Two-time champion Political Twist, under jockey Luis Martinez, sets the fastest qualifying time for the Grade 1 $755,955 Rainbow Derby at The Downs at Albuquerque on Sunday.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JUNE 28, 2026—Two-time champion Political Twist stamped himself as the horse to beat for the $755,955 Rainbow Derby (G1) after posting the fastest qualifying time from six trials contested Sunday at The Downs at Albuquerque. The 10 fastest qualifiers earned berths to the Grade 1 final, which will be contested July 11 at 440 yards.

Political Twist, a gelding by leading sire Apollitical Jess out of C Twister Seis by Tres Seis, stopped the clock in 21.157 while winning the fifth of six trials by one-half length over fellow qualifier Unleeshed. Bumped at the start, the New Mexico-bred quickly took command and held safely to the wire under Luis Martinez for owners La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and Ray Willis.

"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."

Bred by MJ Farms, the gelding is trained by Daniel R. Ruiz Amaya. Winner of six of eight starts last season, Political Twist won the Ruidoso Futurity(G1), West Texas Futurity(G2), was second in the All American Futurity(G1), and was a finalist in the Los Alamitos 2 Million Futurity.

Political Twist was a $150,000 graduate of the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale (RUIY). Winning his 3-year-old debut today, he has banked $1,144,230.

Jarvis V, under champion jockey Fransico Calderon, posted the second-fastest Rainbow Derby trial time in the second trial. © Coady Media

Just 0.012 seconds slower was multiple Grade 1 placed Jarvis V, who recorded the second-fastest qualifying time of 21.169 after rallying to win the second trial by a neck. The gelding is also by Apollitical Jess, out of Donelli by Big Daddy Cartel, giving MJ Farms the breeders of the day's two fastest qualifiers.

Owned by Valeriano Racing Stables LLC, trained by Raymond G. Valerio, and ridden by champion jockey Francisco Calderon, Jarvis V overcame an impeded start before closing strongly in the final strides. He brought a $260,000 bid at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

He entered the trials off a second-place effort in the Ruidoso Derby(G1) earlier this month.  Winner of the Los Alamitos 2 Million Juvenile last December, he finished third in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby(G1) before moving to New Mexico for the summer season. He has earned $191,961.

The third-fastest qualifier was Famous N Relentless, who captured the opening trial in 21.200. The gelding by leading sire Hes Relentless out of Tritoon by Tres Seis drew clear to score by 1 1/2 lengths under Ramiro Haro Garcia.

Famous N Relentless and jockey Ramiro Garcia post the third-fastest clocking in the opening Rainbow Derby trial.
 © Coady Media

Owned by Tom Maher and Amber Olmstead, bred by Tom Maher, and trained by Jason L. Olmstead, Famous N Relentless secured his place in the Rainbow Derby final with an authoritative performance. He entered the trials off a win in the $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational and was third in the Mr Master Bug Stakes(G3) at Remington in April. He has won seven of 14 starts and earned nearly $200,000.

Rounding out the top 10 qualifiers were Luziana Man (:21.213), Unleeshed (:21.237), Effortless Favorite (:21.240), Hitman V (:21.292), Get Gone 123 (:21.305), Point Blank Range (:21.340), and Merkaba (:21.343), who all earned starting spots in the July 11 championship.

For the complete list with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys, CLICK HERE. The second 10 fastest qualifiers from the Rainbow Futurity trials receive preferred invites to the $100,000 Rainbow Invitational, which will also run back on Sunday, July 11. CLICK HERE for those horses. 

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