For immediate release                            Contact:     Tim Keithley
                                                                                        575-937-4708
Friday, May 23rd, 2025                                  tkeithley@raceruidoso.com

TRIPLE CROWN REPORT Presented by:

Political Twist Handily Wins Trial Race to Qualify For $1 Million Ruidoso Futurity at Ruidoso Downs

Political Twist (Apolitical Jess-C Twister Seis) remained undefeated today at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack by winning the eighth trial race in the fastest time of the day, 17.629 seconds for 350-yards during day-one trials for the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity for two-year-old quarter horses.

The West Texas Futurity winner won by a comfortable two-and-a-half length margain with jockey Luis Martinez aboard for La Feliz Montana Ranch.

“He’s a race horse,” co-owner Javier Rodriguez said in the winner’s circle. “He’s so easy to train and already a professional. We’re very happy with today’s result and look forward to running this horse in the future.”

Political Twist bobbled slightly coming out of the gate but then easily gained momentum to win and pay $2.40, $2,20 and $2.10. The gelding has won three career races with earnings of about $180,000 for Rodriguez and co-owner Ray Willis.

Other quarter horses that qualified for the June 8th final include:

Apolitical Valor (Apollitical Jess-Belle of Valor) pulled away in the final strides to win the eleventh trial race by a length-and-a-half in a time of 17.836 seconds for MJR Investments and trainer Clint Crawford with jockey Jacob Enriquez aboard.

“He’s done really well all spring for us,” Crawford said. “He got away clean and gave us that gear on the end that we were looking for.”

Jess Cartel Blue (Jess Louisiana Blue-Cartel Leader) showed steady improvement to win the fifteenth trial race by one-length in a time of 17.875 seconds for owner Pete Scarmardo and trainer John Stinebaugh. Ali Rivera was the winning jockey.

AJ Remember Me (Apollitical Jess-Remember Robyn) won the tenth trial by one-length in a time of 17.896 seconds. The colt is ridden by Juan Pulido for trainer Cristian Alcala and owner Corinna Sosa.

Famous N Relentless (Hes Relentless-Tritoon) won the third trial race by one-and-a-half lengths in a time of 17.904 seconds for owners Tom Maher and Amber Olmstead. Jason Olmstead is the trainer of the gelding that paid a $30,000 late supplement fee to enter today’s trials after winning the Oklahoma Breeders Juvenile at Remington Park on April 19. The winning jockey is Ramiro Garcia.

Day-two trials for the Ruidoso Futurity will be held on Saturday with 15 trials scheduled to begin at Noon. The finals of the Futurity will be held on Sunday, June 8th.