ROCK SPRINGS, WY—SEPTEMBER 3, 2017—The feature race at Sweetwater Downs on Sunday ended in an impressive victory and a sizable payoff for everyone who backed the winner as Fantastic Minion led wire to wire at 50-1 in the $94,313 Western States Breeders Futurity. Qualifiers were determined from five trials held in Rock Springs on August 19.

Fantastic Minion ($102.00) and Nakia Ramirez dominated in Sunday’s final, winning by a length and covering the 350-yard race in 17.248 for a 105 speed index. The Fantastic Corona Jr gelding is trained by Jay Pitcher for owners Kirk Woolf and Ralph Hartline. Kirk Woolf also bred Fantastic Minion in Utah, out of Gigarad, by Dash to Chivato.

Supporters of Fantastic Minion may have forgiven his ninth fastest qualifying time given that he qualified for the Bitterroot Futurity and that his dam, Gigarad, was a multiple stakes winning filly who finished third in the AQHA Juvenile Challenge Championship (G3) at Los Alamitos and won the Bitterroot Futurity at Les Bois.

With his win on Sunday, Fantastic Minion has now won two of his five lifetime starts and has earned $44,788.

Second fastest qualifier Running Your Wagon was second, a nose ahead of third-place finisher Just Had to Be. Running Your Wagon also has stakes-winning blood on his side; his dam, Runnning Brook Gal, by Brookstone Bay, won the All American Futurity (G1) in 2009.

The Pyc Paint Your Wagon colt is trained by Chancey Spencer and was ridden by Eddie Garcia. Running Your Wagon is a Utah homebred for A and C Racing and Roping.

Third-place finisher Just Had to Be hit the board in a stakes race for the second time and is no worse than third in five career starts. The Idaho-bred colt was third in the Bitterroot Futurity earlier this year before finishing second in his trial behind Running Your Wagon.

Just Had to Be is ridden by Ramiro Garcia, trained by Tyler Gibbs, and is owned by Tyler Gibbs and Alan Ostdahl. He was bred by Dan Moon, by Hadtobenuts, out of Just Wanna Teller, by Teller Cartel.

Completing the field were Pf Paddy Dashair, Lt Heza Winner, Skinny Kyni, Favorite Snowflake, Sp Four Square, Shazzi and Winners Runaway.

Kr Fancy Cartel Game Winner In Western States Juvenile

Kr Fancy Cartel ($19.40) posted another big upset on Sunday's race card at Sweetwater Downs when she defeated stablemate Kr American Pi by a head in the $15,000 Western States Juvenile.

Ridden by Oscar Cervantes, the daughter of Favorite Cartel got the wire first while completing the 350 yards in :17.649 seconds, a 92 speed index.

It was the second win six starts for the Dru Hall trainee. K.C. Carden owns the Wyoming bred out of Kr Montana Cartel by Southern Cartel. Bred by Mary Kyler, the bay filly earned $6,000 for the effort.

Uriel Dominguez was aboard runner-up Kr American Pi, a Wyoming-bred son of One Sweet Jess, also owned by Carden and conditioned by Hall. Ryan, Katie and Mary Kyler bred the gray gelding from the Hawkinson mare Kr American Girl. He earned $3,000.

Jess To Be A Blurr finished third, but was disqualified and placed sixth, moving Sir Diamond Corona into the show position.

Ron Moosman trains the Fantastic Corona Jr gelding for owner Dan Baker. E.J. Petitti bred the gelding from the Valiant Hero mare Valiant Diamond in Utah. Ridden by jockey Daniel Carrillo, Sir Diamond Corona pocketed $1,500.

Completing the official order of finish were Coronafordenim, Champion Winner, Jess To Be A Blurr, Cm Mark Me Famous, Makn A Twister, Whom and Sb Hoonigan.