Racing


Bannister Gets It Done In Wild West Futurity At Los Alamitos
Bannister, under jockey Tony Guymon, winning the $118,000 Wild West Futurity at Los Alamitos Sunday night.

© Scott Martinez
Bannister Gets It Done In Wild West Futurity At Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—OCTOBER 16, 2016—It didn't take Denny Weigt long to decide if he wanted to own the Maknmoves gelding Bannister after trainer Monty Arrossa purchased him at the 2015 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

"Monty bought the horse and brought him home," said Weigt of Jerome, Idaho.

"He showed him to me and said that I could have him, but I didn't have to take him because he had other clients that might be interested in the horse. He asked me ‘Do you want him?' and the moment I saw the horse I told him ‘Do I want him? You bet I do.' "

Weigt and Arrossa could not be happier with the results, as Bannister has won six of eight starts during his 2-year-old campaign, highlighted by Sunday's victory in the $118,000 Wild West Futurity at Los Alamitos.

The winning connections of Bannister accept the Wild West Futurity stakes trophy Sunday evening at Los Alamitos Race Course. © Scott Martinez
"I've known Denny all of my life," Arrossa said. "I was training part time and Denny is the one that convinced me to start training full time. He sent me to some sales and we were buying some colts, bringing them back home and having some success. He's been a great supporter. I kid him sometime that he's the older brother that I didn't have. We have a good relationship. He's not only a great client, but a wonderful friend. I love him and his wife to death. When I got home from the sale and he saw the colt I told him ‘It's your choice. If you're not interested I have other clients that I think might be interested or I'll keep him myself.' He was adamant that he would take the horse and I think he's been pretty happy with him ever since."

Bannister, under jockey Tony Guymon, returns after winning the Wild West Futurity Sunday at Los Alamtios Race Course. © Scott Martinez
Ridden by Tony Guymon for owners Denny and Sandy Weigt, Bannister was seventh at the start, but flew in the second half of the 350-yard race while holding off Javier Alvarez, Jr.'s 12-1 longshot Jess Klas by head and in a time of :17.730. The fastest qualifier heading into this race, Bannister earned $49,644 for the win to more than double his career earnings to $93,241.

"He likes to run that sucker," 83-year-old Weigt said of his young sprinter. "He could have had seven (wins) in a row with some luck. We also have a little filly (Paint A Candy Storm) that will be in the Bank of America Racing Challenge races so we have that to look forward to as well. (Monty) bought her too and she can run. She was in the Kindergarten and with 95 head in there she was the fifth fastest qualifier. She lost her head a little bit in the final and got a little hot, but she can run."

Co-owner Sandy Weight hugs winning jockey Tony Guymon in the Wild West Futurity winner's circle Sunday night at Los Alamitos Race Course. © Scott Martinez
A few years ago Arrossa trained a filly named Illtacmanhattan, which won seven races in a row for Weigt. Bannister had now joined Illtacmanhattan as one of the best runners that Weigt has owned.

Earlier this year Weigt said that "I'm 83-years-old, but these horses keep me going. I'm really fortunate to work with a great trainer like Monty Arrossa."

Arrossa has enjoyed a tremendous campaign at Los Alamitos. The trainer has qualified horses to the Kindergarten Futurity and Ed Burke Million Futurity. He also won the Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap with Zoomin For Spuds and the Kip Didericksen Handicap with First Prize Chicks. He's now won 11 races from 76 starters at Los Alamitos this year.

"We feel this is the greatest racetrack in the world," Arrossa said of Los Alamitos.

Trainer Monty Arrossa with Wild West Futurity winner Bannister on the Los Alamitos backside. © Scott Martinez
"We're real thankful that Dr. Allred continues to support the Northwest and the Northwest horses and we'll continue to support his races."

J. Garvin Kelly and Nancy Yearsley bred Bannister in Oklahoma from the Mr Jess Perry mare Goddess Artemis.

Jess Klas lugged out steadily under jockey Guillermo Suarez. Ricardo Guillen conditions the daughter of leading second crop sire One Sweet Jess for owner Javier Alvarez, Jr. The bay filly started for a $10,000 tag at Los Alamitos two races back on September 2nd. She has compiled a (5) 0-3-1 record.

Randy Young bred Jess Klas in Utah from the This Snow Is Royal mare This Snow Shows Klas. The filly earned $20,094 to boost her career mark to $22,292.

Henry Craig suffered his first career loss in six starts after veering out under jockey Eulices Gomez. Hector Magalllanes saddled the Oregon homebred for owner/breeder Cedar Creek Tree Farm Ranch and Racing.

The son of One Sweet Jess entered the race with wins in the Pot O'Gold Futurity at Sun Downs and the Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass. The $14,184 third place check brought his career mark to $42,263. He is out of the multiple stakes producing Corona Cartel mare Copa Show Girl.

Oh So Fancy Fancy, Stolin Diamond, Allegeninmytime, Bos On Time, Queen Of The Kartel, Stellur and Buckshot Cartel completed the Wild West field.

Horses are eligible to compete in the Wild West Futurity if they've competed in regions like the Intermountain, Northwest, Canada and Nevada.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.