2016 season at the Downs is winding down

The New Mexico State Fair Futurity, first run in 1946, will help mark the end of the 2016 season at the Downs at Albuquerque.

The $241,000, 400-yard sprint for 2-year-old New Mexico-bred quarter horses will be run Saturday night. It is part of a weekend program that will pay out $1.25 million in purse money.

The meet ends Sunday, with the debut of the 400-yard, $224,558 La Fiesta Futurity and the second running of the 440-yard, $250,000 Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship.

First post time Sunday is 1:30 p.m. First post time today and Saturday is 6:05 p.m.

Zoomin Effortlessly, who has four Grade 1 stakes victories since October 2015, heads the Fall Quarter Horse Championship. Santos Carrizales rides for trainer Edelmiro Carrizales.

Machismo Moon, conditioned by first-year trainer Seth Ferguson, was the fastest La Fiesta qualifier. A Fancy La Jolla, winner of the Four Corners Futurity at Sunray Park, is also entered and will be ridden by reigning AQHA champion Ricky Ramirez.

The 6-furlong, $170,525 New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity will be run Sunday. Rasketeer, a half-brother to graded stakes winners Posse and Green Fee, runs for trainer Ross Amestoy. Trainer Joel Marr will saddle Indian H Who.

The track traditionally closes its meet with the 1 13/16-mile Con Jackson Claiming Stakes. But there were not enough entrants this year. Replacing it will be the 6-furlong Bet the Gray at the End of the Day race. It has drawn 10 gray or roan thoroughbreds.