Political Twist brings quick time to Rainbow Derby
Political Twist, the champion 2-year-old Quarter Horse of 2025, starts in his first stakes since December in Saturday’s $755,955 Rainbow Derby at the Downs at Albuquerque for a new trainer and against a different set of rivals than in past races.
Political Twist has raced once this year, winning a division of the Rainbow Derby trials on June 28. He ran 440 yards in 21.15 seconds, setting the fastest qualifying time for Saturday evening’s final.
The trial race was Political Twist’s first start for trainer Daniel Ruiz Amaya, a former jockey who replaced a suspended Xavier Rodriguez in late spring.
Rodriguez, the champion Quarter Horse trainer of 2025, was summarily suspended by New Mexico officials in late May after a search of his barn found needles, syringes, and injectable materials, according to a ruling. Trainers are not allowed to possess such material at the racetrack.
Rodriguez may face further sanctions. Rodriguez was scheduled to appear at a hearing with stewards on Thursday, he said earlier this week.
Political Twist, a winner of 7 of 9 starts, breaks from post 5 in a field of 10 in the Rainbow Derby, the ninth race on a 10-race program that begins at 6:05 p.m. Mountain.
Last year, Political Twist won the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity in June, finished second by a neck in the $3 million All American Futurity in September, and was a troubled seventh in the $1.9 million Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December.
In the Rainbow Derby, Political Twist starts with two leading rivals in adjacent stalls – Point Blank Range to his inside and Famous N Relentless to his outside.
Point Blank Range, trained by Dee Keener, is unbeaten in four starts this year, including the $335,800 Heritage Place Derby on May 30 at Remington Park. Point Blank Range won a division of the Rainbow Derby trials in 21.34.
Famous N Relentless, trained by Jason Olmstead, won a Rainbow Derby time trial in 21.20 for his second win at Albuquerque this year. Famous N Relentless won the $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational at 400 yards on June 6 at Albuquerque, the consolation of the $744,506 Ruidoso Derby run on the same day.
Jarvis V was second in the Ruidoso Derby and is the only runner from that field in the Rainbow Derby. Jarvis V won a Rainbow Derby trial in 21.16.
Gf Shes Sinful, winner of the Ruidoso Derby, is part of a field of 10 in Saturday’s $534,156 Rainbow Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 440 yards, the evening’s seventh race.
Trained by Wes Giles, Gf Shes Sinful was second at odds of 1-10 in the Rainbow Oaks trials on June 28, finishing three-quarters of a length behind 7-2 Toby Sis, who set the fastest qualifying time of 21.08.
Toby Sis finished worse than second for the first time in her nine-race career when fifth as the 7-10 favorite in the $373,800 Heritage Place Oaks on May 30. Last December, Toby Sis won the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity at 11-1.
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