A stakes winner during the Ruidoso Downs summer meet, Next Affair (pictured) will make his first-ever start at Albuquerque Downs in Sunday’s 7-furlong, $100,000 O.D. McDonald Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds.
Next Affair is a 5-year-old son of Diabolical trained by Joel Marr for owners Chase Carter and Levi James. The gelding is coming off of a 4 1/4-length victory in the July 26, 7 1/2-furlong Land of Enchantment Handicap (R).
Next Affair drew the rail post and will be ridden by Luis A. Fuentes. His 10 opponents include Jet N G and Wheredoesthecashgo. A homebred 5-year-old son of the Old Trieste stallion Mr. Trieste trained by Gary Cross for owner Maurcenia Cross, Jet N G will be making his first start since January 26, when the gelding ran second, four lengths behind winner Rig Time, in the 6 1/2-furlong, $100,000 Johnie L. Jamison Handicap (R).
Jet N G drew post 5 and will be ridden by Jimmy Ray Coates.
Wheredoesthecashgo will be stretching out in distance off of second-place finishes to Rig Time in the July 26, 5 1/2-furlong Sierra Blanca Handicap (R) at Ruidoso Downs, and the August 16, 5 1/2-furlong Casey Darnell Handicap (R) at Albuquerque Downs. Miguel Perez will ride the 5-year-old Southwestern Heat gelding from post 8 for owners Amanda Sweeten and Pablo Navarez Hernandez and trainer Andres Gonzalez.
The complete lineup for the O.D. McDonald Stakes, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Next Affair (Luis A. Fuentes), 7-2
Gunners One (Luis Negron), 8-1
Mister Kowen (Alejandro Medellin), 8-1
Thunder Dome (Shane Laviolette), 5-2
Jet N G (Jimmy Ray Coates), 6-1
M G Ms Victory Run (Francisco Amparan), 12-1
Forger (Aldo Arboleda), 6-1
Wheredoesthecashgo (Miguel A. Perez), 6-1
Shining Source (Enrique Gomez), 10-1
No Pasa Nada (Tracy Hebert), 9-2
Sunscreen (Duane Sterling), 10-1