West Texas Futurity(G1) winner Political Twist will head 145 juveniles on the first of two days of trials for the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Ruidoso QH Futurity at Ruidoso Downs on Friday.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 20, 2025 —The summer racing season at Ruidoso Downs kicks off in spectacular fashion this Friday with the first 15 trials for the Grade 1, $1 million Ruidoso Quarter Horse Futurity, one of the sport’s most prestigious and lucrative events for 2-year-olds.

A total of 145 juveniles are entered across 15 trial heats, each run over 350 yards, with only the five fastest times of the day earning a spot in the coveted final set for June 8. With each trial offering a $10,000 purse, the afternoon promises a showcase of elite talent, powerful pedigrees, and high-speed drama

Two of the nation’s fastest juveniles will line up Friday at Ruidoso Downs in pursuit of a berth in the $1 million Ruidoso QH Futurity final. Stakes winners Political Twist and Famous N Relentless stand out—not just for their times, but for the company they keep and the class they carry.

Political Twist – The Speed Machine with $177,000 in the Bank

In Race 8, Political Twist headlines the field as the fastest horse on the program. This sorrel gelding has already banked $177,017 in two starts, with a top speed index of 99. He broke his maiden in March in the West Texas Futurity trials at Sunland Park before capturing the Grade 2 West Texas Futurity in April, defeating a loaded field with sharp early foot and a confident finish.

Political Twist is by Apollitical Jess, the industry titan, and out of C Twister Seis, a mare by Tres Seis. He was bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms and purchased for $150,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. He races in the navy blue and silver of owners La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and Ray Willis and will break from the outside post under jockey Luis Martinez.

Trainer Xavier E. Rodriguez, no stranger to big-race success, sends him out off a solid work and a bullet résumé. Blinkers go on as he attempts to set the bar for all qualifiers.

Famous N Relentless – The Perfect Stakes Winner

In Race 3, Famous N Relentless puts his undefeated record on the line. The brown colt enters 2-for-2, with a Grade 3 stakes win in the Remington Park Juvenile and 98 and 95 series of speed indexes to back it up.

Bred in Oklahoma by his co-owner Tom Maher, Famous N Relentless is a son of multiple stakes sire Hes Relentless, out of Tritoon by Tres Seis, making him a true blueblood in every sense. Owned by Maher and Amber Olmstead, he’s trained by Jason Olmstead and will be ridden by Ramiro Garcia.

This colt is all business and has already shown he can handle stakes pressure. He breaks from post 4 and has earned $48,625.

Trial Structure

Each trial will be run at 350 yards, and post time for Race 1 is set for 12:00 p.m. MDT. The unique format means it’s not the winner of each trial who automatically qualifies for the final — only the five fastest overall times from the day will move forward. Ties are broken by time, making every fraction of a second critical.

Another 15 trials will be held on Saturday, May 24. The top five times from that session will complete the ten-horse field for the June 9 final.

Building Toward the Crown

The Ruidoso QH Futurity marks the first leg of the Ruidoso Triple Crown, which continues with the Rainbow Futurity in July and culminates with the legendary All American Futurity on Labor Day. A win Friday — or even a qualifying time — could be the first step toward greatness.

From seasoned stakes runners to royally bred first-time starters, the May 23 trials will be a proving ground for Quarter Horse racing’s next generation of stars.

Day 2 of the Ruidoso QH Futurity Trials is set for Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Ruidoso Downs, with 15 additional 350-yard trials scheduled to complete the field for the $1 million final. Post time for Race 1 is 12:00 p.m. MDT, and like Day 1, the five fastest qualifiers by time will advance to the final on June 8.

Saturday’s card features a mix of experienced stakes runners and well-bred debutantes, as connections make one last push to secure a spot in Ruidoso’s first major juvenile final of the season.

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