ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 22, 2019— Kelly Perez’s Mi Amor Secreto, a 13-1 longshot, scored the biggest win of his career when he captured Sunday’s 440-yard, $300,000 Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship (G1), one of six stakes contested at Albuquerque Downs (see related stories) during the track’s rich closing-day program.
Mi Amor Secreto made his quarter-mile trip in :20.919, and his margin of victory was three-quarters of a length from Putinical. Jose Alvarez rode the 4-year-old son of champion sire The Louisiana Cartel for trainer Marcos Carrizales, who earlier this month won Quarter Horse racing’s richest and most prestigious race, the 440-yard, $3-million All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs, with Mr Jess Jenkins.
Political Attraction, the 3-5 favorite and a three-time graded stakes winner during the 2019 Remington Park meet, finished sixth, 3-¼ lengths behind Mi Amor Secreto after a sluggish start.
“I’m really excited; this win has been a long time coming,” said Perez, who also bred Mi Amor Secreto. “He’s just a special horse.” Mi Amor Secreto was coming off of a fifth-place finish, 2 1/4 lengths behind winner CDS Wine N Dine, in the 440-yard, $200,000 All American Gold Cup (G1) on a sloppy and sealed track at Ruidoso Downs on September 1.
“I knew he was ready for this race,” Perez said. “I don’t think he liked the mud (in the All American Gold Cup.”
Mi Amor Secreto was winning for the first time in six starts this season, but the gelding had been facing top-flight Grade 1 company. On June 1, Mi Amor Secreto finished second, one length behind winner Political Attraction, in the 440-yard, $250,000 Remington Park Invitational Championship (G1) in Oklahoma.
Campaigned in four states, Mi Amor Secreto has won four of 16 races, and the $157,200 winner’s share of the purse from his second stakes victory pushed his bankroll to $348,737. In addition, the gelding earned a starting berth in the Championship at Sunland Park (G1) in December.
“We’ll take it race by race,” Perez said, when asked about future plans for Mi Amor Secreto. “We have a lot of options. We might come back here in October for the (Grade 1, $250,000) Bank of America Challenge Championship. We’ll see how it works out.”
Putinical (*Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale Graduate), an Oklahoma-bred son of leading sire Apollitical Jess, earned $60,000 for finishing second. Trainer Arnoldo Carrillo conditions the 5-year-old gelding for owner Blas Duran Castillo. Edgar Martinez was aboard the chestnut gelding out of Kgb Agent Anna by Eyesa Special. Bred by J. Garvan Kelly and Nancy Yearsley, Putinical has banked $207,390 off seven wins in 22 starts.
Former AQHA Racing champion Hold Air Hostage (*Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale Graduate) finished 1-¼ lengths back in third for owner Valeriano Racing Stables LLC. Jose Ramos conditions the son of Apollitical Jess out of Fols Zookie Street by Fols Gold. The $30,000 third-place payday boosted his bankroll to more than $1,415,550. Jesse Levario was aboard the Luis Miguel Albores Gleason Oklahoma-bred.
Rarin, Jacky Martin 21, Political Attraction, Howdy James, Hes Limitless and Major Bites completed the field.
NOTES FROM THE DOWNS: The Downs will be dark for live racing until Saturday, October 26, when the track for the first time hosts the American Quarter Horse Association Bank of America Challenge Championships. This will mark the first time since 1993 that Quarter Horse racing’s premier event will be held in New Mexico. That year, the inaugural Challenge Championships were held at Sunland Park Racetrack.
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.