For immediate release                            Contact:     Tim Keithley
                                                                                        575-937-4708
Sunday, June 28, 2026                                  tkeithley@raceruidoso.com

TRIPLE CROWN REPORT Presented by:

Political Twist Returns with Fastest Qualifying Time In $750,000 Rainbow Derby Trials at Downs of ABQ.

(Albuquerque, NM) Political Twist, the AQHA champion two-year-old from 2025, returned to racing with a victory Sunday in trials for the $750,000 Rainbow Derby at the Downs of Albuquerque.

The three-year-old gelding recorded the fastest time of the trials, 21.157 seconds for 440-yards. Political Twist had been on the shelf since December.

“I thought our horse could have broke a little better, but that’s understandable having been away for a while,” owner Javier Rodriguez of La Feliz Montana Ranch in Hondo, New Mexico said. “I’m very proud of the effort.”

Political Twist has earnings of $1.1 million from a solid two-year-old campaign that included wins in the West Texas Futurity, Ruidoso Futurity, and runner-up in the All American Futurity. The gelding is sired by Apollitical Jess out of the mare C Twister Seis (Tres Seis), and paid $3.60, $3.00 and $2.20.

Here are the qualifiers for the $750,000 Rainbow Derby to be held at the Downs of Albuquerque on Saturday, July 11:

$750,000 Rainbow Derby Qualifiers

Toby Sis Fastest in Rainbow Oaks Trials

Toby Sis, a three-year-old filly, was fastest qualifier in trials for the $500,000 Rainbow Oaks at 440-yards, winning the third trial race by three-quarters of a length in a time of 21.080 seconds.

The filly has won seven of nine lifetime starts with earnings of nearly $900,000 for owner Sammy Valeriano, including the Los Alamitos $2 million Futurity in December. Francisco Calderon was the winning rider as the filly paid $9.60, $2.20 and $2.10.

Toby Sis is sired by Favorite Cartel out of the mare London Laura (Walk Thru Fire).

Here are the qualifiers for the Rainbow Oaks to be run on Saturday, July 11 at the Downs of Albuquerque: