Political Twist will likely head into All American Futurity as favorite
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Political Twist will be favored in the $3 million All American Futurity at the Downs at Albuquerque on Sept. 1, Quarter Horse racing’s richest race, after winning the first time trial on Monday.
Political Twist, trained by Xavier Rodriguez, ran 440 yards in 21.05 seconds, the second-fastest time from 16 trials that day. King of the Tide, second in the $346,008 Mountain Top Futurity for New Mexico-breds at Ruidoso Downs on June 15, holds the overall fastest qualifying time of 21.001 seconds set with a win in Monday’s seventh race.
The runners with the five fastest times from Monday and Tuesday’s trials advanced to the final. On Tuesday, The Diesel Train won the 11th of 16 trials in an 8-1 upset in 21.06 seconds, the day’s fastest time.
Political Twist, co-owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch and Ray Willis, is unbeaten in five starts, including the first two major futurities in New Mexico for open company this year – the $365,271 West Texas Futurity at 300 yards at Sunland Park on April 5, and the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity at 350 yards at Ruidoso Downs on June 8. Luis Martinez has ridden Political Twist in all five of his starts, including time trials for the futurities earlier this year.
Monday’s race was Political Twist first start since the Ruidoso Futurity. A gelding by Apollitical Jess, Political Twist has earned $609,017.
King of the Tide, trained by Trey Wood, has won 2 of 4 starts.
The only other finalist with stakes experience is The Diesel Train, who is trained by James Gonzales 3d. The Diesel Train was last of 10 in the West Texas Futurity after a poor start, and last of nine in the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile on June 8, the consolation to the Ruidoso Futurity.
In Tuesday’s trial, The Diesel Train had a better start and won by a neck for his second win in six starts. The Diesel Train is the most experienced runner among the qualifiers for the All American Futurity.
Other qualifiers are Dragon Link, Ajs Wingman and Envestor from Monday’s trials, and Rovos Rail, Kj Xquizit Jess, Dee Favorite Tacha and Lethal Lobo on Tuesday.
Envestor, who was timed in 21.13 seconds, is unbeaten in three starts. He won a division of the Ruidoso Futurity trials on May 23, but was not quick enough to gain a berth in the final. Trained by Zackary Stinebaugh, Envestor won a division of the Rainbow Futurity trials on June 28. The $1 million final on July 13 was cancelled because of the flood.
The All American Futurity, as well as the All American Derby and All American Oaks, which have time trials on Wednesday, were scheduled to be run at Ruidoso Downs on Labor Day weekend, but have been moved to Albuquerque for the second consecutive year because of flooding in Ruidoso.
On July 8, a severe flood from monsoonal rains engulfed the Ruidoso Downs racetrack, forcing the cancellation of the remainder of the meeting. A similar situation occurred in late July of 2024, several weeks after a massive wildfire struck a mountain range near the track. With a barren forested area at higher elevations, the burn scar has repeatedly produced massive runoffs that have inundated a small river that runs through the infield at Ruidoso Downs.
The Ruidoso community has sustained several floods in the last month, including one that led to three deaths.
Last year, the final seven weeks of the Ruidoso Downs meeting were held at the Downs at Albuquerque, ending with the All American Futurity on Labor Day.
This year, only the trials for the All American Futurity, Derby and Oaks were moved to Albuquerque.
This week’s trials were the first racing in New Mexico since July 6. After Wednesday’s program, racing resumes in the state on Aug. 28, with the opening day of the previously-scheduled summer-fall meeting at Albuquerque.
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