LOS ALAMITOS, CA—AUGUST 18, 2016—Ron Hartley’s Kindergarten Futurity winner One Proud Eagle and Denny and Sandy Weigt’s Beehive Futurity winner Bannister are among the talented young runners that will compete in the $44,280 John Deere California Juvenile Challenge on Saturday at Los Alamitos. The winner will earn a berth to the $150,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge final to be held here on Saturday, October 29.

To be ridden by Tony Guymon for trainer John Cooper, One Proud Eagle has been one of the top freshman in California all season long. The son of One Famous Eagle has won each of his last three starts, highlighted by a daylight win in the $428,000 Kindergarten on May 15.

After enjoying some time off, the Hartley-bred returned with another tremendous effort, this time posting a 3/4 length win in a John Deere California trial. The richest horse in the field with $185,266, One Proud Eagle will start from post number six on Saturday.

Trained by Monty Arrossa, Bannister can also boast a dominant career record. The Oklahoma-bred has won four of five career starts headed by the $69,000 Beehive. The only blemish in his past performance is a fourth place finish in the $119,000 Bitterroot Futurity, but he came back from that race in Idaho to win his John Deere California trial by 1 3/4 lengths.

The Maknmoves gelding's winning time was also the fastest of the night by over 2/10ths of a second. Cruz Mendez will ride Bannister in place of Guymon, who piloted him in the trials.

Brimmin Corona and Paint A Candy Storm both competed in the Kindergarten earlier this year and will meet One Proud Eagle once again in this race. Other runners with stakes experienced racing in the John Deere California include Bitterroot Juvenile Stakes finalist Severe Clear.

New Fangled, Kissed By An Eagle, Red Cocoperry and Fooseability will complete the field.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.