For immediate release                            Contact:     Tim Keithley
                                                                                      575-937-4708
Sunday, June 8th, 2025                                  tkeithley@raceruidoso.com

TRIPLE CROWN REPORT Presented by:

POLITICAL TWIST KEEPS WINNING STREAK ALIVE WITH VICTORY IN RUIDOSO FUTURITY

(Ruidoso Downs, NM) Political Twist and jockey Luis Martinez powered home a winner in the Grade-1 $1 million Ruidoso Futurity today at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack in a time of 17.301 for 350-yards.

“It’s hard to express my feelings of joy right now,” Martinez said through a translator in the winner’s circle. “The horse reacted to everything with ease—nothing seems to bother his professional attitude and going about his business.”

Trainer Xavier Rodriguez told reporters in the winner’s circle that Political Twist will skip the Rainbow Futurity trials and be pointed toward the All American Futurity trials in early August. The gelding remains undefeated in four career starts having won the Ruidoso Futurity today and the West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park on April 5th.

Political Twist is owned by Javier Rodriguez and Ray Willis. The gelding is sired by Apollitical Jess out of the mare C Twister Seis by Tres Seis, and was purchased at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Sale for $150,000. He was raised and trained at La Feliz Montana Ranch in Hondo.

Political Twist was heavily backed by bettors and returned $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10. Russ Guss ran second and AJ Remember Me was third. Prior to the start of the race two horses reared in the gate and were scratched, Dee Favorite Tacha and Famous N Relentless.

There was a dead heat in the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile as It’s A Good Valentine and Cowboy 1 hit the finish line at the exact same time, 17.768 seconds for 350-yards.

It’s A Good Valentine is owned by J and SM Inc. and Ross Roark, trained by Fred Danley and ridden by Bryan Candanosa. The gelding is sired by Jess Good Candy out of the mare Valentinecandyrocks by Valient Hero. He paid $4.20, $4.00 and $3.80.

Cowboy1 is owned by Arturo Gonzalez and trained by Eric Valenzuela with jockey Sergio Beccerra Jr. The gelding is sired by Flying Cowboy 123 out of the mare Kylee Joy by First Moonflash and paid $4.00, $4.20 and $3.60.