LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JULY 1, 2017—Bill Hoburg has waited a long time to own a horse like BH Lisas Boy, a 5-year-old gelding that he bred and owns and will now saddle in the Grade 1, $162,600 Vessels Maturity on Sunday at Los Alamitos. The winner of the Vessels Maturity at 400 yards will earn a berth to this year’s Champion of Champions.

Hoburg’s BH Lisas Boy already has a berth to the Champion of Champions after winning the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship on February 19. The son of Mighty Invictus will now look to continue to build on an undefeated four-for-four season that currently sees him rated as the top aged horse at Los Alamitos and the number five ranked horse in the latest AQHA national poll.

"It's very humbling to have a horse like BH Lisas Boy," said Hoburg after his Idaho-bred posted the fastest qualifying time to the Vessels Maturity during the trials on June 17. "I've waited forty years to have a nice horse like this. It's one of the most humbling experiences I've ever had. I got one broodmare (Apollo Snowbound by Snowbound). It's one chance in a million to get a horse like this. Last year we campaigned the horse here and we just missed by head-bobs a couple of times to qualify (to the Champion of Champions). My plan was (to) come back with a fresh horse this year to see if we could qualify."

And qualify to the Champion of Champions he did with BH Lisas Boy in the Winter Championship. To be ridden by Cesar De Alba, BH Lisas Boy will start from the outside post number 10 on Sunday night. He’ll be joined by nine other horses in the starting gate.

"When (BH Lisas Boy) was racing in the Northwest he was fast, but he wasn’t breaking very well," Hoburg added. "I saw him run some stellar races coming from (behind) to win. Last July I decided to bring this horse to California. I hooked him up with a (flipping halter) on this horse and the rest is history. Putting a flipping halter on this horse helped him stand up in the gate, pay attention to the doors, and leave with the competition. This horse came off the trials in excellent condition and is training remarkably well. Being the fastest qualifier only means a thing on qualifying night. When you re-enter it’s a brand new game and he’ll be facing nine other nice horses."

Jim Walker’s Zoomin For Bux gelding, Zoomin For Spuds, winner of last year’s Champion of Champions, will also race in the Vessels final and will be going after his first win in four starts this year.

Meanwhile, trainer Mike Robbins is holding four aces in the form of qualifiers Michael Amburn’s Freakin Runaway and Reliance Ranches’ Flash N Bling, Rip Tide and The Charm of Corona.

The field will also feature a pair of super mares in Jess Ravin and Time For Jess, each looking to become the first mare to win this race since Five Bar Molly in 2007. Dr Jess and Stel Easy ran first and second when they met in their Vessels trial will complete this terrific field.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.