Party Politics gets up for nose win in Golden State Million

CYPRESS, Calif. - Party Politics started in Sunday’s $1,060,250 Golden State Million at Los Alamitos as the most accomplished 2-year-old Quarter Horse in California this year.

After Party Politics won a thrilling running of the 400-yard race in a minor upset, he has a chance at a first-ever sweep of the track’s three seven-figure futurities.

Party Politics won the Ed Burke Million Futurity in June, and will be pointed for the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Dec. 11 following his win on Sunday. Trials for the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity will be run on Nov. 20.

No horse has swept the series since the Ed Burke and Golden State Million became seven-figure futurities in 2005. Higher Fire has come the closest, winning the Ed Burke and Golden State Million futurities before finishing second in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

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Party Politics ($12.80) won the Golden State Million by a nose over 9-10 favorite Cyber Attack, who led by three-quarters of a length midway through the race. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, Party Politics broke from post 10 and was second early before closing on Cyber Attack.

Party Politics was timed in 19.79 seconds and earned $445,305.

Political Royalty (52-1) finished third, beaten three-quarters of a length. Jeriko, the 2-1 second choice, finished fourth by 1 1/2 lengths after a slow start.

Apollitical Jet, who finished eighth, collapsed and died of an apparent internal injury while being walked back to the stables, according to two track officials.

Cyber Attack was favored on the strength of a win by 2 1/4 lengths in the time trials on Oct. 9 in which he set the fastest qualifying time of 19.60 seconds. Party Politics won a division of the trials in 19.96 seconds, the eighth-fastest qualifying time in a field of 10.

Party Politics, a gelding by Apollitical Jess, has won 4 of 5 starts and earned $857,555 for the JGA Racing Stables, a small partnership of family and friends organized by winning trainer Juan Aleman.

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