Midnight Politics, under jockey Edwin Escobedo, setting the fastest time for the $290,947 Black Gold Futurity Championship at Will Rogers Downs Monday.

© Coady Photography

CLAREMORE, OK–NOVEMBER 6, 2023–Grade 1-placed Midnight Politics raced to his third win in seven starts today while posting the top qualifying time for the $290,947 Black Gold Futurity Championship at Will Rogers Downs Monday.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to Will Rogers Downs on Sunday, November 19th to vie for a winner's purse valued at $116,378 in 400 yards. 

Midnight Politics drew clear, under jockey Edwin Escobedo, then held off a late charge by Heza Relentless Politics by a neck to set the top time of :19.809 seconds, a 96 speed index into a 13 mph crosswind,

Trainer Jason Olmstead saddled the son of leading sire Apollitical Jess for owner-breeder Brenda Reiswig. Bred in Oklahoma, from the Ivory James mare Midnight Sunlight, Midnight Politics was third in the Heritage Place Futurity(G1) and a finalist in the Rainbow QH Futurity(G1) earlier this year.  He has earned $228,642.

Olmstead and Escobedo teamed with Reiswig for a second qualifier when Cowboys R Myheros won the fifth trial by 1-1/4 lengths to establish the fourth fastest time of :19.947 seconds.

The Reiswig Oklahoma-bred son of leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 is out of the Valiant Hero mare Red Velvet Hero. Cowboys R Myheros broke his maiden in the todays trial from six career starts.

Reed Land and Cattle Co. LLC's Heza Relentless Mess held on to the second fastest time of :19.860 seconds, a 95 speed index, after finishing second to the fastest qualier. Winless in six starts, the son of leading sire Hes Relentless has placed in three of six starts and earned $6,272.

Kash Reed conditions the gelding out of I No Shes A Hot Mess by Louisiana Senator. Champion jockey James Flores had the riding call.

Flores also had the riding call aboard Kg See If I Care who posted the second fastest time of :19.905 seconds, a 94 speed index into a 13 mph crosswind. Kasey Willis saddled the One Fabulous Eagle gelding for owners Lance King and Peter Schwiering.

Ken and Reba George bred the winner of two of three starts in Oklahoma from the Desirio mare Royal Desirio. Kg See If I Care broke his maiden in his last start April 7, a trial of the Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Futurity trials.

Olmstead led all trainer with three qualifiers.

For the complete list of qualifiers for the Black Gold Futurity Championship, including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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The 2023 fall season officially began at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs September 11th and will concludes November 14th. Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs is located 3 miles east of Claremore on Highway 20. For more information, visit www.cherokeecasino.com and click on the Will Rogers Downs tab, or call (918) 283-8800.