By Hope Sickler

37-year-old BJ Stokes from West Jordan, Utah has worked for every bit of success that he has accomplished and this past weekend, the multi-talented trainer chalked off a line on his bucket list: winning a 1D futurity average championship. Stokes and his 5-year-old steel grey gelding Snow Lucky outperformed the incredibly tough roster of other futurity trainers and jockeys to win the futurity championship at the UBRA Futurity held in Heber City, Utah.

Held at the Wasatch County Events Complex, the UBRA Futurity has been around for over 60 years and has been very successful at catching the attention of trainers across the country. Stokes, who is a member of the UBRA Board, spent the week prior to the event preparing, but not the way you’d think. Stokes was busy hanging sponsor banners, working time-onlies, running the out gate and mostly making sure everything was running smooth and quick.

“I didn’t come in to this futurity expecting to win it. I was just hoping that I could do my part riding my horse for him to do what I knew he could do. I am very pleased and grateful,” explained Stokes.

Stokes, who has been on the back of a horse since he was just a little fella, has only been running at the futurities for three years.

“My first futurity was actually this exact futurity two years and I ended up winning the 2D futurity average aboard Five Bar Kate. That was a very special win for me and she was such a fun mare. Winning the 1D futurity average this past weekend at the same futurity I did well at two years ago is just incredible and something that I will cherish forever. Heber City is very good to me.”

With this past weekend being “Lucky’s” first futurity, Stokes was over-the-moon excited for what the young gelding had accomplished. Lucky is by Snowbound and out of Sure Le Tacs by Dash Ta Fame and is owned by Stokes and Mike Austin.

Stokes first laid his eyes on “Lucky” over two years ago on the racetrack at Los Alamitos.

“We claimed him off the track at Los Alamitos and we claimed him for two purposes: to run at the cutter and chariot races and to then become a barrel horse. He ended up winning the AQHA High Point 3-year-old gelding for the Cutter-Chariot Races and after that we took him to the barrel pattern. He has been a natural around the cloverleaf pattern since day 1.”

With such a natural way of moving around a barrel and the desire to be a champion, it is no doubt that “Lucky” and Stokes won the UBRA Futurity with their total time on two of 33.172-seconds. Winning the first round with a 16.543 and third in the second round with a 16.629, it was the solid and efficient runs the dynamic duo needed to grace the winner’s circle.

“He worked outstanding. I have had to really work at learning how to really send him in there and ride him to his point. He is very ratey and that has been a learning curve for me but it is something that I always remind myself of before I go into the arena,” said Stokes.

When asked who has been an inspiration to him as he has traveled down this trail, Stokes is quick to mention the incredible Terri Wood Gates, Jill Atkinson and Annie Rose.

“I have looked up to those three since I got involved with barrel racing and futurities. Each has their own style but they are very professional in their work and in their riding. They stand out above others, but are incredibly humble and down-to-earth. I admire their abilities and what they have accomplished.”

Lastly, Stokes wanted to say a very special THANK YOU to Terry Molloy and Annie and Mike Rose for their support and guidance.

“Those three people really gave me the confidence to be the best that I could be, and to trust in myself and my horse. I am very thankful for their support and constant guidance and expertise.”

For photos from this event you can check out Western Edge Photography.