Mysterious Cartel Sets Track Record in Sweetwater Downs Maturity Upset

Mysterious Cartel returned to the winner's circle Sunday, setting a new 400-yard track record while defeating fastest qualifier Hard To Politic by a neck in the $87,000 Sweetwater Downs QH Maturity for 4-year-olds and older at Sweetwater Downs.

The 4-year-old gelding covered the distance in :19.380 under jockey Cesar Moreno, earning a 106 speed index and breaking the previous track record of :19.411 set by Movin the Doe in 2017. Mysterious Cartel returned $10.40 to win at 4.20-1 odds while collecting his third stakes victory of the season and fourth stakes win dating back to last year.

Mysterious Cartel entered the final after seeing his perfect 2026 winning record come to an end with a runner-up finish in the Emerald Downs Championship Challenge last month. Earlier this season, he won the 307HR Open Maturity and Pocatello Downs Spring Championship Stakes. He closed his 2025 campaign with a victory in the AQHA Derby Challenge Championship-G3.

Trained by Adrian Zavala, the son of Five Bar Cartel has won 10 of 23 career starts with nine seconds and two thirds while earning $313,383. J/R Robicheaux and Spanish Moss QH bred Mysterious Cartel, who is out of Mysterious Night by Valiant Hero.

Luis Gonzalez purchased the gelding, consigned by Robicheaux Ranch, for $31,000 at the 2023 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

Fastest qualifier and heavy favorite Hard To Politic finished second by only a neck for owner-trainer Samuel Mendoza with Nestor Duran aboard. The 4-year-old gelding by Apollitical Jess, out of Hardtoget by Foose, was bred by Louis A. Malechek III.

Hard To Politic has won seven of 13 starts with three seconds and earnings of $211,247. He won the Mr Jet Moore Stakes-G2 and Boyd Morris Memorial Stakes-G2 earlier this season and was also a finalist in the Leo Stakes-G1.

Game For Tarzan finished third under jockey Mynor Arana for owner Triple G Racing LLC and trainer Diana Garfias. The 4-year-old son of Tarzanito, out of Ms Patriot Awe by Game Patriot, was bred by Robicheaux Ranch.

Game For Tarzan has won four of 16 starts with four seconds and one third while earning $74,319. He entered Sunday's final off a victory in the Blane Schvaneveldt Stakes last month.

The remaining order of finish was Dm Nite Hawk, Dnc Dynasty, Cash 23, Love Kiss J Lee, Duckys Dynasty and Uncle Willard.

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