Baby Daddy Cartel, with Noe Garcia Jr. aboard, brings a four-race winning streak into Sunday's Grade 1 $375,000 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity at Albuquerque Downs.

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By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–JULY 18, 2026–Sunday afternoon at Albuquerque Downs will feature a 10-race card starting at 1:30 p.m., with New Mexico-Breds taking center stage in three featured stakes. The program is highlighted by the Grade 1 $375,000 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity, the $50,000 Zia Quarter Horse Juvenile Stakes, and the $75,000 Zia 870 Championship Stakes, offering fans an afternoon of many of the state's top young and seasoned runners.

The featured Grade 1 $375,000 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity is scheduled as race nine at approximately 4:50 p.m. The field of 10 two-year-olds earned their places in the July 3 trial heats and will sprint 400 yards for one of New Mexico's most prestigious juvenile titles.

Baby Daddy Cartel has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite after an impressive four-race winning streak. The talented gelding has won four of five career starts, with his only defeat a third-place finish. His résumé includes victories in the New Mexico Spring Fling Stakes and the Grade 2 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Futurity. He has already earned $189,689 for owners Tungsten Racing Partnership.

The New Mexico-bred son of Big Daddy Cartel is out of the First Moonflash mare Startedwithawhisper and was bred by Paul P. Cervantes. Omar Vargas trains the standout juvenile, who will break from post four with Noe Garcia Jr. aboard.

Race eight will feature the $50,000 Zia Quarter Horse Juvenile Stakes at approximately 4:25 p.m. The race is open to the next-fastest juveniles from the Zia Futurity trials, offering promising young runners another chance to compete in stakes company at 400 yards.

Big Ted has been installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after narrowly winning his trial by a head. Earlier this season, he finished second in the Grade 2 New Mexico Breeders Futurity and third in the Grade 2 New Mexico Spring Futurity. The consistent colt has finished no worse than third in five career starts, with a record of three wins, one second, and one third, earning $102,889 for Tungsten Racing Partnership.

The New Mexico-bred son of TF Im That Guy is out of the Heza Motor Scooter mare Shez Jessa Scooter and was bred by Jaime Cervantes. Omar Vargas also trains Big Ted, who will leave from post four with Sergio Becerra Jr. aboard.

The stakes action kicks off in race seven with the $75,000 Zia 870 Championship Stakes at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eight New Mexico-bred distance specialists will compete over the demanding 870-yard distance around the turn.

Boot Scoots enters as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after an impressive allowance victory in his most recent start, where he held off his rivals by a half-length. Earlier this season, the four-year-old gelding captured the Grade 2 Red or Green Stakes and has established himself as one of the state's top distance runners. He has won six races in his career, earning $176,331 for owner CHR Racing.

The son of Jess, a Chicks, is out of the Heza Motor Scooter mare Shez Jessa Scooter and was bred in New Mexico by Jaime Cervantes. Tony E. Sedillo trains the talented gelding, who will break from post two with Oscar Andrade Jr. aboard.

From the state's top juveniles vying for a Grade 1 title to accomplished distance specialists and promising young runners in the Juvenile Stakes, Sunday's card showcases the depth of New Mexico-bred racing. Albuquerque Downs is set to deliver an outstanding afternoon of stakes competition, featuring some of the best horses bred in New Mexico.

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

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