Political Twist Goes Wire-To-Wire In The Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby

There were no twists or turns in Political Twist’s journey to victory in the Grade 1, $673,950 Los Alamitos Super Derby on Sunday night at Los Alamitos Race Course. Instead, his victory in the 400-yard classic was as straight as an arrow, as the La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and Ray Willis-owned champion delivered a masterful performance in the 73rd running of California’s richest derby.

Ridden by AQHA champion jockey Luis Martinez for trainer Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez, Political Twist broke cleanly from post nine to take immediate control, opening a ¾-length lead shortly after the break and continuing strongly to post a ½-length victory over West Texas Racing Partners’ Enforce as the 1-2 favorite in a time of :19.524. Steve Burns, Jose Flores, Gerardo Herrera, and Javier Alvarez’s Brother Ray finished third, followed by Shiny New, Hi Octane, SG Jacob Jay, Famous Talk, Fear My Legacy, Beuteeful, and Doodah Cartel.

Before the start, SG Jacob Jay and Doodah Cartel both knocked their gate stalls open while waiting in the gate, causing a brief delay. Political Twist handled the extra time with poise before delivering his convincing victory.

“We had a really good start and had a big advantage from the break,” winning rider Luis Martinez said. “I felt some pressure from (Enforce), but as soon as I started talking to Political Twist, he responded powerfully. There was a delay before the start, but the good thing is that he waited patiently. I think compared to the trials; he was a lot more relaxed tonight. I’m so happy; winning these types of races has been a dream come true.”

The victory marked Political Twist’s first Grade 1 score in California, adding to his two previous Grade 1 victories in New Mexico. His other Grade 1 derby triumph came in the Rainbow Derby at the Downs at Albuquerque on July 11. Prior to his sophomore campaign, the gelding - sired by Apollitical Jess and out of the Tres Seis mare C Twister Seis - captured the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity at Ruidoso Downs and the Grade 2 West Texas Futurity last season.

“These moments are unforgettable,” said Javier Rodriguez of La Feliz Montana Ranch. “It’s been unbelievable, last year and now this year. The past two years have been incredible. It’s so hard to get to these moments, so hard to get to this point. The whole team is unbelievable.

“I was nervous, and I felt some nervous moments there, because there was a delay at the gate. In the end it worked out and he got the win. He’s a terrific athlete. I think for the horse, the delay helped him. Instead of him getting more anxious, it settled him down. He was ready to go and broke excellently. It was a great group of horses out there. It was tough. Enforce ran a good race.”

The Super Derby win might be the most important achievement to date for the New Mexico-bred, as it earned him presumptive berth into the prestigious Grade 1 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on Saturday, December 12. His stablemate, AQHA World Champion FDD Dreams, captured the Champion of Champions last year, and Political Twist now looks firmly established as one of the early favorites for the 440-yard classic.

“It’s always hard for 3-year-olds to compete with the older horses,” Rodriguez added. “The Champion of Champions is at 440 and that’s going to be a little tougher for him. We’ll see how he comes out and hopefully everything is good and we’ll be ready for the Champion of Champions.”

Political Twist entered the Super Derby final off a brilliant trial victory on October 18, where he opened a one-length lead early and dominated while setting the fastest qualifying time (:19.573). He executed a similar blueprint in the final, improving his Southern California record to three wins from four local starts.

Now a winner of 11 of 14 career starts, the 2025 AQHA Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding earned $269,619 for the win to boost his lifetime earnings to $1,940,778, ranking him 19th on the all-time Quarter Horse earnings list. The MJ Farms-bred runner won six of eight starts during his freshman campaign and has added five wins from six starts as a sophomore for $802,348 in 2026 earnings. That figure ranks Political Twist as the nation’s second-leading money earner this year, trailing only undefeated All American Futurity winner Cowboys Flying ($2,068,793).

“For my family, this is the best thing,” Rodriguez added. “We do this as a family. We enjoy it and these are some of the best moments of my life.”

Ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala for trainer Chris O’Dell, Enforce earned $109,132 for his runner-up effort at odds of 17-1. Named the AQHA Champion Two-Year-Old Colt last year, the son of Favorite Cartel out of Remember Me Rose improved his career bankroll to $758,896. Bred by Steve Burns, Enforce won the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity at Los Alamitos last season.

Brother Ray, ridden by Irving Lara for trainer Jose Flores, banked $77,034 for his third-place finish. Also bred by Steve Burns, the Favorite Cartel gelding out of stakes winner Tac Out was sent off at 15-1 odds.

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