ALBUQUERQUE – La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC’s Political Twist inched clear in the final yards under Luis Martinez to win the $756,299, Grade 1 Rainbow Derby under the lights Saturday night at Albuquerque Downs.
Trained by Daniel Amaya, Political Twist broke smartly from the middle of the course, dueled for the early lead with railsitter Jarvis V before edging clear in the shadow of the wire to win by a half-length in a time of 20.94 seconds over 440 yards.
Bred in New Mexico by Mj Farms, Political Twist is a 3-year-old son of Apollitical Jess who has now won eight times from 10 career starts. Saturday’s win pads his career bankroll to more than $1.46 million.
Political Twist raced his way into the Rainbow Derby after qualifying for the final when trials were held here June 28. He is now a three-time stakes winner, with a pair of stakes wins under his belt as a 2-year-old.
Sent off as the post time favorite at 4-to-5, Political Twist returned $3.60 to his winning backers. Jarvis V completed the $2 exacta, which paid back $11. Luziana Man finished third with Effortless Favorite rounding out the top four finishers.
In Saturday’s co-featured Grade 1 Rainbow Oaks, Valeriano Racing Stables LLC’s Toby Sis validated her status as the final’s fastest qualifier with a resounding win under jockey Francisco Calderon.
Trained by Raymond Valerio, the 3-year-old filly held off the late rush from Gf Shes Sinful by three-quarters of a length for the win, racing 440 yards in a fast final time of 20.894 seconds.
Bred in California by Edward C Allred, the daughter of Flying Cartel earned her eighth win from 10 career starts and in the process, becomes quarter horse racing’s newest $1 million earner.
The Oaks, worth a purse of $534,426, awarded the winner more than $224,000, putting her career bankroll at more than $1.14 million.
Toby Sis earned her way into the starting gate as the fastest qualifier when trials were held here on June 28. That day, she ran the 440-yard distance in 21.08 seconds.
Sent off as the post time favorite at odds of 4-to-5, Toby Sis paid back $3.60 to her winning backers. The $2 exacta with Gf Shes Sinful returned $5.20. Beeuteful finished third with Illegal Cowboy 123 and Sparks Fly Hr finishing in a dead heat for fourth in the nine-horse field.