Ruidoso Futurity Winner Political Twist Leads Two-Year-Olds Into Trials for $3 Million All American Futurity At Downs of Albuquerque

MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025

It promises to be an extra-long day next Monday for Javier Rodriguez, owner of two-year-old Political Twist who races at the Downs of Albuquerque.

The undefeated Ruidoso and West Texas Futurity champion will race in the first trial of the day at 11 a.m., and then try to maintain one of the five fastest times over sixteen races and qualify for the finals of the $3 million All American Futurity for two-year-olds at 440-yards to be held on Labor Day, Sept. 1 in Albuquerque.

“It’s a little concerning being in the first trial of the day, but you can’t control that,” Javier said from the barn area. The Hondo-based La Feliz Montana Ranch horses arrived in Albuquerque to train last week.

“He’s been to the track three times to train already and to the gate once,” Javier said. “He’ll go back again on Friday. He’s rested and ready to go.”

Javier held Political Twist out of the mid-summer Rainbow Futurity trials before the final was eventually cancelled due to flooding events at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding will be number-eight on Monday with jockey Luis Martinez on board for trainer Xavier Rodriguez.

Along with Political Twist, trainer Rodriguez has other runners in the trials that could potentially qualify for the All American final. For instance, Russ Gus will be number-seven in the third trial on Monday having ran second in the Ruidoso Futurity to Political Twist. Russ Gus also qualified for the Rainbow Final on June 27. The gelding will be ridden by jockey Martinez for owner Daniel Miranda.

The fastest qualifying horse to the canceled Rainbow Futurity final, WR Desperado, is scheduled to race in Monday’s seventh race as number-ten with Edwin Escobedo riding for owners Lanie Whitmire, Raymond Whitmire and trainer Mike Joiner.

“I like his outside post,” Joiner said from the barns this week. “The colt broke from the outside in his first start at Remington Park so that should be familiar. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see him run in the Rainbow final but that might turn out to be a good thing. He’s had plenty of rest.”

Day-two trial races include an appearance by KJ Bad to the Bone, number-six in the third trial race for owners John and Kathy Lee and trainer Wes Giles. The gelding scored a recent bullet work (11.60 for 220-yards) at the Downs of Albuquerque on July 17 in preparation for the trials. The gelding has a win and place finish in the Ruidoso and Rainbow trials earlier this summer at Ruidoso Downs.

In the fourteenth race on Tuesday, It’s a Good Valentine and jockey Bryan Candanosa will race as number-one for owners Sue May and Ross Roark. The gelding won the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile on June 8 for trainer Fred Danley.

Ruidoso Downs will be open for simulcast wagering of the All American Futurity, Derby and Oaks trials starting at 10 a.m. Monday thru Wednesday. The simulcast area and Cantina restaurant are open seven days a week.