Rainbow Futurity, Oaks, Derby Trials This Weekend At Downs of Albuquerque

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

Trials for the second leg of quarter horse racing’s triple crown will take place this weekend, June 26-28, at the Downs of Albuquerque.

Two-year-old quarter horses will compete for a post in the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at 400-yards. There will be fifteen trials on Friday and Saturday starting at Noon. The top-five fastest quarter horses each day will advance to the finals set for Sunday, July 12.

Friday’s races include El Huracano V, who finished runner-up in the Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park on May 30. The gelding is owned by Sammy Valeriano and trained by Raymond Velerio. Francisco Calderon will ride the Oklahoma-bred as number-seven in the fourth race.

On Saturday, Monday Dynasty, second-place finisher in the Kindergarten Futurity at Las Alamitos Race Course on May 10, will be number-three in race five. The gelding is owned by Guadalupe Cortez and trained by Rodolfo Valles. Edwin Escobedo will ride the Oklahoma-bred.

Sunday’s races will include three-year-olds participating in trials for the $400,000 (est.) Rainbow Oaks for fillies, and the $600,000 (est.) Rainbow Derby at 440-yards. The top ten-fastest in the Oaks and Derby trials will advance to the finals of those races scheduled for Saturday, July 11.

Political Twist, named the American Quarter Horse Association champion two-year-old in 2025, makes a first start of the season as number-six in race ten. The gelding won last year’s Ruidoso Futurity at Ruidoso Downs and finished second in last season’s All American Futurity at Downs of Albuquerque. He is owned by Javier Rodriguez of La Feliz Montana Ranch and trained by Daniel Amaya. Luis Martinez is the rider.

First post on Sunday is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Albuquerque. Ruidoso Downs Racetrack will be open for simulcast wagering on the weekend’s races.