A Ransom Demands Attention

In addition to qualifying for the $500,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 14, A Ransom can make some history with a win in tonight’s $125,000 Vessels Maturity at Los Alamitos.

A victory by the 6-year-old gelding would make him the first three-time winner of the Maturity, a Grade I contested at 400 yards. He is one of only three to have won the race twice, joining Jazzing Hi, who won in 1990 and ‘91, and Avison (1994-95).

A Ransom, a California-bred son of First Down Dash who is owned by John and Kathie Bobenrieth and trained by Connie Hall, would also move closer to becoming quarter horse racing’s 34th millionaire with a victory. The $75,000 payday would push his earnings to $992,056 if he wins for the 20th time in 31 starts.

A one-length winner over Corona Kool in the 2001 Maturity, A Ransom concluded last year with a stakes score at Sunland and has won his first two starts of the meet at Los Alamitos.

He won the Spencer Childers Handicap on June 22, beating Whosleavingwho by half a length as the 1-2 favorite, then qualified for the Maturity with a head victory in his trial July 26. His final time of 19.81 seconds tied Whosleavingwho as the fastest qualifier.

Besides A Ransom, the Maturity field also includes four other horses who have had little trouble finding the winner’s circle during their careers.

Whosleavingwho, the champion 3-year-old gelding of 2001, won his trial by a nose. It was his 11th victory in 22 races for owners Jim Geller and Kim Kessinger and trainer Paul Jones. The Texas-bred won eight of 12 last year.

Dashing Knud, who won the Los Alamitos Million in 2000, has taken 12 of 21 starts and was only half a length behind A Ransom in the Maturity trial. The gelding has won twice in five starts as a 4-year-old and he is the race’s lone millionaire. He has earned $1,034,059.

Classic First has won 10 of 20 and is the Los Alamitos record-holder for 220 yards.