Political Twist Favored to win $1 Million Ruidoso Futurity on Sunday
THURSDAY, JUNE 5
Political Twist, a proven favorite at 5/2 morning line odds for La Feliz Montana Ranch, heads-up the field of two-year-olds in the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity, the first leg of quarter horse racing’s Triple Crown on Sunday.
The gelding comes into the featured tenth race already a stakes winner having won the $365,000 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park on April 5 for owners Javier Rodriguez and Ray Willis. Political Twist is number-nine with jockey Luis Martinez in Sunday’s Futurity.
Each qualifying horse raced in trials opening weekend with the five fastest times making Sunday’s final. Political Twist had the fastest all-around time by nearly two-tenths of a second, 17.629 seconds for 350-yards. The gelding is undefeated in three career starts.
“There are several very nice horses in the final,” Rodriguez said this week. “I thought the race time was significant because all of the races seemed evenly-matched to have a similar wind direction and speed. His trial time was exceptional.”
Nine of the ten quarter horses slated to run in the Futurity were winners of their trial races. Most notably, Famous N Relentless, the gelding whose connections paid a $30,000 supplement to enter the trials, made the final and is number-two at 15-1 morning line odds. The gelding is co-owned by Tom Maher and Amber Olmstead and trained by Jason Olmstead. Famous N Relentless is also undefeated in three races including a victory in the $100,000 Oklahoma Breeder’s Juvenile at Remington Park on April 19.
The fastest qualifier during Saturday’s trials, Dee Favorite Tacha, raced the 350-yards in 17.816 seconds for co-owners Ricardo Armendariz Jr. and Eric Pineda. Armendariz Jr. is also the trainer with Jockey Jesse Levario on board.
“Since day-one this horse has been showing that he’s the real deal,” Armendariz Jr. said in the winner’s circle that day. “We purchased the gelding at the select sale for $25,000 and he’s been showing us exactly what we think we have—a quality runner.”
Jess Cartel Blue and jockey Ali Rivera is number-seven for owner Pete Scarmardo and trainer John Stinebaugh and is 8-1 on the morning line.
“There are several of these youngsters that are going to be improving off their trial races,” Stinebaugh said. “It really comes down to whether the favorite peaked in the trials. That horse is the one to catch this time but I expect my horse to get much better as we extend the distances later on in the summer.”
First post time on Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m., with the Ruidoso Futurity scheduled to run at 5:10 p.m.. It will be broadcast nationwide on the Cowboy Channel.
Here is the lineup for the Ruidoso Futurity on Sunday:
Apolitical Valor
Owner: MJR Investments, LTD (Yolanda Rogers et al.) | Trainer: Clinton Crawford | Jockey: Jacob Enriquez | Odds: 5-1
Famous N Relentless
Owner: Tom Maher / Amber Olmstead | Trainer: Jason Olmstead | Jockey: Ramiro Garcia | Odds: 15-1
Allegiant Air
Owner: Norman Allen | Trainer: Trey Wood | Jockey: Ruben Castro | Odds: 20-1
Dee Favorite Tacha
Owner: Ricardo Armendariz, Jr & Eric Pineda | Trainer: Ricardo Armendariz, Jr | Jockey: Jesse Levario | Odds: 7-2
Preying N Sinning
Owner: 93 Ranch (Jorge Vasquez) | Trainer: Alberto Amaparan | Jockey: Christian Cardenas | Odds: 15-1
AJ Remember Me
Owner: Corinna Sosa | Trainer: Christian Alcala | Jockey: Juan Pulido | Odds: 10-1
Jess Cartel Blue
Owner: Pete Scarmardo | Trainer: John Stinebaugh | Jockey: Ali Rivera | Odds: 8-1
Russ Gus
Owner: Daniel Miranda | Trainer: Xavier E. Rodriguez | Jockey: Francisco Calderon | Odds: 8-1
Political Twist
Owner: Javier Rodriguez & Ray Willis | Trainer: Xavier E. Rodriguez | Jockey: Luis Martinez | Odds: 5/2
Lareda
Owner: Gene and Tod Bradley | Trainer: Trey Wood | Jockey: Ricky Ramirez | Odds: 30-1