daughter of Tres Seis. A $75,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale by Noel H. Rivera.

A Dream Fulfilled has accumulated $65,490 in earnings over eight starts, highlighted by his victory in the $100,000 All American Invitational. Trainer Ricardo G. Armendariz, Jr. will saddle the colt from post two, with Jesse L. Levario taking the reins.

Second choice on the morning line at 4-1 is Respct, a four-time winner bred in Oklahoma by Richard Joneson. Sired by Im a Fancy Pyc and out of Kitty D Ville by Takin On the Cash, Respct enters the final with a solid résumé of $93,500 in earnings from nine career starts.

Racing for owner Renne K. Wilson, the colt will break from post three under jockey Christian Reyes, trained by Clinton Crawford.

With both leading contenders side by side in the gate, the La Fiesta Derby promises a tightly contested stretch battle.

La Fiesta Futurity

The day's marquee event is Race 9, the $100,000-added (G3) La Fiesta Futurity, in which a full field of precocious juveniles will dash 400 yards for the title of futurity champion.

Cowboy 1 leads the field as the 3-1 morning line favorite. A gelding by Flying Cowboy 123 out of the First Moonflash mare Kylee Joy, Cowboy 1 was bred in Oklahoma by Cuadra JM, LLC and purchased for $100,000 by AA Farms, LLC at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

With three wins in four starts, including a score in the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile Invitational Stakes, Cowboy 1 brings both class and speed to the rail from post one. He has banked $41,530 thus far and is conditioned by Eric Valenzuela with Sergio Becerra, Jr. aboard.

The fastest qualifier from the September 26 trials is Apolitical Valor, the 4-1 second choice. The gelding by Apollitical Jess out of Belle of Valor by Valiant Hero was bred in Oklahoma by Canadian River QH, LLC and purchased for $50,000 by MJR Investments, Ltd.

 He enters with a strong record of four wins and earnings totaling $228,312. Trained by Clinton Crawford, Apolitical Valor will break from post seven under Jacob Enriquez and aims to add another graded title to his impressive résumé.

As the final stakes on an unforgettable weekend of championship racing at Albuquerque Downs, the La Fiesta Futurity caps off a weekend filled with elite equine talent, high-stakes competition, and the promise of rising stars in the Quarter Horse ranks.

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

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