Page 175 - November_2023

Political Rivalry’s winning connections include breeder McColee Land & Livestock, LLC, owner Keith Nellesen and trainer Heath Taylor.
didn’t check them off very easily. He had to grit it out.”
Taylor said that he changed some of Political Rivalry’s equipment, giving him, “the opportunity to see a little bit better, see a little more.” Taylor also schooled Political Rivalry in the paddock because, “he had been getting a little washy.”
Having a race under his belt and the tweaks to his training all helped Political Rivalry
in the final. Drawn on the outside under jockey Jose Nicasio, Political Rivalry vied
with Southern Divine in the early going, but maintained a half-length advantage throughout and won wire-to-wire by that margin while clocking the distance in :17.470.
“He dominated the race from the start,” said Nicasio. “He behaved well in the gates.”
Added Taylor, “The horse is the kind of horse that just wants to run. All the rest is just in the way of the time to do his job. I thought he left fast and finished well.”
Keith Nellesen owns Political Rivalry and bred him in Utah, in the name of McColee Land & Livestock. Nellesen also bred and raced Political Rivalry’s sire KVN Corona, who put together an almost identical racing record, winning his first nine races, including the 2017 Ed Burke and the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity.
“We think the world of KVN Corona,” Nellesen said. “I’ve run quite a few and I’m running more of them next year. We think he’s a game changer. He’s beautiful. His babies are pretty. We love to run them.”
KVN Corona won his trial for the 2017 Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity-G1, but not in fast enough time to qualify for the final. Nellesen and Taylor are hoping that Political Rivalry can avenge that for his sire this year.
“He reminds us so much of his dad,” Nellesen stated. “He’s just a professional and super gritty too. I thought this was the best race he’s had. He started running away from them a little bit. I couldn’t be happier. We are hoping that he’s ready to go back for the $2 Million.”
Nellesen bred Political Rivalry from the Apollitical Jess mare Apolitical Zoom, who won the 2015 Las Damas Handicap-G3 and 2016 Wild Honey Handicap, both at Los Alamitos. The mare has produced four winners from four starters, including Mexican stakes winner Zoom Is All, also bred by McColee Land & Livestock. Political Rivalry’s third dam is Champion AB What A Runner.
Monty Arrossa trains second-place Southern Divine (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Marys Southernpolicy) and third-place Double Down 123 (Flying Cowboy 123-Double Down Darling). Ridden by Jesus Ayala, Southern Divine is a Dunn Ranch homebred with one win and three seconds in five prior starts. Armando Cervantes piloted Double Down 123,
who is owned by Taos River Ranch and Randy Young and won the Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity-G2 and Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge.
Completing the field were Talk Bout Somethin (KVN Corona-Ms Talks A lot), Winners Share (Seperate Interest-One Sweet Winner), Send In A Favor (Favorite Cartel-Jess Send It), MV Royal Pappasito (Pappasito-Royal Fooseperrypie), Optical Illusion (Seperate Interest-Sweetest Illusion), and Cowgirl Upp (Favorite Cartel-Kiddy Up Cowgirl).
RACING NEWS
Political Rivalry and Jose Nicasio head to the winner’s circle.
SPEEDHORSE November 2023 173
© William Zuazo, Los Alamitos © William Zuazo, Los Alamitos