Page 174 - November_2023

RACING NEWS
POLITICAL RIVALRY
by Tracy Gantz
It doesn’t get better than perfect, and that’s just what two-year-old Political Rivalry has been thus far. With the Oct. 1 PCQHRA Breeders’
Futurity-G2 at Los Alamitos, the gelding ran his record to six for six.
Though the Breeders’ Futurity drew nine, the battle for favoritism came down to unbeaten Political Rivalry and Double Down 123, who had a four-race streak going into the final. Double Down 123 was the second-fastest qualifier, while Political Rivalry won his trial by just a neck as the seventh-fastest qualifier.
Heath Taylor, who trains Political Rivalry for owner Keith Nellesen, had given the gelding a break after the June 18 Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1. The PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity trials on Sept. 10 was Political Rivalry’s first race in three months.
“He had had a long time off and it was 350 yards,” said Taylor. “I thought in the trials
he ran well, especially any time you win and qualify. I wouldn’t say he struggled, but he
172 SPEEDHORSE November 2023
Political Rivalry wins the $249,900 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G2 by 1/2-length under jockey Jose Nicasio.
PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G2
Los Alamitos
$249,900 • 350 yards :17.470 • SI 98
POLITICAL RIVALRY, ‘21-g.
Bred by: McColee Land & Livestock LLCl
Raced to 2 $488,578 6-6(2)-0-0
KVN CORONA
SI 95
Bred by: McColee Land & Livestock LLC
Raced to 3 • $868,077 13-10(3)-1(1)-0)
355 f., 3 SW • $2,656,146
CORONA CARTEL SI 97
Bred by: Robert D. Etchandy Raced to 3 • $557,142 14-6(3)-3-0
2167 f., 194 SW • $69,387,790
EXECUTIVE LOOKS SI 113
Bred by: Scarlett Hill Farm Inc. Raced to 4 • $277,891 33-8(3)-8(6)-5(3)
24 f., 4 SW • $1,792,069
APOLITICAL ZOOM
SI 96
Bred by: Dennie & Kris Hill Raced to 4 • $107,342 21-5(2)-2(1)-8(4)
10 f., 2 SW • $507,226
APOLLITICAL JESS SI 107 Bred by: Juan Alberto Tirado Lizarraga
Raced to 3 • $1,399,831 14-8(2)-4(2)-0
1285 f., 129 SW • $64,087,324
K D ZOOM SI 105
Bred by: Dennie & Kris Hill Raced to 4 • $11,419 12-2-4-1
2 f., 1 SW • $115,352
© Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos