Off The Track

Brenda Reiswig’s homebred Midnight Politics surged to a commanding early lead while starting from the inside post position in his trial to the $290,947 Black Gold Futurity Championship at Will Rogers Downs. He held on to be the fastest qualifier, but that does not tell the complete story.

Heza Relentless Mess made a strong late rush to get within a neck of the even-money favorite at the wire. They were the top-two qualifiers from the six trials, with Midnight Politics running the 400 yards in :19.809, while Heza Relentless Mess was timed in :19.860.

It was the third win from seven starts for Midnight Politics and that still doesn’t tell the whole story.

Two of the defeats came while still representing himself well in tough Grade 1 competition.

The gelding dominated his 400-yard Heritage Place Futurity trial by 1 3/4 lengths. His time of :17:459 was the third-quickest mark on the second of two days of trials. He then ran third, only a head out of second place, in the Heritage Place Futurity (G1).

Midnight Politics was the 1-5 favorite in his trial to the 400-yard Rainbow Futurity and he ran like a strong favorite. He pulled away to a 1 1/2-length win and his time of :19.805 was good for second-fastest time on the second of two days of trials. He drew the outside post position in the Rainbow Futurity (G1) and went out to near the outside rail and then went in when nearing the cheering grandstand crowd. He ended up in fifth place behind Dark NME. It was a solid effort considering he took a scenic route to the finish line.

The class of Midnight Politics had shown through by qualifying to a pair of $1 million futurities.

American Quarter Horse versatility is prevalent in Midnight Politics’ female family. There are abundant racehorses, along with horses that excelled elsewhere in the performance world.

To see that in action, you don’t need to look further than first dam Midnight Sunlight.

A daughter of Ivory James, Midnight Sunlight won the Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity and was second in the Oklahoma Futurity (G2).

Midnight Sunlight produced Oklahoma Horseman’s Association Mystery Derby (R) winner My Midnight Candy. She is also the dam of the winning barrel racing horse Jess About Midnight.

This versatility is magnified in second dam Quick Moon Sign. She won the Remington Park Futurity (G1), Blue Ribbon Futurity (G1) and the Blue Ribbon Derby (G3). She was also second in the Ruidoso Futurity (G1).

Quick Moon Sign produced Las Damas Handicap (G2) winner Astranomical, The Circle City Stakes winner Luminario and six stakes-placed horses.

The Royal Quick Dash daughter Quick Moon Sign also produced the top-shelf barrel racing gelding Indygo. The Ivory James gelding was a race winner and then found a second career barrel racing. He was third in senior barrel racing at the 2022 AQHA World Championship Show, third in the barrel racing at the National Western Stock Show, was the third high-point AQHA barrel racing horse in 2022 and has earned 65 barrel racing points.

Midnight Politics is starring on the racetrack, while his “cousin” is starring in the performance arena. Every horse deserves excellent care after they are done racing. That may come in a rodeo or the show pen, as a riding horse or it may be in a pasture. It is whatever works for the horse. It is our obligation to make this happen.

Photo by Coady Photography