Political Twist easily wins Ruidoso Futurity, but will skip Rainbow Futurity
RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. - Political Twist confirmed his status as the nation’s leading 2-year-old Quarter Horse with an easy win in Sunday’s $1 million Ruidoso Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.
The win extended Political Twist’s unbeaten record to four races.
But the gelding will not be given a chance to sweep Ruidoso’s Triple Crown of futurities.
Co-owner Javier Rodriguez, who races as La Feliz Montana Ranch, said in the winner’s circle that Political Twist will be held out of the next race in the series – the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at 400 yards, which has time trials on June 27-28 and a final on July 12. Instead, Political Twist will be pointed to the time trials of the All American Futurity at 440 yards on Aug. 8-9. The $3 million final will be run on Sept. 1.
Special Effort swept those three races in 1981. Last year, Hezgothelook Z won all three races, but had a medication violation in the All American Futurity, which could lead to forfeiture of the purse. The case is likely to have a lengthy legal process.
On Sunday, Political Twist ($3.20) ran 350 yards in 17.301 seconds to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 2-1 Russ Gus, a trial race winner in his debut on May 24. The first two finishers are trained by Xavier Rodriguez, and was part of a career-defining weekend for the trainer.
On Saturday, Rodriguez and La Feliz Montana had the first two finishers of the $793,066 Ruidoso Derby with Fdd Dreams and Little Vaquero.
Political Twist, ridden by Luis Martinez, had a clean start in the Ruidoso Futurity, and led by a length midway through the race. Martinez, 22, rode Fdd Dreams on Saturday.
Aj Remember Me (7-1) finished third in the field of seven in the Ruidoso Futurity followed by Apolitical Valor, Preying N Shining, Jess Cartel Blue and Lareda.
Only seven ran after trial race winner Allegiant Air was scratched on Sunday morning by trainer Trey Wood. Dee Favorite Tacha and Famous N Relentless, also trial race winners, were withdrawn after Dee Favorite Tacha became upset in the gate and turned sideways, appearing to strike Famous N Relentless with his front hooves.
The incident resulted in a six-minute delay to the start.
Political Twist is co-owned by Ray Willis, the chairman of the New Mexico State Racing Commission from 2016 to 2019. Political Twist, who has earned $603,017, has won two major stakes in his four starts. On April 5, Political Twist won the $365,271 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park.
Political Twist was the fastest qualifier for the Ruidoso Futurity from 30 trials on May 23-24.
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