Political Twist, Luis Martinez, won the eighth of 15 trials by 2-1/2 lengths to set the fastest qualifying time on Day 1 for the $1,000,000 Ruidoso QH FUturity(G1) at RUidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino. T

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By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 23, 2025—Political Twist confirmed his status as a rising juvenile star with a dominant victory in the eighth of fifteen trial races today at Ruidoso Downs, posting the fastest time of Day 1 in the 2025 $1,000,000 Ruidoso QH Futurity (G1) trials.

The Apollitical Jess gelding surged away from the field to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 17.629 for 350 yards, earning a 90 speed index despite a 12-mph headwind.

Trained by Xavier E. Rodriguez and ridden by Luis Martinez, Political Twist is campaigned by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and Ray Willis. He entered the trials of a win in the Grade 2 $365,271 West Texas Futurity in his last start April 5 at Sunland Park.

“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.

Bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, he is out of the Tres Seis mare C Twister Seis. Purchased for $150,000 at the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, he is now unbeaten in three starts and has banked $183,017.

Political Twist dam, C Twister Sies won the Dash For Speed Stakes and has earned $158,960. This is the family of multiple New Mexico-bred stakes winner D E Wagon Strawfly.

Second-fastest qualifier Apolitical Valor also turned heads with a front-running win in his career debut in Race 12, clocking 17.838. The Apollitical Jess gelding is out of Belle Of Valor by Valiant Hero, bred in Oklahoma by Canadian River QH LLC and trained by Clinton Crawford for MJR Investments, Ltd.

Apollitical Valor, under jockey Jacob Enriquez, posted a 1-1/2 win in the trial 11. © Coady Media

“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.”

He broke his maiden at Remington Park in March and was fifth in the Laico Bird Stakes (RG3) in his only stakes appearance. A $50,000 Ruidoso Select Sale graduate, Apolitical Valor now has $26,061 in earnings with two wins in four starts.

The royally bred colt is a brother to Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge(G2) winner Apollitical Hero.  This is the family of AQHA Racing two-time champion Feature Hero.

Jess Cartel Blue, third-fastest on the day at :17.875, broke his maiden at Sam Houston before returning to Ruidoso with a gate-to-wire win in Race 11. The Jess Louisiana Blue gelding out of Cartel Leader by Corona Cartel is both bred and owned by Pete A. Scarmardo of Texas. He has earned $3,300.

Jess Cartel Blue and jockey Ali Rivera win the closing trial to get the third fastest clocking Friday at Ruidoso Downs.
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Jess Cartel Blue is a brother or half-brother to four black type, including TQHA Classic Stakes(RG2) winner Jess The Leader.

Aj Remember Me remained undefeated with a sharp win in Race 10, closing well late to clock :17.896.

Trained by Cristian Alcala for owner Corinna Sosa, and bred in California by Rancho El Cabresto Inc., this Apollitical Jess colt is out of Remember Robyn by Tres Seis.

He was a $120,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale purchase, and his bankroll now stands at $17,865.

Aj Remember Me, under jockey Juan Pulido, won the 10th trial on Friday at Ruidoso Downs. © Coady Media

Aj Remember Me broke his maiden at first asking with a one-length effort at Remington Park March 28.

His dam, Remember Robyn, is an unraced sister to Grade 1 winner Texas Classic Futurity winner Tres Friends. This is the family of Golden State Million Futurity(G1) winner Lotta Blues Man.

Famous N Relentless capped the top five with a :17.904 effort in Race 4. The Hes Relentless gelding, out of Tritoon by Tres Seis, is trained by Jason Olmstead and owned by breeder Tom Maher in partnership with Amber Olmstead. He improved to a perfect 3-for-3 with $54,625 in earnings. A sale price was not listed.

Famous N Relentless, under jockey Ramiro Garcia, remains undefeated after winning trial 3 on Friday. © Coady Media

Famous N Relentless entered the trials off a one-length victory in the $100,000 Remington Park Juvenile Invitational in his last start on April 19. 

A brother to stakes winner Relentless Seis, Famous N Relentless' dam is a half-sister to the aforementioned Lotta Blue Man and Tres Friends.

These five will return for the $1,000,000 Ruidoso QH Futurity final on June 18, joined by the five fastest qualifiers from Saturday’s Day 2 trials. CLICK FOR today's qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

The second five fastest qualifiers from both days' trials are preferred invites to the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile that will also be contested on Sunday, June 8. For a list of those horses, CLICK HERE.

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On Friday, May 24, Ruidoso Downs continues the second half of its trials for the $1,000,000 Ruidoso QH Futurity (G1), showcasing some of the top two-year-old Quarter Horses in the country.

The program features 15 trial races at a distance of 350 yards, each carrying a purse of $10,000. First post time is set for 12:00 PM MDT, with races scheduled approximately every 26 minutes throughout the afternoon.

Just as on Day 1, the five fastest times of the day will determine the final five qualifiers who will join Friday’s top five in the Futurity final to be held on Sunday, June 8, 2025.

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