Grade 1 Ruidoso QH Futurity winner Political Twist captured the opening trial for the $3,000,000 All American Futurity(G1) on Monday at The Downs in Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—AUGUST 4, 2025—Political Twist, the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity winner, returned to the spotlight Monday with a determined victory in his All American Futurity trial at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The MJ Farms-bred son of Apollitical Jess, out of C Twister Seis by Tres Seis, led throughout in the day’s opening race to post a winning time of 21.055 seconds, a 101-speed index for 440 yards.

The gelding, owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and Ray Willis, is trained by Xavier E. Rodriguez and ridden by Luis Martinez.

"We were concerned with the break since he hadn’t been out since the Ruidoso final," Javier said. "I think he was watching for company, but he didn’t find any. We’re blessed."

Political Twist, already the richest 2-year-old in training following his $1,000,000 Ruidoso score in June and $354,271 West Texas Futurity(G1) victory in April, was one of five juveniles who secured spots in the $3,000,000 All American Futurity final set for Labor Day, Monday, September 1.

King Of The Tide, under champion jockey Ricky Ramirez, posted the fastest qualifying time from 16 trials contested on Day 1.© Coady Media

The final winner will take home a staggering $1,500,000, while even the tenth-place finisher is guaranteed $60,000 in the world’s richest race for 2-year-olds.

Topping Monday’s 16-trial card was King Of The Tide, who captured the seventh heat by three-quarters of a length in a blazing 21.001 seconds, a 103 speed index, and the day's fastest time.

Runner-up in the RG2 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Futurity in June, the gelded son of leading New Mexico sire Eye Am King is out of Ms Riptide by Ocean Runaway.

Ajs Wingman (#2), under jockey Ramiro Garcia, sets the fourth fastest time in Trial 15 on Monday. © Coady Media

Bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, he races for E. Gene Bradley, Tod Bradley, and Ware Brown. S. Trey Wood trains the gelding, who champion jockey Ricky Ramirez piloted.

"He broke beautiful," Ricky said in the winner’s circle. "The last time in the Mountain Top final going three-fifty, he was making a run late, and I knew today’s extra ninety yards would help. He wanted a quarter-mile."

Also advancing to the All American final was Dragon Link, a gelding by leading sire Favorite Cartel out of Stel A Gambler by Stel Corona. Still winless in three starts, he was second behind King Of The Tide in their shared heat, stopping the clock in 21.118.

The California-bred runner is owned by Rancho El 48 LLC, trained by James J. Gonzales III, and ridden by Christian Cardenas. Dr. Steve D. Burn, DVM, bred him.

Jockey Christian Cardenas booted Dragon Link to the third fastest time in Trial 7.
© Ernesto Salinas, Jr. / StallioneSearch

Aj's Wingman delivered a game front-running effort in the fifteenth trial to qualify with a time of 21.135. The Kansas-bred gelding is by Apollitical Jess, out of Xoom by Shazoom. He is owned and bred by Paul Treadwell, trained by Jason Olmstead, and ridden by Ramiro Haro Garcia. He has won three consecutive races.

The fifth-fastest qualifier from Day 1 was Envestor, an undefeated bay gelding by leading first-crop sire Dulce Sin Tacha out of And Poof Shes Gone by Stoli. In the fourth trial, he held off Jarvis V to win by a half-length in 21.136 seconds.

Bred in Arkansas by Belinda Shaw, Envestor is campaigned by Richard Young, Joe David Yates, and Zack Stinebaugh, who also trains. Ali Rivera had the mount. Stinebaugh, the young son of leading trainer John Stinebaugh, who began his own stable last year, will be saddling his first All American Futurity finalist.

Envestor and jockey Ali Rivera got the final qualifying spot on Monday after winning Trial 4. © Coady Media

The final five spots in the prestigious All American Futurity will be determined in Tuesday’s second round of trials. The ten qualifiers will then return for the September 1 final at 440 yards, with each starter earning a share of the rich $3 million purse.

CLICK HERE for today's five qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

The second five fastest qualifiers from Day1 are preferred invites to the $200,000 All American Juvenile that will also run back on Labor Day, September 1. For those horses, CLICK HERE.

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