There was never going to be an attempt at the Ruidoso Quarter Horse Triple Crown this year, even before a terrible flood forced the cancellation of the second of the three races, the $1 million Rainbow Futurity on July 13.
After Political Twist won the first race in the series, the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity on June 8, owners Javier Rodriguez and Ray Willis said the gelding would be held out of the Rainbow Futurity and point to the All American Futurity. They could not have known at the time that, for the second consecutive year, severe flooding at Ruidoso Downs would force the All American Futurity to be held on Monday at the The Downs at Albuquerque, 180 miles to the north.
One thing is unchanged: Political Twist will be a deserving favorite in the $3 million All American Futurity at 440 yards. Trained by Xavier Rodriguez, who is not related to Javier Rodriguez, Political Twist had the second-fastest qualifying time in the first of two days of trials on Aug. 4-5.
Political Twist, ridden by Luis Martinez, was timed in 21.05 seconds. King of the Tide, second in the $346,008 Mountain Top Futurity for New Mexico-breds at Ruidoso Downs in June, had the fastest qualifying time of 21 seconds flat.
On Monday, Political Twist starts from post 9, while King of the Tide will break from post 6. They rate as the two leading choices over The Diesel Train, a colt who had the fastest Aug. 5 qualifying time of 21.06. The Diesel Train was last of 10 behind Political Twist in the $365,271 West Texas Futurity at 300 yards at Sunland Park in April after a poor start.
King of the Tide, Political Twist, and The Diesel Train are the only runners in the 10-horse All American Futurity with stakes experience. Of the others, the undefeated gelding Envestor has potential for a top-three finish. Trained by Zackary Stinebaugh, Envestor won a time trial in 21.13 seconds on Aug. 4, the fifth and final qualifier from 16 trials that day. Envestor also won a division of the Rainbow Futurity trials by 3 1/4 lengths on June 28 and qualified for the final that was not held.
A major rainstorm struck the mountains above Ruidoso Downs in the early afternoon on July 9, resulting in a massive flow of water, mud, and debris that overwhelmed the small Rui Ruidoso, which runs through the racetrack via two culverts. Even though the track conducted engineering work in late 2024 and early this year following floods in July 2024, the runoff in July was too severe, causing the racetrack and part of the barn area to be inundated with water. Flooding has occurred since the July 9 incident that forced the cancellation of this year’s race meeting.
On Labor Day 2024, Albuquerque hosted four major stakes that were scheduled to be held at Ruidoso Downs. On Monday, three major stakes will be run. The $250,000 All American Gold Cup for older horses was not carded.
The All American Futurity is Monday’s 10th race on an 11-race program that begins at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time. The $702,907 All American Oaks, $1.08 million All American Derby, and All American Futurity have championship implications.
The All American Oaks at 440 yards is the eighth race and the first division of a pick three involving the lucrative stakes. Razor Sharp was the fastest qualifier in 20.99 on Aug. 6 for the All American Oaks, but she must beat trial race winner Ohana Spirit, who is making her third start of the year.
Ohana Spirit, trained by Stinebaugh’s father, John, was timed in 21.21. This is her third major stakes final, including a fifth-place finish by 1 1/2 lengths in the $1.8 million Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last December.
John Stinebaugh has a leading contender in the All American Derby in Holy Pete, who won a division of the trials in 20.91 but bled and was vanned off. Stinebaugh said Friday that Holy Pete can start on Monday after clearing a 10-day veterinarian’s list.
Holy Pete’s main rival is fastest qualifier House of Lords, who zoomed 440 yards in 20.78 in the trials.
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