For immediate release                            Contact:     Tim Keithley
                                                                                        575-937-4708
Saturday, July 11, 2026                                  tkeithley@raceruidoso.com

TRIPLE CROWN REPORT Presented by:

Political Twist Takes Rainbow Derby, Toby Sis Wins Rainbow Oaks at Downs of ABQ

(Albuquerque, NM) AQHA Champion two-year-old Political Twist returned to stakes action as a three-year-old and won the Grade-1 $756,299 Rainbow Derby for three-year-old quarter horses at Downs of Albuquerque Saturday night.

It marks the third major stakes victory for Political Twist and jockey Luis Martinez having also won the West Texas Futurity and Ruidoso Futurity last year. The gelding ran second in last year’s All American Futurity in Albuquerque.

“He’s a true champ,” co-owner Javier Rodriguez said in the winner’s circle. “He breaks like a rocket and does his job. We got it.”

Political Twist and jockey Luis Martinez broke sharply and held off Jarvis V and jockey Francisco Calderon by a half-length at the finish line to pay $3.60, $2.40 and $2.20. The 440-yard winning time was 20.942 seconds for Rodriguez and Ray Willis. Daniel Amaya is the trainer.

The gelding is sired by Apolitical Jess out of the mare C Twister Seis (Tres Seis). Political Twist has won eight races in ten career starts and boasts earnings of nearly $1.5 million.

In the $534,426 Grade-1 Rainbow Oaks for three-year-old fillies, Toby Sis and jockey Calderon hooked-up with Ruidoso Derby champion Gf Shes Sinful and jockey Noe Garcia Jr., winning by three-quarters of a length in a time of 20.894 seconds for 440-yards.

The filly is owned by Sammy Valeriano and trained by Raymond Valerio, and paid $3.60, $2.10 and $2.10. Toby Sis has won eight times in ten career starts including a victory in the Los Alamitos $2 million Futurity. Toby Sis is sired by Favorite Cartel out of the mare London Laura (Walk Thru Fire).

In the $100,000 Rainbow Invitational for three-year-olds, Mr High Five and jockey Sergio Becerra Jr., raced home an upset winner by three-quarter length at 11-1 odds for the Tungsten Racing Partnership and Heysol Howlet. The winning time for 440-yards was 21.004 seconds.

Mr High Five is sired by Apolitical Jess out of the mare Ms Southern Dynasty (Fdd Dynasty). The gelding paid $26.40, $9.40 and $4.60. Marco Flores is the trainer.