A Ransom victorious at Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - Moving closer to his second World Champion title, A Ransom remained undefeated in four starts this year by beating a strong field in Saturday's $200,000 Los Alamitos Championship for older Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos.

The victory gave the 6-year-old A Ransom career earnings of $1,069,556, making him the 35th Quarter Horse to surpass the $1 million mark.

Ridden by Carlos Bautista, A Ransom ($3.20) led throughout the 440 yards, holding off a late challenge from Whosleavingwho to win by a nose in 21.417 seconds. Runahalf, a 46-1 longshot, finished third.

The race was billed as a meeting between A Ransom, the 2000 World Champion, and Tailor Fit, who won the title in 1999 and 2001. Tailor Fit was never a factor. He broke slower than A Ransom and finished last of 10.

A Ransom will make his next start in the $500,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on Dec. 14, an important year-end race. Owned by John and Kathie Bobenreith and trained by Connie Hall, A Ransom has won his last five starts and 11 of 32 starts in his career.