Ruidoso Futurity

Political Twist continued his impressive juvenile campaign on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs as he drew clear to a 1 ½-length victory in the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity (G1) to keep his perfect record intact through four starts. Luis Martinez rode the Apollitical Jess gelding at odds of 3-5 for trainer Xavier Rodriguez and owners La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and Ray Willis. The New Mexico-bred sprinted 350 yards in :17.301 to earn a 99 speed index running into an 8 mph headwind.

Political Twist came into the final as the overall fastest qualifier from two days of trials after winning his May 23 heat in a time of :17.629. Prior to that, he won twice at Sunland Park, taking a trial and the $365,271 final of the West Texas Futurity (G2).

Bred by MJ Farms out of the Treis Sies mare C Twister Seis, Political Twist has now earned $603,017 in his four wins. C Twister Seis won the 2018 Dash For Speed Stakes at Ruidoso Downs and also qualified to the 2017 Rainbow Derby (G1). Political Twist was a $150,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

The win capped a big weekend for Political Twist’s connection, as La Feliz Montana Ranch, Rodriguez and Martinez teamed to win Saturday’s $793,066 Ruidoso Derby (G1) with FDD Dreams. 

Rodriguez also saddled runner-up Russ Gus, another gelding by Apollitical Jess. Ridden by Francisco Calderon for owner Daniel Miranda, Russ Gus earned $180,000 for his effort to add to his $6,000 in earnings from winning his debut race in the trials. 

Sire Apollitical Jess also sired third-place finisher AJ Remember Me, a colt ridden by Juan Pulido for owner Corinna Sosa and trainer Christian Alcala.

Fourth-place finisher Apollitical Valor gave Apollitical Jess a sweep of the superfecta. 

Also on the card, Its A Good Valentine and Cowboy 1 hit the wire together to finish in a dead heat in the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile Stakes. The two geldings both clocked 350 yards in :17.768.

Its A Good Valentine is a Utah-bred son of Jess Good Candy running for J and SM Inc. and Ross Roark. He was ridden by Bryan Candanosa for trainer Fred Danley. Bred by Lance and Tammy Finlinson, Its A Good Valentine is out of the Indiana-bred Valiant Hero mare Valiantinecandyrocks, who won 10 of 19 starts, including five stakes, while spending her entire racing career at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Its A Good Valentine has now won three of four starts with earnings of $82,511. His only defeat was a third-place effort behind Political Twist in the West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park. 

Cowboy 1, a son of Flying Cowboy 123 who broke his maiden at first asking in the Ruidoso Futurity trials, improved his record to a perfect two-for-two with earnings of $36,690. Sergio Becerra Jr. was the winning rider for trainer Eric Valenzuela and owner AA Farms LLC. Cowboy 1 was bred in Oklahoma by Cuandra JM LLC out of Kylee Joy, a daughter of First Moonflash who was a finalist in the 2020 Ruidoso Derby (G1).      

Remarkable Cowboy, a filly by Flying Cowboy 123, took third.

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