Under jockey Luis Martinez, Political Twist posted the fastest qualifying time from 13 trials contested at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino today for the $363,880 Grade 2 West Texas Futurity.

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SUNLAND PARK, NM—MARCH 16, 2025–Political Twist, a $150,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, won his career debut on Sunday while setting the fastest time for the Grade 2 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

Today's ten-fastest qualifiers from 13 trials contest for 2-year-olds will return Saturday, April 5, to vie for the winner’s share of the $363,880 purse going a distance of 300 yards.

With early speed under jockey Luis Martinez, Political Twist drew away late in the 11th trial to post the top mark of 15.014 seconds, a 98-speed index with no wind. The winning margin was 1-3/4 lengths over the second-fastest qualifier, Texas Pharaoh.

Xavier E. Rodriguez conditions the son of leading sire Apollitical Jess for owner La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC. Leading breeder MJ Farms bred the sorrel gelding in New Mexico from the stakes-winning Tres Seis mare C Twister Seis.

Runner-up Texas Pharaoh finished one length in front of the field in trial 11 to hold on to the second-fastest clocking of 15.246 seconds, a 91-speed index. Owner-trainer Michael Valenzuela paid $120,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale for the son of champion Tempting Dash.  

Bred in Texas by Mary G. Thompson, Texas Pharaoh was listed in the catalog under the name BR Famous Dash. He is out of the One Famous Eagle mare Famous Eagle, a half-sister to champions Noconi and Breda Beautiful.

Ring A Ling Ding, a son of leading first-crop sire Pa Cha Ching, raced to his second consecutive win in as many starts in the closing trial to post the third fastest clocking of 15.250 seconds, a 91-speed index with no wind. Ridden by jockey Alfredo Sigala, the New Mexico-bred gelding defeated Faust by a head.

Tony Sedillo trains Reing A Ling Ding for owners Kenneth Wallin, Cherie Wallin, and Cade Wallen.  Bred by Robert Armor, S.F. and Helen Henderson, Ring A Ling Ding has already banked $19,920. His dam is the Kiss My Hocks mare Kiss On The Horizon.

Faust, a $165,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, held on to the fourth fastest time of 15.266 seconds, a 90 speed index. Trainer Jesus Soto tapped jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr. to ride the son of leading sire Apollitical Jess for owner Alepony, LLC.

Also bred by MJ Farms, the first-time winner is out of the champion and Grade 1 producing Jesse James Jr mare, Astica.  

CLICK HERE for the 10 qualifiers for the West Texas Futurity (G2), with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

The second 10-fastest qualifiers from today’s trials are preferred invites to the $50,000 West Texas Juvenile to be contested on Saturday, April 5.  CLICK HERE for a list of those horses.

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Live racing at Sunland Park resumes Thursday with a 10-race card. First post is 12:25 (MDT) first post time.