Political Twist, under Luis Martinez, won the Grade 1 $756,800 Rainbow Derby Saturday night at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM— JULY 11, 2026—Political Twist returned to the winner's circle in impressive fashion Saturday night, holding off a determined challenge from Jarvis V to capture the Grade 1 $756,800 Rainbow Derby at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The sorrel gelding by leading sire Apollitical Jess out of C Twister Seis by Tres Seis covered the 440 yards in 20.942, earning a 101 speed index while scoring by one-half length over Jarvis V. Luziana Man was another neck back in third, with fourth-place finisher Effortless Favorite another three-quarters of a length behind.

Bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, last year's AQHA Racing Champion 2-Year-Old and Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding races for La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and Ray Willis.

The winning connections of Political Twist accept the Rainbow Derby stakes trophy. © Coady Media

Political Twist is trained by Daniel Ruiz Amaya and was ridden confidently by Luis Martinez, who guided the heavy favorite to the early lead before fending off the late rally through the stretch.

The victory earned $317,856, boosting the gelding's earnings to $1,462,086. Political Twist was a $150,000 purchase at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. He won the Rainbow Futurity(G1), Ruidoso Futurity(G1), West Texas Futurity(G1) and was runner-up in the All American Futurity last season.

Runner-up Jarvis V, also a son of Apollitical Jess, is out of Donelli, by Big Daddy Cartel. Bred by MJ Farms, the sorrel gelding races for Valeriano Racing Stables LLC, is trained by Raymond Valerio, and was ridden by Francisco Calderon.

An excited Political Twist team after winning the Rainbow Derby Saturday night. © Coady Media

Jarvis V tracked the winner throughout, launched a bid in the lane, but settled for second, earning $136,224. He brought $260,000 at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. With second-place finishes in the 2026 Rainbow Derby(G1), Ruidoso Derby(G1), and third in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby(G1), he has earned $191,961.

Third-place finisher Luziana Man, a bay gelding by Dominyun out of Jewels Fortune by First Down Jewel, closed willingly to secure the show spot for owners Rosalio Espinosa and Jerry Deville Jr. Bred by Jerry West, the Jose Lopez trainee was ridden by Manuel Gutierrez and earned $75,680. Luziana Man was purchased for $13,500 at the 2024 LQHBA Yearling Sale.

Last year, he won five of nine starts, with second-place finishes in the Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity (RG1) and the Laddie Futurity (RG2), and third in the Louisiana Million Futurity (RG1).  He has compiled a 7-4-1 in 13 starts and amassed $424,913 in earnings.

Political Twist returned $3.60, $2.40, and $2.20 across the board as the 4-5 favorite. Jarvis V paid $3.20 and $2.40, while Luziana Man returned $3.20 to show. The $1 exacta paid $5.50, the 50-cent trifecta returned $17.10, and the $1 superfecta was worth $142.20.

Finishing behind the top three were Effortless Favorite (4th), Merkaba (5th), Unleeshed (6th), Get Gone 123 (7th), Hitman V (8th), Famous N Relentless (9th), and Point Blank Range (10th).

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