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BREEDERS’ INVITATIONAL TO ADD $1 MILLION TO TULSA MAY SHOW

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 2, 2012
Due to the cancellation of the Breeders’ Invitational due to the EHV-1 outbreak, the event will hold a Special 5-Year-Old class for those horses that were eligible for last year’s Derby. The addition of that class, with $420,000 in added money, will boost the total added money for this year’s event, scheduled for May 12-26 in Tulsa, Okla., to a whopping $1 million.

The added money in the Open and Non-Pro in the Special 5 totals $390,000 pro-rated by number of entries in each class, with the first payment of $500 being due Feb. 1. The total entry fee in the Open and Non-Pro divisions is $2,160. Added money for the Amateur, Ltd. Open Rider and Ltd. Non-Pro rider is $10,000 in each division, with a $1,010 entry fee in the Amateur to be paid by April 15, 2012. The entry fee for the Limited classes is $1,000 and is also due April 15.

If you have a horse that’s eligible for the Special 5, you can double enter into the Classic/Challenge with only one cattle charge. The Classic Challenge will have $90,000 added. A total of $80,000 will be added to the Open and Non-Pro (pro-rated), with a $500 payment due Feb. 1. Total entry fee is $1,760. The Amateur division, with $5,000 in added money has a payment of $1,260 due April 15; The Limited Open and Non-Pro rider classes will each have $2,500 in added money with $750 due April 15, 2012.

Added money of $490,000 will be added to the 2012 Derby, which includes Open, Non-Pro, $10,000 Open and Non-Pro, Amateur, Senior, Ltd. Open Rider and Ltd. Non-Pro rider. The first payment of $500 for the Open and Non-Pro classes is Feb. 1. Entry fees for the Amateur, Senior and Ltd classes are due April 15, 2012.

The $1 million in added money, will rival the $1 million added to the NCHA Futurity and Super Stakes. The 2010 Breeders’ Invitational, with 989 entries, had $690,000 and a payout of $1,725,585. According to Robert O’Bannon of the Breeders’ Invitational, “Due to the expected increase in entries, there will not be a Mercuria/NCHA World Series of Cutting held during the event.”

About BI
Breeder's Invitational is a non-profit corporation formed to promote and enhance the Cutting Horse industry by building another major event with a very large purse. In the first seven years the Breeder's Invitational has paid out more than $10 million and is ranked as one of the major events in the industry.
Stallion Owners become members by annually paying $125 per mare for each mare bred with a minimum of 20 mares and a maximum of 80 mares. The Breeder's Invitational is currently comprised of more than 200 of the premier cutting horse stallions in the industry and the governing Board of Directors contains some of the industry's leading members.
The breeding Stallion Owner and Mare Owner split 60/40 a payout of 10% of what each finalist is paid in all classes of the Derby. In the first seven years the Breeder's Invitational has paid out nearly $750,000 to stallion owners and mare owners.
BI actively advertises the program as well as the stallions and solicits corporate sponsors to increase the purse even more. All revenues are held in a guaranteed account and quarterly financial statements are available for all members. A final accounting is issued after each event.
Click for rules, payout and hotel information>>

MORGAN CROMER WINS SECOND PCCHA FUTURITY WITH A SMOKING 224 RIDING FAYE REYS SIS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Nov. 1, 2011
A very happy group!
PCCHA Futurity Champion Morgan Cromer with Phil and Nancy Crawford Hall, owners of Faye Reys Sis, parents Patti and Walter Cromer, John Burgun, Carol Jenkins and Jake Pinheiro, holding the trophy.
Photo by Midge Ames

Morgan Cromer is the third highest money-earning female trainer in the NCHA; however, at age 27, she is quickly gaining ground on the other two – Kathy Daughn and Lindy Burch. Her latest win in the 112-entry PCCHA Open Futurity, held Oct. 19-30 in Paso Robles, Calif., which was her second in four years, has boosted her earnings by $35,097. As usual, she was the only woman in the 15-horse finals and her 224 score was even more exciting as she drew up last. The total purse for the finals was $231,502.

Cromer, Templeton, Calif., was riding Faye Reys Sis, a daughter of Dual Rey out of Lil Lenas Sis by Doc O’Lena, owned by Phil and Nancy Hall of Holy Cow Performance Horses, Santa Ynez, Calif. This was her second win on the mare she had bought for the owners. The pair had previously won the Idaho Open Futurity in September, earning $13,316, bringing Cromer’s lifetime earnings in the NCHA database to over $620,000. Daughn, the leading female rider has earnings of close to $4 million, while Burch’s earnings are over $3.1 million. However, both of those icons have been showing cutting horses twice as long as Cromer.

At age 27, Morgan Cromer is the third leading female trainer in the cutting industry.

Following the Idaho Futurity, Morgan laid Faye Reys Sis off as she had come up a little sore. The decision was ultimately the best one as the mare went to the PCCHA Futurity fresh – and sound. The mare had been bred by Marshall Chesrown’s Black Rock Ranch, Harrison, Idaho, and trained by Grant Setnicka, who now has his own training operation in Grandview, Texas. Setnicka purchased the mare as a 2-year-old in January 2010 before selling her to Holy Cow Performance Horses LLC in August 2011, with Cromer being the intermediary. The Halls specialize in breeding, raising and training cow horses, with their horses going in several different directions, including cutting and working cow horse.

The Reserve Champion of the Open Futurity was Haydon Upton, 30, a native of New South Wales, Australia and a full-time equine chiropractor who currently lives with his wife Summa in Weatherford, Texas. He previously lived in California for 10 years. Haydon was riding Cats Date, a daughter of WR This Cats Smart out of Peptos Special Date by Peptoboonsmal. The pair marked a 220 for owner Forrest Saunders, Glen William, Australia. gave up his Non-Pro card last year and the PCCHA Futurity was only the fifth time he had ridden as a professional and Cats Date was the first cutting horse he’s ever ridden.

Haydon also won the Limited Rider division and sixth in the Intermediate division, making his total take-home paycheck $34,189. According to NCHA, Haydon had lifetime earnings of over $42,750 prior to his PCCHA earnings; however, with his performance at the PCCHA, he now has lifetime earnings of close to $77,000. Most of his early money was collected when he was a Non-Pro. He won previous titles at the PCCHA Futurity including last year when he won the Classic/Challenge $200K Limited Non-Pro. He credits John Mitchell of Texas and Andrew Coates, from California, for advising him, along with several others.

NON-PRO FUTURITY CHAMPION
It was a “woman’s day” in Paso Robles as the Non-Pro Champion was also female. Jessica Gonsalves, 39, Millsap, Texas, won the 29-entry Non-Pro division of the PCCHA Futurity riding My Dads A Cat. The 3-year-old gelding is sired by WR This Cats Smart out of Bodee Got Smart by Bodee Boonsmal, owned by her and her trainer husband Gary Gonsalves. Jessica is the daughter of George and Sue Hearst who own the Estrella Ranch east of Paso Robles, which is Jessica’s home turf. Ironically Jessica also showed last in the Non-Pro Finals – just as theother female champion Morgan Cromer had.

Also, another irony is that Jessica had no plans to ride My Dads A Cat until Gary missed the second go-round of the Open Futurity by two points and purchased the horse from his owner Dottie St Clair Hill, Glen Rose, Texas. Jessica jumped on a plane to ride the horse in the Non-Pro – which was to be her first time to ride him. Gary had qualified for the finals of the $200,000 Limited Open, but didn’t show the gelding as they thought he needed a day off. As it turned out, that was a good decision as My Dads A Cat came back fresh in the Non-Pro Futurity finals – scoring a whopping 222 and taking home an $11,133 paycheck.

Jessica and her family moved to Paso Robles when she was a senior in high school and met her husband of 16 years when he was training in Paso Robles. They later moved to Millsap, Texas. The couple has two children, Garrett, 13, and a daughter, Gentry, 10. Jessica took a break from showing for about 10 years to raise her kids. She’s starting her comeback out right as this is her first futurity championship.

The Reserve Champion went to NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Famer Bonnie Martin, Las Vegas, Nev., riding Ginger Smoothie, a horse she and her husband, Frank, bred and raised. Sired by Smooth As A Cat, the mare is out of PCR Ms Ginger by Playboys Badge. The pair won a $10,049 check for her championship and an extra $942.60 for being the Non-Pro Senior champion, which will be added to their NCHA lifetime earnings of $636,612.

$50,000 AMATEUR FUTURITY:
Hawaiian Alex Penovaroff won the $50,000 Amateur Futurity Finals with a 215 score, taking home $2,765 riding I Aint No Bum Check. He bred and raised the gelding sired by Im Countin Checks out of JB Punxctawy Phily by Dual Peppy, a mare who was a finalist at the NCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. The pair also picked up an additional $2,160 for the Senior title for a total of $4,925. Penovaroff, 76, who started riding cow horses at age 60, was born and raised in Hilo and has a 20-acre horse operation across the road from the famous Parker Ranch office on the Big Island of Hawaii. He is in the infrastructure supply business (municipal type water, sewer, drainage). While at the show, Alex sold his gelding to Tommy Manion, the owner of his sire, Im Countin Checks.

OPEN CUTTING STAKES:
The 56-entry Open Cutting Stakes, held for 4-year-olds sired by PCCHA Subscribed Stallions featured, was won by Tim Smith, Temecula, Calif., riding My Lizzie Babe (Lizzys Gotta Player x Moms Stylish Babe x Docs Stylish Oak), marking a 219.5, taking home a $22,730 paycheck for owner John Kratzer, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Smith, who has won close to $5 million in NCHA competition, is the West Coast’s leading rider, and Kratzer, the earner of close to $170,000 in NCHA earnings in NCHA Non-Pro competition, have doubled up on horses for several years. My Lizzie Babe was bred and originally owned by Tim Drummond, Pawhuska, Okla., who owns the mare’s sire, NCHA World Champion Lizzys Gotta Player.

When asked about the mare’s future, Tim said she would be taking a rest until spring and then “we’ll go do it again.” Tim had seen the mare just one time: at the NCHA Futurity in Fort worth where she marked a zero. But Tim was impressed. And rightfully so. After Kratzer bought her, she won the Las Vegas and El Rancho futurities. She’s had four limited-age wins this year and had earned approximately $74,000 prior to her Paso Robles victory.

The Reserve title was split between Clint Allen riding Blue One Time for Dave and Georgia Husby, Weatherford, Texas, and Grant Setnicka riding PRF Bobby Whitesock, owned by Royce Lee, Hico, Texas. Both horses scored a 218 and earned $16,505. Blue One Time (One Time Pepto x Quintan Blue x Mecom Blue) is a stallion, while PRF Bobby Whitesock (High Brow Cat x PRF Shesa Sterling by Bob Acre Doc) is a gelding. PRF Bobby Whitesock also won the Gelding Division for an additional $2,356 check.

NON-PRO CUTTING STAKES:
The industry’s leading Non-Pro rider was also a female. Mary Ann Rapp, Weatherford, Texas, with lifetime earnings of $3.6 million, won the 33-entry Non-Pro Cutting Stakes riding Shrimp Shack Shooter to a 220 in the nine-horse finals, earning $12,412. The gelding, sired by Smooth As A Cat out of Awesome Autumn by Smart Little Lena, now has earnings of over $50,000 after winning his first major aged event. Mary Ann is married to the industry’s top rider Phil Rapp.

Mary Ann grew up in Sloughhouse, Calif., in the Sierra foothills while Phil grew up in Napa. They moved to Weatherford in the fall of 1992 and by the fall of 1993 were dating. They have a son and a daughter.

The Reserve title, scoring a 219.5, went to Australian cutter Lisa Hewitt, who now lives in Weatherford, Texas. She was riding her 4-year-old mare Olenasduallyfeather (Cats Red Feather x Olenas Dually x Dual Pep), who now has over $180,000 in career earnings. The pair earned $11,249 for their Reserve title. Lisa spent three years in the United States working as a loper and learning about cutting before she went back to Australia to join her family’s Queensland-based ranching operation. The mare’s largest victory and paycheck of $116,023 came from the Open championship of the 2011 NCHA Super Stakes being ridden by catch rider Darren Simpkins. She was originally trained by Australia Sean Flynn.

LIMITED NON-PRO STAKES:
The 22-entry $200,000 Limited Non-Pro Cutting Stakes finals was won by Kimberly Thome, Santa Rosa, Calif., riding her Paint mare Ichin Ta Dual to $8,048 paycheck. Kim has been cutting for about 15 years. The Reserve title went to Jacob Pinheiro, Los Alamos, Calif., riding Ann Olenas Cat to a 217.5 and $7,285. The pair also took the Reserve title in the Limited Cutting Stakes $100,000 Limit for $1,649 and they won the gelding division for $942.60. Jacob works for this year’s PCCHA Futurity Champion Morgan Cromer. The horse was given to him as a 2-year-old.

AMATEUR CUTTING STAKES:
Brazillian Filipe Barbosa won the 22-entry $50 Amateur Division championship riding Miss T Rachet (Cat T Masterson x Missy S Rachet x Doc’s Hickory) with a 217 score. The pair picked up a $2,333 paycheck. Barbosa, born and raised in Brazil, now lives in Weatherford.

OPEN GELDING STAKES:
Todd Bimat, Orland, Calif., riding Smart E Cat, a gelding by Smooth As A Cat out of Smart Little Dualler by The Dualler, bred and owned by Jerry Erwin, Ridgefield, Wash., won the Gelding Stakes. The pair scored a 223 in the 10-horse finals, taking home the $13,294 top prize. The pair also won an additional $8,524 for placing ninth in the Open Futurity finals. The amount will be added to his over $2.2 million in NCHA lifetime earnings.

Jerry also just missed the Amateur finals and although he has the gelding’s dam entered into an NCHA futurity sale, he could be having second thoughts due to the gelding’s big win. Erwin had won the Amateur Futurity title at last fall’s PCCHA Futurity on a half brother: Bobs Hickory Dualler, who was sired by Bobs Hickory Rio.

The Reserve title went to A Smokin Tomcat, ridden by Gavin Jordan, Wilton, Calif., who only a short time later received the 2011 Ed Smith Award named after Modine Smith’s late husband and presented annually to a member respected for helping others. The pair scored a 218, earning $10,084 for owner Tracy Taylor Yuba City, Calif.

NON-PRO GELDING STAKES:
Twenty-nine-year-old Emily Jones, Arbuckle, Calif., rode Hes Too Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x Samantha Little Lena x Nu Cash), nicknamed “AJ”, to the championship of the five-horse finals of the Non-Pro Gelding Stakes by scoring a 215 to earn $5,975. The pair had just won the Non-Pro Division of the South Point Futurity in Las Vegas for $6,580. The gelding had finished fifth earlier under her trainer Tom Diaz in the Open Gelding Stakes, earning $3,429 for his 211.5 score. The Reserve title went to A Smokin Tomcat (Tomcat Chex x Peppys Smokin Edition x Docs Gunsmoke), owned and ridden by Tracy Taylor, Yuba City, Calif. The pair scored a 213 for a $4,981 paycheck.

OPEN CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Matt Budge, Weatherford, Texas, marked a 224 to capture the championship of the 70-entry Open Classic/Challenge Finals riding Im Catman, a sorrel stallion owned by Chuck and Stephanie Roven’s Reata Cutting Horses, Los Olivos, Calif. Budge and the son of High Brow Cat out of Cowstruck, a daughter of Smart Little Lena, took home checks totaling $17,234 after also winning the Gelding division.

John Mitchell, Weatherford, Texas, finished as the Reserve Champion with a 223 riding Fancy Lookin Cat, a daughter of That Sly Cat out of Playin N Fancy Peppy by Freckles Playboy, owned by Glade Knight’s Slate River Ranch, Weatherford, Texas. The pair took home $11,341.

NON-PRO CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
The father/son team of Tommy and Kyle Manion, Aubrey, Texas, dominated the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge with Tommy (the father) winning the division riding Holly Is Smooth and Kyle taking the Reserve title riding A Smooth Criminal. Both horses were sired by the Manions’ stallion Smooth As A Cat, with Holly Smooth being out of Holly N Zack by Zack T Wood, scoring a 223 in the 12-horse finals for a $5,759 paycheck. According to the NCHA, Holly Is Smooth has previous earnings of $67,434.

A Smooth Criminal is out of Carolena Moon by Peptoboonsmal, and his 219.5 netted him $5,404. The pair also won the Gelding division for an additional $2,670.40 while Tommy won the Senior, for an additional $2,356.50. Altogether Tommy, with over $1 million in lifetime earnings, won $8,115.50 while Kyle won added $8,074.40 to his lifetime earnings of $893,204, according to NCHA records. A Smooth Criminal has lifetime earnings of $101,746 including the championship of the 2010 PCCHA Non-Pro Cutting Stakes.

The 45-entry $200,000 Limited Non-Pro Classic was won by Erin Bimat, 31, the wife of cutting trainer Todd Bimat, who won the Open Gelding Stakes during this year’s event riding Smart E Cat and taking home a $13,294 paycheck. He also picked up $8,524 for a ninth place in the Open Futurity finals. Erin rode her 6-year-old gelding Smoking Cat Wacky (WR This Cats Smart x Bobs Smokin Spook x Bob Acre Doc) to a 222, earning $6,200. Erin is the daughter of show secretary Kathryn Webb.

AMATEUR CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Stephen Silva, 33, Atascadero, Calif., won the $50,000 Classic/Challenge Amateur finals with a 217 riding his 6-year-old gelding CD Headlight sired by CD Lights out of Peppeco Lena by Peppy San Lena. Silva credited the Futurity Champion Morgan Cromer for helping him. The livestock feed broker, who had previously competed with reined cow horses, earned $2,626.

The Reserve Champion and Senior Champion was Tom Bailey, Carbondale, Colo., the owner of the Iron Rose ranch, riding Spookys Smarty Rey to a 216 and total paycheck of $4,957. Bailey was a Wall Street stockbroker who started the well-known Janus Fund.
Click here for full results>>

IT'S FUN TIME IN LAS VEGAS DURING SOUTH POINT FUTURITY & AGED EVENTS

OPEN AND NON-PRO DIVISIONS ARE NOT PRO-RATED – THEY EACH HAVE GUARANTEED ADDED MONEY

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Sept. 19, 2011
Special rates are avaialble at the South Point Hotel for the South Point Futurity & Aged Event held Oct. 6-13.

The 18th Annual South Point Futurity and aged events, will be held at the South Point Equestrian and Event Center in Las Vegas, Nev., Oct. 6-13. The week will be unlike any aged event across the country as the added money in each division is not pro-rated , you actually know how much added money you are vying for when you enter. Also, you can enter an unlimited number of horses in each division.

All of the Open divisions – the Futurity, Derby and 5/6-year-old classes - will each have $25,000 in added money, while all of the Non-Pro divisions will have $15,000 added to each. The Derby and 5/6-Year-Old Amateur will each have $3,000 in added money. Open entries are $1,290, while the Non-Pro is $1,040. Entries are open now and Late fees will be assessed after Sept. 26.

As a rider, owner or breeder, your earnings will be, as they always are, recorded by Equi-Stat. If you are headed to the West Coast for the PCCHA Futurity held Oct. 19-30, the South Point Show will be a great stop.

A variety of restaurants and entertainment will be yours for the taking and rooms with a television channel that continuously televises the cutting are available for special rates. Call 866-791-7626 or visit www.southpointcutting.com and mention offer code SPC1006. For more information contact Kathryn Webb at kwebb50@msn.com or call (801) 380-4031. Entry blanks are also available at http://www.southpointcutting.com.

EL RANCHO FUTURITY & FOOTHILLS FIESTA STARTS TODAY

DAILY NEWS EBLAST WILL BE AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE

Sept. 8, 2011
The Fifth Annual El Rancho Futurity & Foothills Fiesta will get underway today with fresh-cattle works in Rancho Murieta, Calif., and will run through Sept. 18. The first round of the Open Futurity will begin on Friday, Sept. 9.

The El Rancho Futurity Daily News will be available each morning on their website, http://www.elranchofuturity.com, and will report go-round leaders, champions, show activities and other interesting tidbits from this year’s event. If you would like to be added to the daily eblast, contact Sheri Matthews at sheriforrest@gmail.com.

The event, which includes a full slate of NCHA-approved aged=-event classes, is produced by non-pro cutter Carol Ward, owner of the Rancho Murieta Equine Center. “Our mission is to provide an experience worthy of the efforts that an exhibitor puts forth to be here,” said Ward. “We are fully aware of the hard work, expense and, at times, the gut-wrenching anticipation that owning a cutting horse entails. We understand the highs and lows associated with owning, training and showing a cutter and the ‘character building’ it produces. Most of all, we cutters thrive on the thrill of competition, the bond with our equine athletes and the life-long friendships our sport provides.”

Ward also added that the El Rancho Futurity & Fiesta is all about family fun. “We work hard to provide a fair, exciting and fun event the whole family can enjoy.” Among the festivities at this year’s event are a Cutters For Art fundraiser and the annual Futurity Fiesta. Check out the El Rancho Futurity Daily News beginning Saturday, Sept. 10 for more on this popu8lar west coast event. For more information, visit http://www.elranchofuturity.com or Sheri Matthews at (916) 549-8555.

MORGAN CROMER CAPTURES IDAHO FUTURITY TITLE; FINISHES RESERVE IN DERBY & CLASSIC/CHALLENGE

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Sept.8, 2011
Morgan Cromer dominated the Open aged events at the Idaho Futurity & Aged events, taking home $39,577 riding seven different horses in three divisions.

Morgan Cromer, Templeton, Calif., left the Idaho Cutting Horse Association Futurity and Aged Event, held Aug. 31-Sept. 6 in Nampa, Idaho, with over $39,577 in her pocket and a smile on her face. Cromer picked up nine checks on seven different horses in three Open aged divisions, including the Championship of the Futurity and Reserve titles in the Derby and Classic Challenge.

In the Open Futurity, Cromer rode Faye Rey Sis (08m Dual Rey x Lil Lenas Sis x Doc O'Lena) for Holy Cow Performance, scoring a 221 and taking home a $13,15.55 paycheck. She also placed ninth riding CD Andale for Bruce Herber and 13th riding Miss Tinka Taz for Jill Juratsch & Craig Moulton. The Reserve title was split between Shad Platt riding Missin Boonlight (08s Boonlight Dancer x Missin Bunny x Miss N Cash) for Sam Nevis and Tim Smith riding Smart Ruby Rey (08m Dual Smart Rey x Playboys Ruby x Freckles Playboy) for Sheri Jamieson. Both scored a 217 and took home $9,389.77. Missin Boonlight was also the Gelding Champion, earning an additional $554.62.

The Open Derby was won by Gary Gonsalves riding Cashflow (07s Smart Little Lena x Spookys Cash x Miss N Cash) for Tom Bailey's Iron Rose Ranch, scoring a 225 for a $10,045.61 paycheck. However, Gonsalves had to split the Reserve title with Cromer when both scored 219 and took home $7,455.01. Cromer was riding Oak Ill Be Peppy (07g Skeets Peppy x Oak Ill Be x Ill Be Smart) for Karen Brody while Gonsalves was riding Smooth Peanutbutter (07m Smooth As A Cat x Justa Smart Peanut x Smart Little Lena) , also for the Iron Rose Ranch. Cromer also took the Gelding title on Oak Ill Be Peppy for an additional $639.90 for Brody.

The Open Classic/Challenge Finals was won by Phil Rapp riding Dont Look Twice (05m High Brow Cat x Tapt Twice x Dual Pep) for the Waco Bend Ranch, by scoring the highest score of the Open Finals - a 228 - and winning $9,010.16. But Morgan actually took home more money than Rapp by finishing second on Smooth Autumn Mate (05m Smooth As A Cat x Autumn Mate x Smart Mate) for Todd Bergen Performance Horses ($7,225.44), sixth on Smarty Hicat Annie for Holy Cow Performance ($2,923.68), 16th riding CD Headlight for Stephen Silva ($1,600) and the gelding award for $217.14 - for a total of $11,966.26.

The Non-Pro Futurity Champion was Janet Westfall riding Another Lil Sister, a daughter of CD Royal out of Smart Like Dusty by Smart Little Lena, to a 216, taking home $3,631. The Reserve title was taken by Fallon Nuttall riding CD Royal Desire, a gelding also sired by CD Royal out of Filled With Desire by Playgun. The pair scored a 207 in the finals for a $3,007 paycheck. The pair earned an additional $485 for winning the Non-Pro Gelding title. The $200,000 Limited Non-Pro was taken by Kathy Foote riding Mamas Starz A Dulce (Dulces Smart Lena x Star Filaree x Grays Starlight), scoring a 207 and earning $291.

Canadian Carl Gerwien won the Non-Pro Derby and Gelding title riding Short N Suave (07g Smooth As A Cat x Miss Shorty Paloma x Shorty Lena), with a 225 score, earning a total of $5,236. Taking the Reserve title and $200,000 Ltd Non-Pro division was Cody Hedlund riding Teles Bout This Cat (07m WR This Cats Smart x Teles Lies x Lenas Telesis) to a 222 and a total of $4,791.

The Amateur Derby was won by Pam Shaeffer riding Krunch Time (07g One Time Pepto x War Lena Calie x War Lena Bars) to a 217 and $2,067.66 paycheck.The pair also took the Amateur Gelding award for an additional $524. Katrina Hansen Lane was second riding Boon Time Soon (07m Peptotime x Colonel Boons Jewel x Boon Bar) to a 212 and a $1,814.62 paycheck. Shaeffer also won the Gelding title for an additional $523.80.

The Non-Pro Classic division as well as the $200,000 Ltd Non-Pro and Gelding award was taken by Erin Bimat riding Smokin Cat Wacky (05g WR This Cats Smart x Bobs Smokin Spook x Bob Acre Doc) to a 225 and a total of $6,567. The gelding is owned by Erin and her husband and cutting-horse trainer Todd Bimat. The Reserve title went to David Anderson riding Peptos Opus Cat (06m Peptoboonsmal x OPus Cat x High Brow Cat), scoring a 222.5 for $4,468. The mare is owned by David and his wife Lisa.

The Amatur Classic/Challenge was won by Tom Bailey of the Iron Rose Ranch when he scored a 221 riding Shesa Spooky Pepto (06m Peptoboonsmal x Spookys Smarty Pants x Smart Aristocrat). The pair won $2,102.10. The Reserve title went to Scott Gaddy riding Ha Gypsy Crackin (06m Starlights Gypsy x Smart Crackin Chic x Smart Chic Olena), winning $1,797.27. Michelle Havens took third and the Gelding title riding Cats Chilly Chilly (06g Cats Merada x Chics Chili Peppy x Smart Chic Olena), for a total of $2,074.05.

The 7-Up Non-Pro was won by Norman Clark riding CD Olena Peppy (01g CD Olena x Quixote Lena Peppy x Paddys Irish Whiskey) to a 220.5 for a $2,200 paycheck. Ray Baldwin and Amanda Smith tied for second, with each scoring a 216 for $1,720. Baldwin was riding Mylanta Lano (04m Mylanta Lena x War Lano Missy x Doc's Solano) while Smith was riding Whirl N Play (03m CD Whirl x Playful Little Lana x Freckles Playboy). Clark also won the Gelding award for an additional $500 and Smith won the $200,000 Limited Non-Pro for an additional $540.

Phil and Mary Ann Rapp struck paydirt in the Mercuria World Series Finals when Phil won the Open Division and Mary Ann was Reserve in the Non-Pro - for a total of $17,563.47. Phil rode Dont Look Twice to a 234, winning $8,770.67. Lindy Burch was second with a 225.5 riding Bet Shesa Cat, picking up $7,336.53. The Non-Pro title went to Dan Hansen riding Woody Be Lucky, for $11,190.40. The Reserve title went to Mary Ann Rapp riding Toy Engine to a 224.5 for an $8,792.80 check.

RUSS MILLER TAKES $19,200 HOME FROM BIG SKY FUTURITY

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Aug. 22, 2011
Russ Miller took home close to $19,200 from the Big Sky Futurity held Aug. 8-13 in Kalispell, Mont. Russ, shown with Kathy Foote, finished fourth in the Open Classic/Challenge riding Foote's Times Sneakin Up Onu, on which Kathy also made the Non-Pro finals.

Russ Miller, St. Anthony, Idaho., left the Big Sky Futurity, held Aug. 8-13 at the Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell, Mont., with seven paychecks totaling $19,198.68. The paychecks represented championships in both the Open Futurity and Classic/Challenge, a Reserve title in the Open Derby, plus four other placings. The six-day event featured $35,500 in added money.

FUTURITY:
Scoring a 148, Miller won the Open Futurity title riding Mamas Starlight Cat, a stallion by High Brow Cat out of Starlights Liz by Grays Starlight, owned by Glen Nelson’s Mama’s Ranch LLC, Mesa, Ariz., collecting $4,052. However, his paychecks didn’t end there as he also finished third riding Oops Teaspoon for Jimmy Kemp, Jr., Imperial, Calif., for $1,938.50 and ninth riding Spoonful Of Class for GCH Land & Cattle, Weatherford, Texas, for an additional $1,334.00. His three paychecks from the Open Futurity totaled $7,324.50.

The Reserve Futurity Champion was Josh Sleeman, Yelm, Wash., riding Clutch Light (08 s Clutch Player x Nitas Starlight x Grays Starlight) to a 146 for Jerry Erwin, Vancouver, Wash. The pair won $3,226. Sleeman also finished 11th on CD Smooth Operator ($1,000) and 12th on Pure Smooth ($1,000).

The Non-Pro Futurity winner was Fallon Nuttall, Red Lodge, Mont., riding her father’s horse CD Royal Desire (08 g CD Royal x Filled With Desire x Playgun) to a 144 and $1,550.75. Her father Will Nuttall had finished seventh on the gelding in the Open Futurity. Reserve went to her brother Wyatt, riding PSN Lared Romeo (08g Laredo Blue x Rusty San Bull x Legendary Rock) to a 139, also owned by Will Nuttall. The pair picked up $1,254.00.

CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Miller struck another homerun in the 5/6-Year-Old Classic/Challenge, riding GCH Land & Cattle Company’s Playin In Jewels (07 g Playin Stylish x Pretty Jewels x Lenas Jewel Bars) to a whopping 150 for a $5,563.40 paycheck. He also finished fourth riding Times Sneakin Up Onu for Jonathan and Kathy Foote, Livingston, Mont., for an additional $2,955.74 – taking home a total of $7,866.83 in the Classic/Challenge. Kathy was also a finalist on Times Sneakin Up Onu in the Non-Pro division.

Also chasing Miller in the Classic/Challenge was Reserve Champion Josh Sleeman, this time riding Ho Chi Minnie for Duane Bruner, Castle Rock, Wash., to a 148 and a paycheck of $2,955.74. Sleeman also finished third on Patty La Cat for Jim and Luana Wriglesworth, Sandy, Ore., for $2,629.79. With Sleeman placing in all three Open divisions, he picked up a total of $12,646.93.

DERBY:
Randy Holman, Bigfork, Mont., won the Open Derby Finals with a 149 riding Pretty Smart Cat, a daughter of WR This Cats Smart out of Little Laura by Doc O Wena, for Dave and Sandy Sabey, Big Fork, Mont., taking home a $5,014.70 paycheck. However, Miller rode Shes Smooth N Smart (Smooth As A Cat x Smart Lil Sparkler x Somebody Smart) to the Reserve title for Frank Richards, Park City, Utah, with a 146, taking home an additional $2,338.23. He also finished sixth ridig Olenas Dually Cat for Dana Russell, Acton, Mass., collecting an additional $1,669.12 paycheck. Miller collected a total of $4,007.35 in the Derby.

The Non-Pro Derby Champion was Glen Nelson, the owner of the Futurity Champion, riding Mamas Bell Ringer (Cat Ichi x Chukas Misty x Shorty Lena) to a 144, taking home $2,169. The Reserve Non-Pro Derby Champ was Canadian Carl Gerwien riding Royal Red Lights to a 142, taking home $1,533.

OTHER CLASSES:
Other classes included a Non-Pro Pro-Am Finals with John Dublin, Laurel Mont., winning the event with a 149 riding Sweet Shootin Lena (Sweet Lil Pepto x Smart Jay Lena x Smooth Little Lena), owned by Jan Walker, Stevensville, Mont. The pair picked up $2,018. A bridleless cutting was also held with Cody Lee, Hamilton, Mont., winning the event with a whopping 156 riding Remanitas Alegria (Smart Mate x Miss Remanita x Mr Peponita Flo).

JASON CLARK CAPTURES NCHA SUMMER SPECTACULAR CLASSIC CHALLENGE; KYLE MANION TOPS NON-PRO DIVISION

By Glory Ann Kurtz
July 23, 2011
NCHA OPEN CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
When Jason Clark scored a 223 on Indian Rick, as the first horse to work in the finals of the NCHA Classic Challenge held Tuesday, July 19, during the Summer Spectacular July 12-30 in Fort Worth, Texas, owners David and Stacie McDavid, Fort Worth, Texas, didn’t expect the score to hold up for the championship. But when the awards were presented, along with the $33,255 paycheck, they realized their “little horse with the big heart” had topped the competitive field, taking his first major championship. The gelding is a son of Hickorys Indian Pep, also owned by the McDavids and out of Ricochets Chick by Smart Lil Ricochet.

A close second, with a 222 score, went to Pounce (High Brow Cat x Haidas Little Shorty x Haidas Little Pep), a seasoned winner owned by Julie Clarke, Bend, Ore., with Phil Hanson in the saddle. The pair took home $29,284. Third went to Phil Rapp riding Don’t Look Twice, with over a half million dollars in lifetime earnings, for Louis and Corliss Baldwin, Fort Worth, Texas. Fourth was tie between Third Cutting, also the winner of over a half million dollars in lifetime earnings, owned by Carl and Shawnea Smith, Jacksboro, Texas, and ridden by Boyd Rice and Whiskeynadirtyglass, a son of High Brow Cat out of Jitters Brown by Smart Little Lena, owned by Vincenzo Vario, Weatherford, Texas, ridden by Brett McGlothlin. The pair also won the John Deere Limited Open finals for a $5,649 paycheck. Adding that to the $19,750 won in the Open – the young stallion won a total of $25,399.

NON-PRO CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Kyle Manion, Aubrey, Texas, topped the finals of the Non-Pro division of the Classic/Challenge, held Thursday, July 21, riding A Smooth Criminal, a gelding by Smooth As A Cat x Carolena Moon by Peptoboonsmal, to a 221.5, earning $12,741. Manion, who also owns the gelding’s sire, Smooth As A Cat, purchased him as a 4-year-old, but the gelding had to overcome colic surgery before Manion could show him. He was trained by Todd Bergen and Matt Gaines.

Biting at Manion’s heels in the finals, was the Reserve Champion Kaitlyn Larsen, Millsap, Texas, riding Laredo Montana, a gelding by her father’s stallion Light N Lena out of Little Memory Maker by Peppy San Badger, to a 221, taking home $12,253. Kaitlyn’s father, Billy Martin, also came home a winner by riding Shady Light to a 14th-place tie in the Non-Pro for a $5,973 paycheck. The mare, also sired by his stallion Light N Lena out of Dual Delight by Dual Pep, also won the Senior Division for an additional $3,253 paycheck – for a total of $9,160. The Reserve Senior was Glade Knight riding Smooth Asa Zee, also sired by Smooth As A Cat out of Zee Dualy, also a Dual Pep daughter.

LIMITED NON-PRO DERBY:
The Limited Non-Pro Derby Champion Brandon Dufurrena is making a habit of winning championships. The 25-year-old son of trainer Ed Dufurrena and his wife Shona, Gainesville, Texas, won the Matthews Cutting Horses Non-Pro Limited Finals, held Monday, July 18, riding Nievas, a daughter of Cats Merada out of Smart Little Boogie by EG Southern Dancer with a 222, taking home an $8,187 paycheck. Earlier in the year, Brandon won the NCHA Super Stakes Classic Non-Pro Limited division with a 225 riding Miss Ella Rey. Brandon also picked up a $10,425 paycheck riding Miss Ella Rey to sixth in this year’s Non-Pro Classic-Challenge Finals.

AMATEUR DERBY:
The Amateur Derby Finals, held Wednesday, July 20, was won by Deborah Herold, West Point, Iowa, riding Wiley Cat, a son of High Brow Cat out of Miss Echo Wood by Doctor Wood. The pair scored a 221, taking home $4,986. The Reserve title with a 219 went to Kylie Knight, 21, Fort Worth, Texas, riding Sunlight N San, a daughter of Light N Lena out of Sittin In San by Peppy San Badger. The pair earned $4,787. Kylie, who grew up in Arizona riding reined cowhorses to youth titles, is the fiancé of Tatum Rice.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
The finals of the Amateur Classic/Challenge will be held this evening, followed by the Breeders’ Invitational Mercuria World Series Open Finals. The finals of the Derby Open Gelding division will be held Wednesday, July 27; the Non-Pro semifinals will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 28, as will the Limited Non-Pro finals of the Classic Challenge and the Non-Pro Gelding Derby Finals.

The Open semifinals of the Derby will start at 8 a.m. on Friday, July 29, followed by the finals of the John Deere Division of the Open Derby. July 29, prior to the Summer Spectacular Sale which starts at 4:30 p.m. The sale continues on Saturday morning at 9 a.m., July 30, with the Open and Non-Pro Derby Finals beginning at 3 p.m.
For more information, click here>>

NORTH TEXAS TRAINERS, RIDERS AND SIRES ARE STANDOUTS AT AUSTRALIAN CUTTING FUTURITY

CLINT ALLEN RIDES DUCKS DUX SIRED BY SOPHISTICATED CATT TO AUSTRALIAN OPEN FUTURITY TITLE

By Glory Ann Kurtz
June 12, 2011
Clint Allen, Weatherford, Texas, won the Australian Open Futurity catch-riding Ducks Dux owned by John Brekelmans.

After the Open Finals of the NCHA of Australia Cutting Futurity, held Sunday, June 12, trainers who lived or had lived in North Texas, and the wife of one of them, took eight of the top 11 places in the 20-horse finals. The Open Finals Champion was Weatherford, Texas trainer Clint Allen riding Ducks Dux, a daughter from the first foal crop of Sophisticated Catt, a High Brow Cat son owned by Keith Feister and Dale Koller, Gainesville, Texas. The event was held June 2-12 in Tamworth, New South Wells, Australia.

Allen and Ducks Dux, owned by top non-pro rider John Bre kelmans, Gracemere, Queensland, drew up fifth in the 20-horse finals, and scored a whopping 152, which couldn’t be beat by the other 15 horses.

Aaron Wheatley, the Australian Futurity and Derby Champion who is back training in Australia, following a stint in North Texas, had five horses in the top 11, including second, third, fourth, seventh and 11th places, while his American-born wife, Lindsey, tied Aaron for seventh. Wheatley went to Texas in 2007 following his Australian Derby win, where he worked for Jack and Susan Waggoner, Bridgeport, Texas, and met and married Lindsey.

Aaron’s Reserve Futurity Champion was RBH Shes Pretty Stylish, a daughter of Peptos Stylish Oak out of RBH Just Dreamin by Tassa Lena, owned by Tri Start QHS. The pair scored a 150. Wheatley also scored a 149, for third place, riding Classical CD (CD Olena x Hollys Stylish Oak x Peptos Stylish Oak) owned by L & M Mitchell. He tied for 7th with his wife Lindsey riding Destinys Sweet Sugar (Acres Destiny x Sweet Susie Oak x Docs Freckles Oak), owned by M & D Kelley, with both scoring a 145.5. Lindsey was riding Reyving Reviews (Reyn Storm x Dara Cocoas Preview x Oaks Cocoa Jay), owned by Aaron. Aaron also finished 11th riding Shania Niner, also sired by Sophisticated Catt out of Niners Lady Buck by Fortyniner Doc, owned by Geoff Douglas.

Australian native John Mitchell, who has trained in North Texas several years for the Slate River Ranch, finished in a tie for fifth with Australia’s leading trainer Todd Graham, with a 145.5. Mitchell was riding Winderadeen Ms Stormcat (Intricatolena x Shortys Badgerlena x Shorty Lena) owned by J Bar C QHS.

CLINT ALLEN:
Clint Allen, who trains out of Weatherford, Texas, and is the winner of $2.8 million lifetime NCHA competition, has been a champion at several major aged events, as have many of his customers. His most recent wins came when he trained the horse that won the 2011 NCHA Super Stakes. Ridden by Darren Simpkins, Olenasduallyfeather (nicknamed Katy) won the Open championship, taking home a $100,000 paycheck. Riding Moms Stylish Cat, Clint finished second taking home $62,266. Katy and her owner, Lisa Hewitt, also qualified for the Non-Pro Finals. Clint and his wife, Shayle, are the parents of three children.

THE SIRES:
Three stallions had three offspring in the Finals, including Sophisticated Catt, a 2002 son of High Brow Cat out of Shania Cee, the NCHA Open Futurity Champion and Horse of the Year sired by Peppys Boy 895, Peptos Stylish Oak, a 1997 son of Peptoboonsmal out of Moms Stylish Kat by Docs Stylish Oak, bred by Chuck Drummond, Pawhuska, Okla., and owned by Morning Sun Ranch of Australia, who spends the spring breeding season in North Texas at Alpha Equine Breeding Center in Granbury, Texas, and Reyn Storm, a 2003 son of Dual Rey out of Playboys Stormy by Freckles Playboy, bred by Lauri Mills, Tucson, Ariz., and owned by Blackgold Ranch Inc., Sweeden, Kentucky.

WR This Cats Smart, a 1999 son of High Brow Cat out of The Smart Look by Smart Little Lena, bred by the Wiens Ranch Co., Inc., Sedalia, Colo., and owned by Wagonhound Land & Livestock, Douglas, Wyo., and CD Olena, the deceased 1991 son of Doc O’Lena out of CD Chica San Badger by Peppy San Badger, bred by Bobby Pidgeon’s Dogwood Farms, Moscow, Tenn., and owned by the Bar H Ranche, Weatherford, Texas, both had two horses in the Open Finals.

The balance of the sires had one offspring in the finals, with only one, Spins Image, being an Australian-bred sire. Kit Dual, a son of Dual Pep out of Pretty Little Kitty by Smart Little Lena, bred by Stewart Sewell, Jacksboro, Texas, and is urrently owned by James Brown, Ft. Ogden, Fla.; Acres Destiny (Imported), a 1993 son of Bob Acre Doc out of San Jose Hickory by Doc’s Hickory, bred to Jo Ellard’s EE Ranches, Whitesboro, Texas, and owned by Richard Bull of Australia.

The remaining four were imported sons of High Brow Cat, including Whos Top Cat (imp) out of Play who by Freckles Playboy, bred by Lonnie Barbara Allsup, Clovis, N.M., and owned by Richard Bull, Australia; Intricatolena (imp) out of Ms Colonel by Colonel Freckles bred by Joel Hardy, San Antonio, Texas, owned by Winderadeen Corp., Australia; Catskills (imp), bred by Tommy Manion Inc., Aubrey, Texas, owned by Graham and Donna Amos, Australia, and Racketeer Cat (Imp) – AQHA information unavailable.

SOPHISTICATED CATT:
Sophisticated Catt, the earner of $183,838 and 2008, 2009 and 2010 AQHA World Champion in Senior Cutting, was bred by Billy Cogdell, Tulia, Texas, and sold as an embryo – along with his twin full brother Palo Duro Cat, to Feister and Koller at the 2001 Cogdell Dispersal Sale. According to Feister, after the summer shows in 2006, he started freezing the stallion’s semen, sending it to his friend Gordon Evans of Everston Park, a breeding facility in Australia’s southern Queensland’s Darling Downs region. Evans was a pioneer in the importation of Quarter Horse frozen semen to Australia. He had worked in the US during the 2002 breeding season and developed a strong relationship with Keith and Sharon Feister.

“There were about 50 in that first crop of colts,” said Feister, who along with Evans thought it would be a good place to start out his first crop of colts. “We thought he’d be a big fish in a small pond. At that time, he had about $50,000 in earnings, and Gordon had a good relationship with the owners and breeders, so he got quite popular.”
Click here for article on Everston Park>>

From that first crop, 10 were entered in the Australian Futurity, nine actually showed and three made the Open Finals. John Brekelmans, the owner of Ducks Dux, the Open Champion, also showed one, Precious Duck, in the Non-Pro Division, tying for sixth place.

Brekelmans had two Sophisticated Catt offspring entered in the 2011 Australian Cutting Futurity - in the Open and one and the other in the Non-Pro. But Feister said that Ducks Dux showed so much promise that he wanted to give her “the best possible chance” and made arrangements for Clint Allen to ride her instead. “She was talented enough for me to get someone else to show her, said Breckelmans in an article in the Australian Performance Horse Magazine. “So Clint Allen will show her at Tamworth. I’ve never got anyone to do that for me before.” Allen arrived in Australia two days before the show and rode another Sophisticated Catt, that was pretty green, in the first go-round, but lost a cow.

“Ducks Dux is the closest I’ve had to Oaks Fancy Duckling (her granddam), the mare I got second on in the Futurity about 20 years ago,” said Breckelmans in the article. “She is just real low and crouchy with heaps of look on a cow.”

Australia’s leading trainer, Todd Graham, who had four horses in the Finals, finishing 4th, 10th, 14th and tied for 15th, finished 10th on EP Spin O Catt by Sophisticated Catt, moved close to Gordon Evans’ breeding operation about a year ago, and started riding several Sophisticated Catt’s offspring for customers. At one time he had 10 in his barn – with one being EP Spin O Catt after Ian Francis decided to slow down his training operation.

Click for full results of the Australian Cutting Futurity>>

SOUTH POINT EQUESTRIAN CENTER ANNOUNCES TRIPLE WINNERS CIRCUIT CUTTINGS

THREE NEW SHOWS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY, JULY AND OCTOBER

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Las Vegas, Nev. – Jan. 15, 2011
Paula Gaughan has announced there will be three new shows held at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas during the 2011 year – at the same place, with the same dirt and same good cattle. The three circuit dates are Feb. 17-23, July 28-Aug. 3 and Oct. 12-18.

Each show will have 12 regular show events including three $500-added Opens, Non-Pros, $10,000 Novice, $5000 Novice Non-Pros, $15,000 Novice Non-Pros. There will also be four days of $500-added $50,000 Amateur, $3,000 Novice and jackpoted $35,000 Non-Pro, $15,000 Amateur and $2,000 Limited Rider. There will also be two days of Youth competition.

Six aged events will also be held, including three $2,500-added 5/6-Year-Old (entry fee $555) and 4-Year-Old Opens (EF $485); $2,000-added 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro (EF $555) and 4-Year-Old Non-Pro (EF $385). There will also be a $1,000-added 5/6-Year-Old Amateur (EF $485) and a $1,000-added 4-Year-Old Amateur (EF $385).

Also, during the October show, there will be three $2,500-added 3-year-Old Opens (EF $555) and three $2,000-added 3-year-Old Non-Pros (EF $485). The shows will be approved by the UCHA and ICHA, with others pending.

There will be awards at each show, including the Open Show and Aged-Event Show circuit awards at a party. There will be a $5,000 cash bonus to the Open Aged Circuit winner and a $2,500 cash bonus to Non-Pro Aged Circuit winner. A $1,000 cash bonus will be awarded to the Amateur Aged Circuit winner. A “Roll the Dice” will be held for other bonus awards.

Sponsors for the show will be RoohideSaddles, Skyline Silversmiths and Resistol. For more information contact Kathryn Webb, 7493 N 9150 West, Lehi, Utah 84043. E-mail kwebb50@msn.com or Fax to 801-768-2296. For South Point Hotel and Casino Room reservations, call 866-791-7626 and ask for Offer Code: Feb. 17-23 SPP021, July 28-Aug. 3 SPC0728 and Oct. 12-18 SPC1013. The South Point Hotel, Casino and Equestrian Center are located at 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South in Las Vegas.

TOMMY WILLIAMS – ONE OF THE “REAL” WINNERS AT THE SOUTHERN FUTURITY

THE AMATEUR CUTTERS ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Nov. 8, 2010 – Jackson, Miss.
Even though Austin Shepard won the Open Futurity at the Southern Cutting Futurity, Tommy Williams, a Non-Pro/Amateur, won both the Derby and Classic Senior classes and was one of the unsung heros at the event.

Who are the real winners at the aged events? Are they the top-rung trainers who seem to take home most of the money or the top non-pros, who support their habit with income from another source, and just love to show horses themselves. Or is it the Amateurs – who have to be competing in this sport because they love it, as the financial rewards are pretty slim. Many times they don’t even pay the gas bill.

It was “old hat” at the Southern Cutting Futurity held Oct. 25-30 in Jackson, Miss. Austin Shepard, Summerdale, Ala., won the 35-entry Open Futurity finals with a 220 score riding Peppy Catalena for Lois Hawkins, Abingdon, Va., taking home $9,714. The 62-entry Open Derby finals was won by Allen Crouch, Noxapater, Miss., riding Smart Whittle Margie for Joel Colgrove, Boligee, Ala., for $7,156.80 and the largest class, the 73-entry Open Classic Finals was taken by Tennessee’s own James Brad Mitchell riding Dual Rey Me Cat for Barbara Brooks’ Painted Springs Farm LLC, Nashville, Tenn. The pair scored a 221.5, winning $6,253.24.

Chad Bushaw, Weatherford, Texas, rode Smooth As A Twist to the finals championship of the 10-entry Non-Pro Futurity, scoring a 228 and collecting $2,796; Seth Holcombe, Birmingham, Ala., won the 34-entry Non-Pro Derby riding Magic Man to a 219.5 and a $4,181 check and Alisa McCleary, Michigan City, Miss., won the 50-entry Non-Pro Classic Finals riding Rey O White to a 218 and a $4,750.30 paycheck.

However, the untold stories are the most interesting – and those are the riders in the amateur classes, who go strictly for their love of the sport and just try to win enough prize money to pay their gas. Their stories are rarely headlined or published – and I have certainly been guilty of that sin.

The 6-entry $50,000 Amateur Futurity was taken by Jiimmy Holloway, Carrollton, Ga., riding WM Fat Cat, with his 215 earning $564. The 30-entry $50,000 Amateur Derby was won by Isidro Sigala, Weatherford, Texas, riding Sofie Rey to a 222 and a $2,336.25 paycheck, while the 52-entry $50,000 Amateur Classic Finals was taken by Gene Quirk Jr., Denham Springs, La., riding Playin At The Mall to a 221 and a $2,475 paycheck.

WHO IS TOMMY?
Tommy Williams, Rosie, Ark., (right) shown at the South Point show with Richard Gramling and his son Alex, Batesville, Ark.

However, one Amateur who won two aged-event divisions was Tommy Williams, a 65-year-old rancher and John Deere implement dealer from Rosie, Ark., who won both the Derby and Classic Senior titles. He also finished eighth in the Amateur Derby riding Smart Fifteen and 13th in the Amateur Classic riding No Mo Flo. He left the event with a total of $2,339.80.

Tommy is one of those amateurs who not only helps support the shows but the entire industry by purchasing cutting horses from breeders, sending them to trainers and even breeding his own mares to some of the industry’s top stallions. Tommy’s one of thousands who supports this industry, keeping it alive – and who love every minute of their addiction.

I first met Tommy at the South Point Cutting held in Las Vegas, Nev., Oct. 10-16, where he was showing two horses in Non-Pro and Amateur competition. The thin, quiet, unassuming rancher didn’t win any big championships – but his delight of being at the show and showing his horses was evident in his big smile when he left the herd – whatever he scored. But his smile even got bigger, when they announced that his score in the South Point Non-Pro Derby had just been raised 2 ½ points – making it possible for him to qualify for the finals. The next day, his score was again raised – enough to move him and his mare, Smart Fifteen, up to third place from fourth. That’s almost unheard of – having one’s score raised twice in the same class – by 2 ½ points!

I asked Tommy how that happened and he said with a smile, “It happens all the time.” Now that caught my attention – “All the time?” I asked. Tommy went on to explain that in the Amateur division of the 2010 NCHA Super Stakes, they raised his score enough that he made the finals, allowing him to finish in a tie for eighth and win the Senior Rider title. But that wasn’t all. At the Breeders’ Invitational Amateur Derby, they again raised his score, allowing him to tie for the championship. However, following a work-off, Tommy finished as Reserve Champion and also was a finalist in the Senior Rider class. That’s why his score being raised at the South Point was “old hat” for Tommy.

The next time Tommy did well at an aged event was at the Southern Futurity, where he and Smart Fifteen, a 4-year-old daughter of Playdox out of Sevens N Eights (where the 15 in her name comes from) by Smart Little Lena, finished eighth in the Amateur Derby and won the Senior Rider award. He also was a Classic $50,000 Amateur finalist and won the Senior Amateur Rider award in the Southern Classic, riding his home-grown mare, No Mo Flo, nicknamed “Flo,” a 5-year-old daughter of Mr Peponita Flo out of Sonitas B Mine by Sonita’s Last.

Between those two aged events, Tommy had gone home with $11,200 and left with Smart Fifteen, (nicknamed “Sweetie”) having over $32,000 in lifetime earnings and No Mo Flo’s totaling close to $5,700. When I asked if any of his scores had been raised, he laughed and said, “Not this time but I was hoping they would. I had a really good run, but I had picked my dang hand up. When I came out of the herd, Sean smiled at me – but I knew what I had done. My mare’s real good but that’s the way it is sometimes.”

Tommy Williams shown with Lisa Hewitt, who work's for Sean Flynn, Tommy's trainer. Lisa and Sean are both Australians.

But he was obviously ecstatic; he had come home ahead of the game. Or it seemed so at the time. But he really hadn’t because he had bought Smart Fifteen from her breeder Glade Knight, Weatherford, Texas, as a 3-year-old. She had been trained by Scott Johnson, an Australian who at that time was training out of Knight’s Slate River facility. Tommy then put her into training with Australian trainer, Geoffrey (Spud) Sheehan, Bearden, Ark., who came to the United States with Graham Amos and currently works for Arlis Justice, Camden, Ark. Tommy bred and raised No Mo Flo, breeding his mare to Mr Peponita Flo. She was trained by Sean Flynn.

Raised on an Arkansas farm where the family had a lot of cattle, Tommy actually started cutting in 1996. He was the first president of the White River Cutting Horse Association that holds its shows in Pleasant Plains, Ark. “All of our classes are jackpots,” said Tommy, “and we have a good show every time. His first aged-event cutting horse purchase came when he helped a friend, Josh Hopkins, take a manure spreader to Sean. While there, he bought a 5-year-old gelding that Sean’s wife, Ashley, had been riding. The next year, he rode him as a 6-year-old and according to Tommy, “did pretty well.” It was so much fun, he bought another mare; however, about that time his wife became ill and cutting was put on hold. A little over three years ago, he lost his wife of 38 years, and the mother of their three daughters. One of his son-in-laws runs the equipment basis on a daily basis.

Although Tommy claims he’s not retired, he still has cutting in his blood and cattle in his pasture. Today he heads to shows with friends, including a neighbor, Richard Gramling, whose son Alex, owns and shows the gelding Redneck Yachtclub, that he received as a birthday present from his parents.

Tommy’s next show will more than likely be the NCHA Futurity. He has another mare in training with Sean for the Amateur division of the Futurity – Wild And Beautiful - a loud, overo Paint mare he bred and raised, sired by Wild Thing and out of a Paint mare he owns. “Right now it’s a toss-up if she will make it,” said Tommy. “She’s solid enough but she has lots of energy. She has more white than I know what to do with, but she will definitely stand out. Now whether she does any good or not remains to be seen – but you will notice her in the arena.”

But regardless of whether or not Tommy and Wild And Beautiful win anything at the Futurity, or even show, you can bet this amateur’s enthusiasm and investment in the sport of cutting will continue.
Click for full results>>

DUSTIN ADAMS WINS MILLIONHEIR NON-PRO CHALLENGE AND $70,400 AT SOUTH POINT SHOW

CARLA FUNK TAKES HOME $50,000 IN MILLIONHEIR AMATEUR CHALLENGE

Article and candid photos by Glory Ann Kurtz
Action photos by Midge Ames
Oct. 24, 2010 – Las Vegas, Nev.
Dustin won $70,400 in the MillionHeir Non-Pro riding MH Unexplainable, while his wife, Deena, finished third for $21,000, riding The Big Bucks. The couple is expecting their first child in May.

How would you like to go to a cutting, enter in the non-pro against 17 other entries, go to the 10-horse finals and home with $70,400? Or how about competing in the Amateur against 15 other entries, cut against nine other finalists and go home with a $50,000 paycheck? That happened on Saturday, Oct. 16, at the final performance of the MillionHeir Classic, featuring 6-year-old horses in the Non-Pro and Amateur divisions and held during the South Point cutting in South Point Equestrian Center, Las Vegas, Nev., Oct. 10-16. The event also included three Open Shows, Oct. 7-9.

Since its inception in 2004, the MillionHeir program, which was begun by Wes Adams, a contractor from Las Vegas with a love for good horses, has seen 895 entries vying for $8 million in added money, with $9,172,713 being paid out. Its best-paying year was 2007 when 226 entries vied for $1,886,460, of which $1,600,000 was added money. Even though the program was not supported by the cutters, it was the only private stallion incentive program of its magnitude that has ever been paid out as advertised. This final year, 34 entries vied for $300,000 in added money and a total purse of $334,000.

The rules to the event stated that no horses owned by Wes Adams or his Western States Ranch were eligible to enter; however, his son Dustin, Dublin, Texas, 30, without violating any rules, added $70,400 to the earnings of his and his wife, Deena’s horse MH Unexplainable by winning the 18-entry MillionHeir Non-Pro Challenge finals. The pair won the finals with a 225, as well as the first go and picking up Reserve in the second go-round – which was won by his wife Deena, 26, riding The Big Bucks. Deena finished third in the finals with a 218 and won the second go-round, earning a total of $21,000.

Whitney Hall, 15, Comanche, Okla., and her father, cutting horse trainer Shannon Hall. Whitney was Reserve Champion of the MillionHeir Non-Pro Challenge riding Lil Sugar Long Legs, taking home $23,500.

The Reserve title went to Whitney Hall, 15, Comanche, Okla., the daughter of trainer Shannon Hall and his wife, Ronda, riding Lil Sugar Long Legs to a 221, earning a $23,500 paycheck, after also placing in both go-rounds.

The winner of the $200,000 Amateur MillionHeir Challenge was Carla Funk, 54, Elk City, Okla., riding Smart Sugar Jake, owned by her daughter Jacqueline. The pair scored a 218 in the 10-horse finals, taking home the $50,000 first-place paycheck.

The Reserve title was split between Jackie Dayberry, Ringling, Okla., riding MH Its Just My Boon and Libby Bowman, Simpsonville, Ky., riding Snazzy Easter Bunny. Both scored a 215 with Dayberry taking home $13,500 and Bowman winning $16,700 after winning the first go-round and placing in the second.

Mike Holman, Payson, Utah, took home $23,466.67 for winning the $20,000 MillionHeir Amateur Bonus, as well as finishing fourth in the Amateur division.

Also Mike Holman, Payson, Utah, who finished fourth riding San Tule Tari, a daughter of San Tule Freckles out of Spare Tari by Doc Tari, won a special $10,000 bonus in the Amateur division by being a $20,000 Amateur at the beginning of the year and scoring the highest total score in the go-rounds and/or finals. He took home a total of $23,466.67 after finishing fourth in the Amateur division, and tying for second in the go-rounds. Prior to the show, he had lifetime earnings of only $27,411. Since neither the MillionHeir nor the South Point show are NCHA approved, he will be able to still show in a $50,000 Amateur class. San Tule Tari had $45,951 in lifetime earnings prior to the show and when the pair left, she had accumulated $73,418 in lifetime earnings.

Alex Gramling (center) and Redneck Yachtclub went into the finals of both the Non-Pro and Amateur finals with the highest cumulative score. He is shown with his father, Richard (left) and friend and neighbor Tommy Williams (right), who also showed at the South Point show.

Redneck Yachtclub, a 2004 gelding by San Tule Freckles out of Sheyssmartlittlelena by Smart Little Lena, the high money-earning MillionHeir horse coming into the MillionHeir Challenge finals, with $441,939, had been sold by Phil and Mary Ann Rapp, Weatherford, Texas, to Richard and Pam Gramling last October. They gave the gelding to their 16-year-old son, Alex, as a birthday present.

The pair had a chance of winning it all after winning the first go of the Non-Pro and placing second in the second go-round. Gramling also split second in the first go-round of the Amateur and won the second go, for the highest cumulative score going into the finals of both the Non-Pro and Amateur. However, victory was not to be as the pair scored a 212 in the Non-Pro finals, taking sixth and a $14,400 paycheck, and after losing a cow, finishing eighth in the Amateur division with a 207, winning $7,667. Although the total of $22,067 was respectable take-home money, it was far from the over $100,000 he had his eye on. However, Redneck Yachtclub, is still the program’s leading money earner, with a total of $464,006.

MILLIONHEIR NON-PRO CHALLENGE:
Dustin Adams (second from left) shown with his father Wes, Reserve Champion Whitney Hall, his wife Deena and Debbie Rousey with the MillionHeir program.

Dustin and Deena Adams were so hot during the South Point show, that they collected a total of $107,150. Besides his MillionHeir win of $70,40, Dustin also won the South Point Non-Pro Classic/Challenge, finished second in the South Point Non-Pro Derby and won a go-round in the Non-Pro Futurity – for a total of $85,400. Deena picked up $21,000 for finishing third in the MillionHeir Non-Pro Challenge and winning a go-round. Not bad for being two months pregnant – the Adams are expecting their first child the end of May.

Dustin’s mount, MH Unexplainable, a 6-year-old gelding by Smart Sugar Badger out of Justa Ginnin Miss by Justa Swinging Peppy, has lifetime earnings of $318,407 following the MillionHeir. And while some of his largest paychecks over the years have come from MillionHeir shows, the pair dispelled rumors that MillionHeir horses were not competitive in other major events. They have won a long list of regular aged-event money, such as fourth in the 2008 NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes and sixth in the gelding division for $33,390; sixth in the 2008 NCHA Non-Pro Derby; split sixth in the 2009 NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes Classic, split fourth this year in the NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Classic and split ninth in the NCHA Non-Pro Classic Challenge – all with paychecks from $8,800 up to over $30,000. His earnings chart definitely makes him an open-caliber horse.

Bred by the Western States Ranch, MH Unexplainable is out of a Justa Swinging Peppy mare that was a real hard-stopping cow horse. “He’s a little crazy but I’ve showed the wheels off of him,” said Dustin. “I work him in a hackamore and he’s pretty simple. We call him “Tonic,” because his mama’s name is Gin (Ginnin Miss). He’s been a great horse, he’s never let me down and has never taken a lame step in his life. I’ll probably sell him now but it will be hard for me – but I won’t give him away. I’ll let someone else enjoy him.”

But, according to Dustin, his isn’t the only horse who’s highly competitive in other major events. “The horse that Ashley Fynn rides wins everywhere. He placed in the Open here and has been doing that for three years. Also Libby Bowman’s horse is a great horse and so is Redneck Yachtclub. My wife’s horse (The Big Buks) is a good horse; I think today was the first MillionHeir money she has won on him. And Greg Coalson’s horse, San Tule Hickory, is great.”

The win also put Dustin past Austin Shepard, Summerdale, Ala., as the leading rider of MillionHeir horses, for a total of $597,301. He has ridden nine different MillionHeir-eligible horses over the seven years of the shows. Shepard, who did not participate in this year’s show, had won $572,172 riding five horses. Also, the $86,150 that Dustin picked up at the entire South Point show, puts the Hall Of Famer over the $3.1 million mark – even though the $86,150 he won in Vegas will not be included in NCHA records due to the show not being NCHA approved.

Dustin's finals paycheck in the MillionHeir Non-Pro Challenge and his trophy buckle. He also won go-round money for a total of $70,400.

Asked about his feelings about winning the event, Dustin said, “I have mixed feelings. As a competitor, I had a great time – especially when you have a good horse and I have been fortunate to have some. I’m happy being Wes’s son and I am glad to see this program come to an end. It was a big strain on our family when we found out it wasn’t going to work and were phasing it out and trying to hold on until the end.

But it was a real exciting cutting to be a part of and make the finals. It’s exciting because when my dad started this program, that’s what boosted me to start looking into cutting. I didn’t know that much about it. I didn’t know what I was getting myself or my family into. It was an interesting time for me – I was going to school and didn’t know what I was going to do. Without the MillionHeir and Classic concept, I wouldn’t be riding cutting horses and I absolutely love it. It’s been good for me.”

It’s rather ironic that the first five horses in the Non-Pro Challenge and the champion of the Amateur are all sired by Smart Sugar Badger, a 1998 stallion sired by Smart Little Lena out of Badger San Doc by Peppy San Badger. The stallion is currently owned by S. E. Montgomery’s Flying M Ranch in Lake Panasoffkee, Fla.

“He’s really an outstanding horse,” said Dustin. “Ronnie Rice trained him and dad and S. E. became business partners on him, so when they split, S.E. wanted Sugar Badger and we took San Tule Freckles. They were two of the best sires of horses that my wife and I have shown the past couple of years. But the San Tules have a different style than the Sugar Badgers.” When the couple left Las Vegas, they were headed to the PCCHA Futurity in Paso Robles.

Whitney Hall (second from left) shown with her father, Shannon; mother Ronda and her grandmother following her Reserve Championship riding Lil Sugar Long Legs.

The Reserve Champion, Whitney Hall, has had a great year. She won the cutting finals championship at this year’s National High School Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo., but on a different horse, and she also placed in the all-around by roping. Lil Sugar Long Legs, a 6-year-old gelding by Smart Sugar Badger, has only won money in the MillionHeir Non-Pro due to soundness problems. Last year, the pair finished third, taking home $14,886.90 and this year, they took home $23,500, after also placing in both go-rounds. The gelding now has lifetime earnings of $39,053.

Lil Lucy Long Legs was bred to be a top cutter, being out of the great mare Lil Lucy Long Legs (Dual Pep x Hickory Prescription x Doc’s Hickory) who won over $160,500 and is the dam of seven offspring earning $333,307, or an average of $47,615. But when he was a 3-year-old just before the NCHA Futurity, he had developed a sweeney (paralysis) in the shoulder. “The vets told us we’d never be able to ride him again,” said Whitney, “so we turned him out for a year and a half, and when we got him up, just before this show last year, he was sound. So this year’s South Point show is only his second aged event.”

Asked about the future for the gelding, Whitney said, “My sister is going to ride him and just cut for the fun of it.” Whitney has two sisters: Kadee Belle, 12, and Dakota Jo, 6. Whitney’s dream is to go to TCU and take a Ranch Management program, then go to work with the well-known Weatherford veterinarian Chris Ray, and then to Kansas to the Gardiner Angus Ranch to learn about cattle. “Not many people get to do the things I do,” said Whitney. “I’m very blessed. This is the biggest check I’ve ever earned and I plan to use the money to help buy a new Dodge truck.”

MILLIONHEIR AMATEUR FINALS:
Carla Funk, Elk City, Okla., rode Smart Sugar Jake to the MillionHeir Amateur Finals, taking home a $50,000 paycheck.
Photo by Midge Ames

Carla Funk, 54, Elk City, Okla., had lifetime earnings of $36,320 prior to the MillionHeir Classic; however, when she left Vegas, she had an additional $50,000 in her purse, after winning the MillioinHeir Challenge $200,000 Amateur Finals riding Smart Sugar Jake.

The 6-year-old gelding by Smart Sugar Badger out of Sorra De Sugar by CJ Sugar, is owned by Funk’s 16-year-old daughter, Jacqueline, who is a sophomore at Elk City High School. They purchased him from Kobie and Paula Wood, Stephenville, Texas. Kobie trained the gelding, who’s now a MillionHeir veteran. In 2007, Kobie and the gelding were semifinalists in the NCHA Futurity. Then in 2009, Paula finished fifth in the MillionHeir Non-Pro for $8,000 and in 2009 Kobie took over, finishing fourth in the Open for $15,288.69. Prior to the $50,000 he won at this year’s MillionHeir, the gelding had $43,798 in lifetime earnings. Carla had $36,320.

Asked how she got acquainted with the Woods, Carla said that about six years ago at the NCHA Super Stakes and Derby, Jackie and the Woods’ daughter, Lane, got acquainted by playing with Breyer horses. “One day Jackie told me that they had asked her to spend the night with them,” said Carla. “I said, ‘Who?’ and she said, ‘Lane Wood.’ When I asked who Lane Wood’s parents were, she said Kobie and Paula Wood.”

Carla shown with trainer Kobie Wood and her 16-year-old daughter and Smart Sugar Jake's owner, Jacqueline.

Carla said, “Oh my God, those are big-time cutters. Yeh, you can go. I never met anybody that big in cutting.” Today, Jackie and Lane still play with Breyer horses.

Carla is married to Robert Funk, who is involved in the oil and gas business in Elk City, where Carla manages the books and does some office work. Robert introduced Carla to cutting and bought her a horse for their engagement. “That was my first cutting horse,” said Carla. “We’ve been married 20 years in December and he’s home taking care of the horses, donkeys, dogs and whatever else right now. We have three horses in training and about five other ones at home, along with other miscellaneous pets.”

When Jackie was asked if her mother was going to split the money with her, she said with tears in her eyes, “No, she can keep the money. She did all the work. I’m so happy for her. I love cutting.”

Libby Bowman, Siimpsonville, Ky., rode Snazzy Easter Bunny to the Co-Reserve title of the Amateur Challenge.

The Reserve title was split between Jackie Dayberry, Ringling, Okla., riding MH Just My Boon, a 6-year-old daughter of Bodee Boonsmal out of Lil Lenas Sis by Doc O’Lena, and Libby Bowman, Simpsonville, Ky., riding Snazzy Easter Bunny, a daughter of Smart Sugar Badger out of Oh Cay Shez Snazzy by Oh Cay Quixote.

Both horses are veteran MillionHeir money earners, with MH Its Just My Boon picking up an $11,598.21 paycheck at the 2009 MillionHeir Open Classic. In 2008, Snazzy Easter Bunny finished seventh in the MillionHeir Open Derby for $20,000 and 10th in the Non-Pro for $24,309. In 2009, she was a finalist in the Open Classic for $11,886. Prior to the MillionHeir, Jackie had NCHA lifetime earnings of $16,338, while Libby had earned $145,837.

When Dayberry, 43, got MH Its Just My Boon, nicknamed “Lacy,” the 3-year-old mare was a present from her mother, Lois Crain. The mare had been raised by the Western States Ranch in Dublin, Texas. “She was a year behind in her training because she had lost her 2-year-old year when she knocked the bulb off of her heel,” said Jackie. “But she was already pretty well trained. Jackie then sent her to a trainer; however, that didn’t work out and the mare ended up with David Stewart.

This was the second year for Dayberry to bring “Lacy,” to the MillionHeir. Last year, ridden by Stewart, Lucy was a finalist in the MillionHeir Classic Open, collecting $11,598.21. The mare’s earnings prior to this year’s show were $17,790. According to Dayberry, Stewart is still training for her; however, he was busy getting his 2-year-olds ready for the NCHA Futurity and decided not to come to Vegas.

“The mare was solid enough and I felt comfortable enough with her so that my Mother and I loaded her up and hauled her out to Vegas,” said Jackie, who lives on the ranch with her mother, two cutting horses and 25 ranch horses.

Jackie got involved in cutting because of a friend, top non-pro cutter Michelle Anderson, who has been her friend for many years. “I was working on her stepfather’s place when she and and I met,” said Jackie. “I was helping him lope horses and I decided I was going to do it (cutting) so I did. Cutting has always been a passion of mine and so one day, I called Michelle and said, ‘Before I die, I want to show a cutting horse.’ She told me to come to her place and they’d mount me on something.

“They put me on Alpha Zeta and we went to a circuit show in Fort Worth where I entered the $2,000 Limited Rider and won it both days and I ended up buying him.” Jackie still shows the 1996 gelding by Smart Little Lena out of Little Memory Maker by Peppy San Badger, and plans to show in the World Series cuttings next year. She also plans to give Lucy to her mother to ride.

Page Bowman, the 13-year-old daughter of Libby Bowman also showed in the 5/6-year-old Amateur class.

Libby Bowman’s horse, Snazzy Easter Bunny, a 6-year-old daughter of Smart Sugar Badger out of Oh Cay Shez Snazzy by Oh Cay Quixote, was bred and raised by Libby and her veterinarian husband, Mike. Libby tied with Jackie in the Amateur with a 215 for a $13,500 finals paycheck; however, Libby won an additional $3,200 in go-round money. Libby and Snazzy also double-dipped – placing fifth in the MillionHeir Non-Pro to earn an additional $12,300. Altogether the pair left Vegas with $29,000.
Snazzy Easter Bunny is one of those MillionHeir horses who have won over $126,500 in MillionHeir events and close to $100,000 in other major cutting events: (i.e.) 17th in the 2008 NCHA Open Derby, ninth in the Open at the 2008 Music City Derby, Reserve Champion in the Open Classic at Tunica in 2009, and third this year at the Augusta Classic Open. The mare’s total earnings following Las Vegas totaled over $226,200. Libby had won over $145,837 in NCHA earnings prior to the South Point show. He was trained and shown in the Open by Austin Shepard.

Libby’s husband, Mike, was working at the Congress while Libby was cashing in at Vegas. The couple’s daughter, Page, 13, also came with Libby, and showed in the 5/6-Year-Old Amateur class.

$20,000 AMATEUR AWARD:
Mike Holman, Benjamin, Utah, won a total of $21,867 at the MillionHeir Amateur Challenge, for being the highest-scoring $20,000 Amateur. He's shown with Wes Adams and Debbie Rousey of the MillionHeir program.

Mike Holman, 45, Benjamin, Utah, was the leading $20,000 Amateur within the MillionHeir Challenge Non-Pro, who had the highest score – a 215.5 in the second go-round. He collected a $10,000 bonus check, that sent him home with a total of $21,866.67 after he also finished fourth in the Non-Pro. It was by far the largest paycheck he’d ever won in the eight years he has been cutting.

The owner of a business that builds food and beverage plants, Mike is currently married to his wife, Andrea, who rides for pleasure, however he has four children from a previous marriage. He said he got involved in cutting horses when in the 90’s he went to a guy’s place to purchase another pleasure horse. “They were cutting,” said Holman, “and I said, ‘What’s that?’ I ended up buying and showing a cutting horse.”

However, Holman’s only been cutting seriously for the past two years since he bought San Tule Tari at a sale in Fort Worth. “I didn’t really understand the MillionHeir program when I bought her,” said Holman about San Tule Tari, a 6-year-old daughter of San Tule Freckles. “But I think the guy that was helping me buy her kind of knew about the program. Then when I bought her, everyone was telling me about the program and I thought, ‘Oh cool.’ ” The pair came to the MillionHeir last year but failed to place.

Becky Dunning, wife of Al Dunning, helped with the announcing duties at the South Point and MillionHEir shows. "I can never replace Tom Holt," said Becky.

Judges for the show included Billy Cochrane, Rex Rossoll, Kelly Graham, Jason Swain and Randy Coleman. Mike Kelly, former assistant executive director of the NCHA, was the monitor. Announcers included Becky Dunning and Dru Stewart.
Click here for full results>>

TOM LONG TAKES SOUTH POINT OPEN FUTURITY RIDING HOME-GROWN DIAMONDS N KITTENS

TIM SMITH TOPS OPEN DERBY WITH PURE REDWHITEANDBLUE AND MORGAN CROMER WINS OPEN CLASSIC/CHALLENGE ON SMOOTH AUTUMN MATE

By Glory Ann Kurt - Action photos by Midge Ames
Oct. 20, 2010 – Las Vegas, Nev.
Tom Long, Gardnerville, Nev., won the South Point Futurity riding his home-grown mare Diamonds N Kittens.
Photo by Midge

Tom Long, Gardnerville, Nev., is one of those unique trainers who, along with his wife, Jill, breed, own and show their own horses. At the South Point Futurity and Aged Event held Oct. 10-16 in Las Vegas, Nev., Long cashed in on his breeding program by winning the 26-entry Open Futurity riding his home-grown mare, Diamonds N Kittens.

Long, who is a leading West Coast trainer, with lifetime earnings of over $1.8 million, scored a 219 in the finals of the 43-entry 3-year-old Futurity, taking home the $9,000 first-place paycheck riding the daughter of Cats Merada out of his and his wife Jill’s great daughter of Grays Starlight, Diamond J Starlight, out of Diamond J Oak by Doc’s Oak. Sadly, the Longs lost the 1995 mare in April to a torn intestine. A winner of over $189,270, the mare had produced seven money-earning foals that had earned close to $215,495 in the cutting arena – and there’s still more to come.

The 47-entry Open Derby plus the gelding finals were taken with a 222 scored by Tim Smith riding Pure Redwhiteandblue, a gelding by Mecom Blue out of Purely Bob by Bob Acre Doc, owned by local cutters, Frank and Bonnie Martin, Las Vegas, Nev. The pair won a total of $14,040. Morgan Cromer, Templeton, Calif., rode Smooth Autumn Mate, a 5-year-old daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of Autumn Mate by Smart Mate, owned by Todd Bergen Performance Horses, to the championship of the 19-entry Open Classic/Challenge Finals with a 224 score. The pair took home $11,000.

The show was preceded by three days of weekend shows (Oct. 7-9), which featured 372 entries, vying for $65,460 in purse money, plus the final MillionHeir competition, featuring a Non-Pro and Amateur competition for 6-year-old horses, with $300,000 in added money. Altogether, the event featured 1,029 entries, $437,500 in added money and a total purse of $641,759 The MillionHeir paid out $334,000 while the South Point aged events paid out $307,759.

While show producer Paula Gaughan has been holding limited-age cuttings in Las Vegas since 1994, which have had over 9,000 entries and paid out close to $9 million, the NCHA Executive Committee refused to approve the October show, due to an ongoing lawsuit by Gaughan, demanding that the NCHA open their financial records to all members.

The NCHA claims they have given all requested records to Gaughan; however, they will not allow her to show or release them to other members. The case is awaiting a decision from the 2nd District Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, Texas. However, the show was approved by the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association. The NCHA also forced announcer Tom Holt to make a decision to either announce NCHA-approved shows or the Gaughan shows. Tom said he had to choose his family-supporting job with the NCHA.

The South Point Futurity, held in the Equestrian and event center, and on television in each South Point hotel room, was announced by Becky Dunning and Dru Stewart; judges included Kelly Graham, Billy Cochrane, Randy Coleman, Rex Rossoll and Jason Swayne. The monitor was Mike Kelly.

OPEN FUTURITY:
Tom and Jill Long shown with their Futurity Championship saddle along with other awards. At right is John Burgun, owner of Roohide Saddles.

“We weren’t going to show the mare here,” said Tom referring to Diamonds N Kittens, “because we just didn’t have the money. But this mare was good before we came here and was getting more like her mama every day. I told Jill we were going to have to find the money somewhere because we were going to Vegas. And my bride did find the money and we entered up.” Asked if the pair were headed to the PCCHA Futurity in Paso Robles, Tom said that currently they weren’t entered but they are “looking for an entry,” which more than likely will be Diamonds N Kittens.

Long stressed that while most mares are 80 to 85 percent of the result of a breeding program, he felt that Diamond J Starlight is 90 percent of the equation. Her highest-earning offspring is Cats Gotta Diamond, a 2003 stallion by High Brow Cat with $147,565.82 in lifetime earnings. Tom rode the stallion to 8th place in the 2006 NCHA Open Futurity, winning $86,174. The Longs have five offspring sired by the young stallion, with the oldest being yearlings that he plans to “throw a saddle over” when he gets home from the PCCHA Futurity. “They look so right,” said Tom, “and three of the dams have offspring that have earned $1.5 million. If the industry will use this horse, he will help the industry; there’s not a (Smart) Little Lena cross in there – it’s Grays Starlight, Doc’s Oak and (Freckles) Playboy on the bottom.”

Remembering the tragedy of the mare’s death in April, Tom said he was standing at the kitchen sink watching her play in the pasture outside his window. “She and her daughter and their babies were running and playing,” said Tom. “I was happier than heck – I had the best producer in the world and her daughter. I’ve ridden babies out of both of them. I was thinking of all the work we had done to get to this spot – and we were almost there. And then the mare laid down wrong at 7:45 p.m. and by 8:45, she was dead on the table. She didn’t have a chance, her intestine was double ripped. I could cry right now.”

But Tom went on to talk about the South Point shows, saying, “I’m so proud of this lady that puts these cuttings on here. She’s had many shows and I’ve been to every single one. She has afforded me a very good living from her shows over the past years.”

Taking Reserve was Sandy Bonelli, Petaluma, Calif., the winner of over $3.2 million, riding Mates Connie Quixote, a daughter of Smart Mate out of Connie Quixote by Doc Quixote owned by TurkeyTrack Ranch, owned by Bonelli, her mother and sister. The mare earned her first paycheck of $7,750 for her 218 score after also winning the second go-round. The Gelding award went to Shad Platt riding Heeza Smart Cat, a son of Smooth As A Cat out of Smart Little Christa by Smart Little Lena, owned by Peter Spadoni, Wenatchee, Wash., who also placed third in the Open for a total of $7,290.

OPEN DERBY:
Tim Smith, Temecula, Calif., shown with Pure Redwhiteandblue owned by Frank and Bonnie Martin. The pair won the Open Derby at the South Point.
Photo by Midge Ames

Tim Smith, Temecula, Calif., left the South Point aged events with a total of $34,300 after winning the Open Derby riding Pure Redwhiteandblue, a gelding by Mecom Blue out of Purely Bob by Bob Acre Doc, owned by Frank and Bonnie Martin, Las Vegas, Nev. The pair also won the Gelding Award plus finished fifth on Tru Merada, also owned by the Martins. His Derby check totaled $18,050. Smith also finished second and third in the Open Classic Challenge riding Stylin Roxy for Patsy Chamberlain and Cats Full Moon for the Brinkman Ranch, winning an additional $16,250.

“Phil Hansen trained and showed Pure Redwhiteandblue as a 3-year-old,” said Smith. “Frank and Bonnie had brought three or four horses out to do the West Coast run this fall, so I actually started riding him at Fort Klamath, where I was Reserve in the Open Derby. I haven’t showed him until here. Frank and Bonnie have been trading off in the Non-Pro on him and so we brought him here.”

“I cut the two best cows in the herd,” said Tim, “and my 222 held up. However Frank showed the gelding in the Non-Pro Derby and had a heck of a run but lost a cow right at the whistle. We’ll be doubling up again at the PCCHA Stakes then he’ll go back to Las Vegas for three months of R&R at Frank and Bonnie’s place and we’ll pick him up in the spring. But they’re trained to death – you know the typical Phil Hansen way – you put your hand down and they’ll cut.”

He’s a nice horse” said Tim, “but Tru Merada, the other horse that I ended up fifth on, I think is actually the better of the two horses. He’s just a little greener in the show pen. But Frank won the Non-Pro Derby at Idaho on him. He had a little tough luck here but they’re all going on to Paso. “

Tim said that he’s known Frank and Bonnie for a long time but this is the first time he’s ever shown anything for them. Tim showed four horses at Las Vegas and made the finals on all four of them. Pure Redwhiteandblue has over $56,000 in lifetime earnings.

The Reserve Champion in the Open Derby and Gelding Award went to Tim Denton riding a home-grown gelding Montanas Cougar for Bill and Katherine Lacy, Crested Butte, Colo. Denton, with lifetime earnings topping $730,000, and Montanas Cougar took home a total of $10,280, giving the gelding $27,596.73 in lifetime earnings. However, Lacy also came back to win the finals of the Non-Pro Derby and go-round money, as well as the Gelding Award, for an additional $10,550 – again boosting the geldings lifetime earnings to date of $38,147.

CLASSIC/CHALLENGE OPEN:
Morgan Cromer, Templeton, Calif., won the Open Classic/Challenge riding Smooth Autumn Mate owned by Todd Bergen Performance Horses.
Photo by Midge

Morgan Cromer, 27, Templeton, Calif., with close over $470,000 in lifetime earnings, topped the Open Classic/Challenge riding Smooth Autumn Mate, a 5-year-old daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of Autumn Mate by Smart Mate, owned by Todd Bergen Performance Horses, Eagle Point, Ore. The mare currently has close to $41,200 in lifetime earnings after picking up $11,000 for their 224 score. The amount was second to their highest paycheck of $14,964.50 for a third-place split at the 2009 PCCHA Fall Open Stakes. So far this year, the pair have finished fifth the El Rancho Spring Cutting Classic and won a circuit championship, and finished eighth at the Idaho Cutting Open Classic.

“Andrew Coates started her but she got hurt as a 3-year-old just before the Futurity, so I got her in July of last year,” said Morgan. “She’s been just super easy to show and easy to get along with.” But the mare didn’t come without problems. “She had a bad back leg when I got her,” said Morgan, “and the way it looks on an ultrasound, she shouldn’t ever have cut. But she’s got the biggest heart. I guess she tore her suspensory as a 3-year-old and I never knew it was so serious. When I got her, Todd said that if she gets a little sore behind, just take care of her - which I did. Then I had someone that wanted to buy her so they had a pre-purchase vet check done on her and the vet said, ‘Whoa, this is serious.’ But it doesn’t bug her.”

With over $41,000 in lifetime earnings, the mare and Morgan are headed to Paso, which is only about 20 minutes from Morgan’s home. “I bought my own place and my parents live on it with me,” said Morgan. Asked if they help her, Morgan said with a grin, “Yes, I enslaved them. They take care of everything.” Morgan also finished fifth in the Open Futurity riding Oak Ill Be Peppy for owner Karen Brody. The pair also were Reserve in the Gelding Division for an additional $5,280.

Stylin Roxy and Tim Smith finished second with a 219, taking home $9,000 in the finals and second in the first go-round. The 5-year-old daughter of Dual Pep out of High Style Travalin by Travalena, is owned by Patsy Chamberlain, Scottsdale, Ariz., and has lifetime earnings of $47,371.

The Open Gelding finals was won by Sean Flynn, Weatherford, Texas, riding his and his wife Ashley’s horse Financial Sugar, a 6-year-old gelding by Smart Sugar Badger out of Quite The Cat by High Brow Cat. Ashley rode the gelding in the Non-Pro MillionHeir Challenge, finishing fourth for a $17,100 paycheck – raising the gelding’s lifetime earnings to over $252,700.
Click here for full results>>

NEW FACES TAKE HOME TITLES AT AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

DESIREE TRICKEY RIDES TOO TARI TO TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS AND A RESERVE TITLE

By Steve Warren and Glory Kurtz
Sept. 29, 2010 – Belton, Texas
Desiree Trickey, 25, Chappell Hill, Texas, won two divisions and placed Reserve in another, and was the high-money winner ffrom the ACHA World Show.

Youth, exuberance and a positive attitude overcame maturity, exuberance and a positive attitude at the American Championships, the year-end show of the American Cutting Horse Association held Sept. 15-18 in Belton, Texas. Desiree Trickey, Chappell Hill, Texas, 25, with only three years experience of riding cutting horses, rode Too Tari, a 7-year-old sorrel gelding with an old-time cutting pedigree (Jessie Rey Tari x Barbipep by Wheeling Peppy), to the championship of the $25,000 Non-Pro and $2,500 Novice Rider classes and was the Reserve Champion of the $10,000 Novice Horse Non-Pro class. With total earnings of $4,273.66, Desiree was the high money earner at the entire show.

Her biggest competitor was Mindy Costello, 53, Kaufman, Texas, riding I CD Doc (01 g CD Olena x Doc Lady Wilson x Doc Wilson) who only weeks before had won the AQHA Select World Show held in Amarillo, Texas, and was the Reserve Champion of the $2,500 Novice Rider class. She also competed against Alana Coleman, Cypress, Texas, riding Justa Lena Merada (03g Justa Swinging Peppy x Smart Lena Merada x Smart Little Lena), the Champion of the $10,000 Novice Horse Non-Pro class. Both of those riders had less lifetime earnings than Desiree. Only her other competitor, Shelia Vinson, Childress, Texas, riding Little Tina Lena (03m Dual Pep x Smartita Lena x Smart Little Lena) to the Reserve title in the $25,000 Non-Pro had more money won than Desiree.

While I CD Doc had no earnings prior to the American Championships, where she picked up $658.29 for the Reserve title in the $2,500 Novice Rider class and Mindy had less than $2,000, both of the other horses had more money won than Too Tari, with Little Tina Lena having $31,415 and Sheila having $17,053 in NCHA earnings. Justa Lena Merada had won $27,707 in lifetime earnings and Alana’s earnings were $3,324.

Prior to the American Championships, Too Tari had $13,673 in lifetime earnings and Desiree $3,837. Too Tari, with previous owners and riders, had won the 2006 State of Missouri CHA Non-Pro Futurity, plus finished in a third-place tie at the Okla. Early Bird NP Futurity and won the Amateur, 5th at the NP Futurity at the Congress, 5th at the Southern Amateur Futurity, split third at Tunica NP Ckt Futurity. In 2008 he won the NCHA Area 18 $2,000 Limited Rider for the year with $1,406 in earnings and in 2009; he was Reserve in the ACHA South Texas Oct. Open Classic. Desiree bought the gelding in September 2009 from Bruce Cournoyer, Miami, Fla., and so far this year, besides their ACHA earnings, the pair have been finalists in the NCHA Eastern Nationals $2,000 Limited Rider class for $1,150.

DESIREE’S TRIP TO THE AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Desiree’s trip to the American Championships begins in Connecticut when she was just 8 years old and riding Morgan horses owned by a friend. Eventually she began riding jumping horses. In 2006, while riding jumpers, Sharon Schwab, a friend who owned and showed jumpers, asked Desiree to go to Florida for the winter. Although the trip south was supposed to be just for the winter, Desiree never returned to Connecticut.

During that first winter, she met Ted Sokol and by 2007 she was learning about cutting horses while cleaning stalls and loping horses. Eventually, using her gray jumping mare, Desiree started turning back for Ted as he began teaching her how to ride cutting horses. As usually happens when one starts cutting, Desiree was hooked and jumping became, while-a-not-forgotten passion, a secondary passion to cutting. In fact, the cutting bug had bitten Desiree so hard that she has moved to Chappell Hill, Texas, in 2009 to be able to cut more often. Desiree is now cutting under the tutelage of Ted’s brother “Corky” Sokol.

On Sept. 8, 2009, Desiree purchased Too Tari, her first and only cutting horse. Bred by Lori Wagner, Abingdon, Va., Too Tari had been through five previous owners, including one owner twice. Here, again, there are similarities between Desiree’s story and Mindy’s. Mindy’s horse’s barn name is Dennis the Menace, while Desiree says Too Tari is a troublemaker and a goof-ball and she calls him “goober head.” Just the day before the American Championships, Desiree found Too Tari in his stall with a bag of treats in his mouth, more treats scattered all over the stall and a look on his face when she walked in as if to say, “Oh no, I’m caught.” Too Tari also likes to watch his own cows, for which Courtney Sokol, Corky’s daughter, likes to give Desiree a hard time.

In the $2,500 Novice Rider class, Desiree said that Too Tari “tried his little butt off. While cutting his first cow in the class, he became shaking mad because of how the cow was acting and his attitude became one of ‘come on bring it.’ “However, by the second day, Desiree said the cattle were in smaller bunches and tough and Too Tari seemed to be scared of them. But according to Desiree, they were the best cows she and Too Tari had ever seen.

DESIREE AND MINDY:
Mindy Costello, Kaufman, Texas, was Desiree's main competitor riding I CD Doc, the horse she recently won the AQHA Select World Show on.

“She really did a good job of showing her horse,” said Desiree about Mindy and her gelding in the $2,500 Novice Rider. “She is a very good showman and I like her horse too.”

Although she finished second to Desiree in the $2,500 Novice Rider class, Mindy thought Desiree had a good run and showed more aggressiveness in cutting her cows. Mindy also said of Desiree’s runs,” She seemed so very calm and cool in the pen and really seemed to know where her horse needed to be - like a seasoned cutter.”

Mindy qualified for four classes at the American Championships: the $25,000 Non-Pro, the $10,000 Novice Horse Non-Pro and the $2,500 Novice Rider on her good gelding I CD Olena but decided it might be too much to try to show him in all four. She didn’t want to overwork him so she elected to show him in two: the $10,000 Non-Pro and the $2,500 Novice Rider. However, after watching Desiree qualify and show her horse in four classes: the $25,000 Non-Pro, $10,000 Novice Horse Non-Pro, $ 10,000 Non-Pro, and the $2500 Novice Rider, she learned a valuable lesson which she passed on to her gelding: “Desiree's horse proved they can do it and do it well! CD, you’re in trouble next year!”

Mindy has been working with trainer John Morgan off and on over the past several years in cutting and since the 1980’s in versatility classes. She and two other women from John’s barn: Shelia Vinson, who placed second in the $25,000 Non-Pro behind Desiree, and Sharon McIver went to the ACHA show together. Sharon has had some bad luck and been hurt several times including a broken arm. John has eased her back into riding and finds her good horses. Right now she is horse-less

“John has been an amazingly gracious person for over 20 years,” said Mindy, who almost missed her $10,000 Non-Pro class because of the show size. She left at what she thought was an early enough time to reach the show, prepare herself and her horse and show. While still about half an hour out, John called and said, “Where are you? Your class is about to start”.

Mindy put the pedal to the metal, as much as she could while safely hauling horses, and arrived just in time to saddle up, hand John the reins to work her horse on the flag while she got ready and then make it to the show pen with no time to spare. Unfortunately, I CD Olena needs his loping time and did not get it. Nonetheless, Mindy finished one point out of making the finals. Lesson learned.

After watching Desiree show in the $2,500 Novice Rider, Mindy decided to do just what Desiree had done and “go deep in the herd” on her cuts. It must have worked; she placed second to Desiree.

THE AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
To qualify for the American Championships,, riders must meet one of the following criteria: 1) Be in the ACHA Top 10 in the class entered, 2) Show at least four times in the same class held by the same affiliate 3) Show at least eight times in the same class at any affiliate, 4) A rider qualified for the American Championships may qualify to show in additional classes by showing in an approved class at any affiliate, providng the horse and rider are eligible for that class.

No rider may enter the World Show on a horse that they have not shown at least once during the point year. The rider must have shown that horse at least once in every class entered at the World Show. A rider may enter any horse that he or she has shown at least one time in the specific class entered.

Mindy and Desiree had nothing but good things to say about the ACHA World Show. Mindy thought the “fellowship, and friendly out-going bunch of folks” made it a hit with her, although she did “meet some Cajuns that were crazy,” she said tongue in cheek. They had a lively band and a good barbecue.

Desiree thought it was a “really, really good show with something to do every night.” She said that the ACHA really did a good job.” She enjoyed karaoke night where she put her singing talents to use, since she used to sing the National Anthem at shows in Florida when she lived there. On karaoke night, she picked a Gretchen Wilson tune, “All Jacked Up.” Reviews, at the time of this article, are not yet in!

OTHER CLASSES:
The Open class was won by legendary cutting horse trainer and NCHA Riders Hall of Fame member Keith Barnett riding Last Little Jewel (01g Tachitas Jewels x Last Little Highbrow x Smart Lil Highbrow) with lifetime earnings of $31,557, for Troy Buchanan, Cleveland, Texas. The Non-Pro was tied up between Dann Randolph riding Playing The Palace (02g Playin Stylish x AR War Olenas Salena x Smart War O Lena) with over $31,923 in lifetime earnings, and Dr. Kenton Arnold, a veterinarian from Terrell, Texas, riding Haidas Heritage ( 04g Haidas Little Pep x Smart Heritage x Smart Little Lena), with $39,095 in lifetime earnings.

Home-towner Ellis Randolph rode Gunnin for Jerry (03s Smart Little Jerry x Malenas Gun by Young Gun) to the championship of the $10,000 Novice Horse finals and Reserve Champion of the $3,000 Novice Horse. Owned by Carrol and Phyliss Clavelle, Carencro, La., Gunnin for Jerry currently has over $10,516 in lifetime earnings. The $3,000 Novice Horse Champion was Pimped Out Ride (05s Peptoboonsmal x Bingo Royal Miss x Bingo Hickory) with $22,918 in lifetime earnings, owned by Buck Daniel, Okeechobee, Fla., and ridden by Ryan Cason, Cleveland, Texas.

The $10,000 Non-Pro was a tie between Lloyd Wolf Sr., Windthorst, Texas,riding Fellas Cal Boy (96g Peppys Fella x Miss Cal Bar x Cal Bar) with $77,353 in lifetime earnings, and Last Little Jewel – this time ridden by his owner Troy Buchanan.

The $500 Novice Rider class went to Austria Arnold, a 12-year-old junior rider from Terrell, Texas, riding Justa Lena 1997 (97g Justa Swinging Peppy x Lenas Tachita x Shorty Lena) with close to $49,000 in lifetime earnings, owned by her mother, Carroll Brown Arnold. Austria also finished second in the Junior Youth riding Haidas Heritage (04g Haidas Little Pep x Smart Heritage x Smart Little Lena), the horse her veterinarian father placed Reserve Champion on in the Non-Pro. The gelding has lifetime earnings of $39,095.

The 12-year-old more than likely made ACHA history when she became the 2010 Rookie of the Year on four horses, one of which is Doc O Lena Twist, a 22-year-old stallion owned by the Arnolds. She also finished fifth in overall riders for the year. An article on the ACHA Year-End Champions is upcoming and will feature Austria.

The Junior Youth Champion was Tyler Johnson, Alvarado, Texas, riding his horse Diamonds N Copper (00g Smart Aristocrat x Lenas Hat Latch x Peppy San Badger), with lifetime earnings of $24,616. Lauren Dejong, a senior youth, won the Youth competition riding her horse Hickorys Pot Of Gold (98g Hickoryote x An Oaky Attitude x Doc’s Oak), with lifetime earnings of $1,873.
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MATT MILLER DOMINATES MUSIC CITY OPEN AGED EVENTS

DUSTIN ADAMS WINS NON-PRO FUTURITY

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Sept. 16, 2010 – Franklin, Tenn.
The Music City Futurity, held Sept. 11-19 in Franklin, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville, is in full swing, with the Open divisions in the rear-view mirror. Altogether, the three Open divisions featured 189 entries vying for a $284,280 total Open purse. The Non-Pro and Amateur Finals are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18-19.

Matt Miller, Poolville, Texas, who came into the event with lifetime earnings topping $1,194,000, won the 5/6—Year-Old and tied for the championship of the 4-Year-Old Finals, winning a total of $36,679. The Futurity was taken by the industry’s leading rider, Phil Rapp, who took home home $18,340 on a very sad day for him.

5/6-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC:
Miller scored the highest score of the entire event while winning the 69-entry Open 5/6-Year-Old Finals with a whopping 224, riding Desires Katrina, and earning owners Don and Carol Dewrell, Holt, Fla., an $18,666.32 paycheck. The division paid a total of $96,954 to winners.

The 5-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat out of Desire Some Freckles by Freckles Playboy saw her earnings rise to $93,900, even though the win was the mare’s first championship. Her largest paycheck of $26,214 came from a third place at the 2009 Breeders Invitational Open Derby, and the second highest of #1,700 came from a fourth place in the 2009 NCHA Open Derby.

The win was especially sweet since second place, with a 219 score, went to Special Nu Kitty, owned by the Wrigley Ranches LLC, Weatherford, Texas, ridden by R. L. Chartier. The pair took home $15,820.46, which when added to the 6-year-old mare’s lifetime earnings, gave her a total of $259,364. Also a daughter of High Brow Cat, Special Nu Kitty is out of Nu I Wood by Zack T Wood. Her largest paycheck of $42,734 came from being a finalist in the 2007 NCHA Open Futurity, followed by the $34,548 that she won as champion of the 2008 Breeders Invitational Open Derby. She also picked up $30,847 as the Reserve Champion of the 2010 NCHA Open Classic/Challenge and $30,375 for third in the 2010 NCHA Open Super Stakes Classic/Challenge.

The Limited Open Champion was Reycy Cowgirl, scoring a 422 after two runs, owned by Kathleen Moore, Madill, Okla., and ridden by Rowdy Larson, who had $19,114 in lifetime earnings coming into the show. The 6-year-old Dual Rey daughter is out of Stylish Lil Cowgirl by Docs Stylish Oak. Her $1,871.10 paycheck, upped her lifetime earnings to $24,161, which included a $16,046 paycheck for the Reserve Championship of the 2007 Idaho Cutting Horse Association Open Futurity.

4-YEAR-OLD OPEN DERBY FINALS:
Matt tied for the championship of the 82-entry 4-Year-Old Open Derby, with a 219 finals score riding his and his wife, Megan’s, son of Cats Red Feather out of Docs Miss N Dinero by Miss N Cash. He tied Jamie Beamer, Weatherford, Texas, riding GP Scooter Cat, (High Brow Cat x Playguns Satin Cat x Playgun) owned by Gil Porter Inc., Sandy Spring, Md. Both took home an $18,011.23 paycheck; however, GP Scooter Cat also won the Limited Division for an additional $2,494.80 pycheck. The division paid out a total of $112,478.08 to the winners.

Falcon Feather’s paycheck gave him lifetime earnings of $36,524 and the Derby was his first championship – even though it was shared. His largest paycheck, prior to Music City, was $10,000 as a money earner in the 2009 Open Futurity; he also finished sixth in the Limited Open for an additional $9,952.

GP Scooter Cat currently has lifetime earnings of $88,068, with his largest paycheck of $25,172 coming from a ¾ split at the 2010 Breeder’s Invitational Open Cutting Derby. He was a money earner in the 2009 NCHA Open Futurity and his only other championship was in the 2010 The Non-Pro Cutting 4-Year-Old Open.

3-YEAR-OLD OPEN FUTURITY:
Phil Rapp, the industry's winningist rider, won the Music City Futurity on the day his "second father" Clarence Tye, died following a two-and-one-half-year battle with cancer.

On the day that his “second father” died, Phil Rapp won the 38-entry 3-Year-Old Futurity riding RPL Ich This for Bobbie Atkinson, Henderson, Texas. The pair scored a 217 earning $18,340.54. The division paid out $74,847.67 to the winners.

Before Phil went into the herd, Judy Tye, the wife of Clarence Tye, who hauled Phil to cuttings when he was young and continued to be part of the Rapp family, called to tell him that Clarence had just lost his two and one-half-year battle with bile duct and lung cancer.She told him that Clarence would want him to do his best at the Music City Futurity. Phil called back later to tell her that “he had an extra rider when he made his run to win the event.”

RPL Ich This, a daughter of Cat Ichi out of Ruby Duece by Smart Little Jerry, was bred and raised by Atkinson, and the over $18,340 was the mare’s first aged-event paycheck. It was the second year in a row that an offspring of Cat Ichi won the Music City Futurity. Cat Ichi is a son of High Brow Cat that stands at the EE Ranches, Whitesboro, Texas.

The Reserve championship was taken by Peeka Bunny, a daughter of Peeka Pep out of Hickorys Bunny by Doc’s Hickory, ridden by Tommy Marvin, who is a partner with Mike Townsend of Lakeside Ranch in Edmond, Okla., in the mare’s sire Peeka Pep. The stallion will stand the 2010 breeding year at ESMS in Weatherford, Texas. The $15,281.87 paycheck for her 216 score, gave the mare lifetime earnings of $20,721, which includes $5,000 for a win at the 2010 State of Missouri CHA Open Futurity.

Flash of Melody, a gelding by Pale Face Jose out of Tanganilla by Tangys Classy Peppy, owned by Dustin and Deena Adams, Dublin, Texas, and ridden by Zack Henning, won the Limited Open Division for a $1,603.80 paycheck. The paycheck raised the mare’s earnings to $13,553, which included a $9,164.53 paycheck for fourth in the Open at the Music City event.

DUSTIN ADAMS TAKES MUSIC CITY NON-PRO FUTURITY

LAURA LANDERS WINS 4-YEAR-OLD AMATEUR; PLACES IN 5/6-YEAR-OLD

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Sept. 20, 2010 – Franklin, Tenn.
Two horses experiencing their first aged-event paychecks were ridden by two non-pro veterans and took the Championship and Reserve Championship of the 19-entry 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Futurity, held during the Music City Futurity, Franklin, Tenn., Sept. 11-19.

Dustin Adams rode Justa Little Jimmy to the 19-entry Music City Futurity. Dustin is shown with the horse's co-owner, his wife Deena.

Justa Little Jimmy, a son of Smart Little Lena out of Justa Swinging Jane by Justa Swinging Peppy, owned by Dustin and Deena Adams, Dublin, Texas, and ridden by Dustin, captured the first-place paycheck of $13,637.42 for their 429.5 score following to go-rounds. The Reserve title went to Little Sweet Spot, a son of Spots Hot out of Macs Little Dolly by Quixote Mac, owned by Shawn and Lisa Minshall, Ontario, Canada, and ridden by Lauren to a 428, which also was good enough to win the Limited Division. The pair took home a total of $13,095.33.

The 54-entry 4-Year-Old Non-Pro championship went to Bradley Rogers, Madill, Okla., riding Its All Play For Rey, a son of Dual Rey out of Lintons Playgirl by Freckles Playboy The pair scored a 215 and earned $16,668 – raising his lifetime earnings to close to $83,000, including his largest paycheck of $40,301 for a seventh-place tie in the 2009 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity.

The Reserve title and $13,737.02 paycheck for a 213 score went to Chad Bushaw, Weatherford, Texas, riding Twisting Playdough, owned by his and his wife, Amy’s, Crown Ranch LP. The daughter of Freckles Fancy Twist out of Badgers Playdough by Playdox, currently has over $94,437 in lifetime earnings, including her largest paycheck of $19,096 for eighth in the 2010 NHA Non-Pro Super Stakes.

Third place and the Limited title went to Lauren Minshall riding Bad Dogs And Guns to a 212, taking home $13,987.71. The son of Playgun out of Miss Tassa Lena by Smart Little Lena, currently has lifetime earnings topping $36,600, with the Music City show paying him the most.

Minshall also won the 50-entry 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro and the Limited riding Fraggle Rocks to a 219 in the finals and a 431 following two go-rounds – which is how the Limited was determined. Fraggle Rocks is a daughter of Duals Blue Boon out of Miss Tassa Lena by Smart Little Lena. The $19,503 paycheck taken home by the 5-year-old mare currently gies the mare close to $75,000 in lifetime earnings.

AMATEUR:
Laura Landers, Weatherford, Texas, won the 45-entry 4-Year-Old Amateur Finals ring DMAC Heaping Spoon, a daughter of Hes A Peptospoonful out of Dual Play Shorty by Kit Dual. The pair added $3,393.23 to the mare’s lifetime earnings, giving her a total of $17,226 and her first Championship. Ironically, the $3,393 was the same amount the mare won for a 10th place split in the 2010 NCHA Amateur Derby. Her largest paycheck of $5,341 came from a 7th place in the 2010 Amateur NCHA Super Stakes. They were also sixth in the 2010 Abilene Spectacular Amateur Derby.

The Reserve title and $3,015.62 paycheck went to Kathy Armstrong, Caledon, Ont., Canada, for her 210 score riding Blazing Gun Play, a son of Playgun out of Sas An Flip by Colonel Flip. Their only previous aged-event money came from the 2009 NCHA Amateur Futurity, where they collected $1,950.

The 51-entry 5/6-Year-Old Amateur Finals were won by hometown favorite Chad Roland, Franklin, Tenn., riding Little Zack Lena to a 220, collecting a $3,817.92 paycheck. The 5-year-old son of Smart Little Lena out of Co Zack by Zack T Wood, currently has $11,623 in lifetime earnings; however, the Music City win was their first Championship.

The Reserve title went to Clint Hixson, Monroe, La., riding Peppers Stylish Cat, a daughter of High Brow Cat out of Stylish Pepper by Docs Stylish Oak, to a 218.5 and a $3,379.64 paycheck. The 6-year-old mare has over $93,000 in lifetime earnings, which includes a $2,000 paycheck from the 5/6-Year-Old Open Classic/Challenge Finals at Music City – with trainer Matt Gaines in the saddle.
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IT’S RUSS, RUSS AND MORE RUSS AT IDAHO OPEN FUTURITY

RUSS MILLER TOPS LIST WITH $31,117

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Sept. 11, 2010
Russ Miller, Anthony, Idaho, won the most money at the Idaho Cutting Futurity and Aged Event, taking home $31,117.13. He won the Open Futurity and Open Uncola.

Three trainers named Russ, hailing from three different states, captured top honors in the four Open aged events held during the Idaho Cutting Horse Association Futurity and Aged Events held in Nampa, Idaho, Sept. 1-7, 2010. With $84,000 in added money in 10 aged-event classes. They included a Futurity, Derby, Classic/Challenge and an Uncola. Going home with the most money was Russ Miller, Anthony, Idaho, who earned $31,117.13, including the Open Futurity and Open Uncola titles.

Russ Westfall, Los Olivos, Calif., earned a total of $11,331.52, including the championship of the Open Classic/Challenge, while Russ Elrod, Terrebone, Ore., took home $10,266.09, including the Open Derby title.

In Non-Pro competition, Westfall’s wife, Janet, a top non-pro with over $823,000 in lifetime earnings, won a total of $12,221.31 at Nampa, including tying for the Non-Pro Futurity Championship, and winning the Championship and Reserve in the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge. Altogether, the Westfalls went home from Nampa with a total of $23,553.83.

OPEN FUTURITY:
Russ Miller , a $2.7 million rider, took home the largest single paycheck when he rode Shes Smooth N Smart, a 3-year-old daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of Smart Lil Sparkler by Somebody Smart, to the 80-entry Open Futurity Championship – taking home an $11,055.70 paycheck for the pair’s 222.5 finals’ score. The mare is owned by Franklin D Richards, Jr., Park City, Utah, and the mare’s paycheck was her first aged-event money.

The Reserve Champion of the Open Futurity went to Josh Sleeman, Yelm, Wash., riding Little Miss Cougar, a daughter of High Brow Cougar out of One Little CD by CD Olena, scoring a 220,5 during her first Futurity outing for her owners Linda and Victor Dickson, Ellensburg, Wash., who picked up the $7,611.11 first-place paycheck. Sleeman also rode This Isa Stray Cat, owned by his sister, Jaelyn Sleeman-Howard, McKenna, Wash., to a 222 and the Reserve title of the Open Derby and Patty La Cat to 21st in the Derby. He also rode Dual Lena Bars to 24th in the Futurity.

Miller also finished third, for an additional $5,359.92 paycheck, in the Open Futurity riding SDP Hot Cat, a son of Spots Hot out of Pobres Cat by High Brow Cat, owned by Sherry Lee, Hamilton, Mont. The pair also picked up the championship of the Open Gelding Finals, for an additional $738.36. The pair had previously finished third in the Big Sky Cutting Open Futurity for $2,500 and has lifetime earnings of $8,598.

Miller’s other money came from a fifth in the Open Derby riding Shortycats owned by Dana Russell, 10th riding Times Sneakin Up Onu owned by Kathy & Jon Foote and a tie for 14th riding Mamas Berry Special, onwed by Russ and his wife Jill. In the Classic Challenge, he finished fourth riding Mamas Love Dulces for Mamas Ranch and sixtgh riding Bodee Me Up for Frank and Bonnie Martin. He won the Open Uncola riding the great mare Kittens for the Martins from Las Vegas, Nev.

OPEN DERBY:
Russ Elrod, Terrebone, Ore., won the Idaho Open Derby title and altogether took home $10,266.09.

Scoring the highest Open score of the aged events was Russ Elrod riding Double Smart Cat, a daughter of WR This Cats Smart out of Dox Double Down by Grays Starlight, for Harvey and Lynette Doman, Bend, Ore., to a whopping 226 in the 73-entry Open Derby. The pair took home the $7,320.09 first-place finals check, giving them $42,178.25 in lifetime earnings and the mare’s first paycheck in 2010 and their first championship. Her largest paycheck of $25,605 came from the Reserve Championship of the PCCHA Open Fall Futurity. Ellrod, with lifetime earnings of over $180,000, also finished sixth in the Open Futurity riding Sugarland Hits for Carolyn Milgard, scoring a 217 for $2,946.,

The Reserve title went to Sleeman riding This Isa Stray Cat, a gelding by WR This Cats Smart out of Popnplayboys Quixote by Pop My Top, owned by his sister, Jaelyn, who won the Amateur and Amateur Gelding Derby titles riding the gelding, giving him total lifetime earnings of $17,371, with $7,385.64 won at the Idaho show and the balance won in weekend shows.

Scott Weis won the Open Derby Gelding finals riding Blazing Super Dually, a son of CD Super Dually out of Blazing Starlight by Grays Starlight, owned by Mike and Becky Coronado, Las Vegas, Nev. The pair picked up $615.30 for their Gelding title plus $3,347.75 for finished fourth in the Open Derby finals.

OPEN CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Russ Westfall, Los Olivos, Calif., won the Open Classic Challenge and placed in the Futurity and Derby, earning $11,331.52. His wife Janet, won the Championship and Reserve of the Non-Pro Classic Challenge and placed in the Futurity for $12,221.31. Together, the pair took home $23,553.83.

Russ Westfall was the champion of the 52-entry Open Classic/Challenge Finals, riding Lil Bit Reckless , owned by him and his wife Janet, to a 224 for $6,079.60. The 6-year-old daughter of the Westfall’s stallion, CD Royal, is out of Trouble Lynn 495 by Smart And Trouble. Janet was also Reserve Champion of the Non-Pro Classic/Challengem, earning an additional $4,081.43, giving the mare total earnings of over $156,672.

The mare started her career as a money earner in the 2007 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity and in 200 was a money earner in the Open and Non-Pro divisions of the NCHA Super Stakes and Non-Pro NCHA Derby. Her championships include the 2009 Mebane Ranch Festival Open Classic and El Rancho Non-Pro Classic. She also was the Open Classic Champion at the recent Fort Klamath Ranch Festival. Westfall, a $1.7 million rider, also placed in the Open Futurity and Derby on three other horses.

The Reserve Open Champion and Gelding Champion was Quite The Fat Cat, a 5-year-old son of Mr Peppys Freckles out of Quite The Cat by High Brow Cat, owned by Mike Rutherford, Houston, Texas, and ridden by Gavin Jordan. The pair scored a 222.5 earning $4,287.25 for the Reserve title and $527.40 for the Gelding title. His lifetime earnings now top $219,525, including his largest paycheck of $154,259 for placing third in the 2008 NCHA Open Futurity.

OPEN UNCOLA
While Russ Miller and Kittens, an 8-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat out of Starlights Liz by Grays Starlight, owned by Frank and Bonnie Martin, Las Vegas, Nev., captured the Open Uncola (for horses 7 years of age and older), with a 225, earning $2,150, Royally Smart Cat , owned by Jerry and Kathy Erwin. Ridgefield, Wash., finished second. The 11-year-old gelding by High Brow Cat out of Royally Smart Fancy by Smart Little Lena, earned $1,633.33 for second place, increasing the gelding’s lifetime earnings to over $164,040. Kittens currently has over $286,515 in lifetime earnings.

NON-PRO FUTURITY:
Canadian Janice Eaton left the 14-entry Non-Pro Futurity finals with the most money after tying for the championship of the finals, plus winning the Non-Pro Gelding and $200,000 Limited Rider Finals, for a total of $3,744.74. Janice was riding Its Pepto Time, from the first foal crop sired by One Time Pepto and out of Miss Tori O Lena by Double R Okie. The gelding also finished fifth in the Open Futurity for $3,461.33 and third in the Open Futurity Gelding division with trainer Denton Moffat in the saddle and currently has $7,628 in lifetime earnings – all won at their first event.

Eaton tied with Janet Westfall riding Sweet On Cee Dee, a daughter of CD Royal out of Sweet Little Jeep by Genuine Jeep, bred, raised and trained by Janet and her husband Russ. The mare came from a Non-Pro Reserve title at the Ft Klamath Festival Futurity and has lifetime earnings of $7,926.18.

NON-PRO AND AMATEUR DERBY:
The championship of the 27-entry Non-Pro Derby was a tie between Frank Martin riding Tru Merada, a son of Cats Merada out of Cheri Coquette by Smart Little Lena and Dan Hansen, Weatherford, Texas, riding Play Corn, a daughter of Playgun out of Bobcorn by Bob Acre Doc. Both horses scored a 218 in the finals, taking home $4,651.15; however, Tru Merada took home an additional $1,210.80 for winning the Non-Pro Gelding and Non-Pro $200,000 Ltd. Finals. Tru Merada currently has over $20,510 in lifetime earnings and although the pair were money earners in the 2010 NCHA Non-Pro Derby, they finished first in all of their other 2010 events, including the NCHA Derby Senior Rider Limited Non-Pro Champion.

Playcorn has lifetime earnings of $38,623, including their largest paycheck of $13,975 for a 13th-place tie in the 2010 NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes. Hansen also won the 7-entry Bridle-less Cutting riding Neverey.

The 15-entry Amateur Derby finals were won by This Isa Stray Cat and Jaelyn Sleeman-Howard – the horse her brother, Josh, finished as Reserve Champion in the Open Derby. Jaelyn scored a 222, winning $1,290.60 for the finals and an additional $351.60 for winning the Amateur Gelding finals.

The Reserve title in the Amateur went to Scott Wardley, Okotoks, Alb., Canada, riding Hah Rey, a gelding by Dual Rey out of Beckys Haida by Haidas Little Pep. The gelding picked up $5,430,31 at the Idaho event, including $1,175.50 for the Reserve title in the Amateur and an additional $234.40 for the Reserve Gelding title. The pair also wre third in the Non-Pro for $3,112.31, second in the the Non-Pro Gelding and second in the Limted Non-Pro.

NON-PRO AND AMATEUR CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Janet Westfall , with lifetime earnings of over $823,170, swept the 41-entry Non-Pro Classic/Challenge, taking home both first and second place with a 221 and 220 for a total of $9,258.57. She won the division riding 5-year-old Lil Dusty Lola, a daughter of CD Royal out of Smart Like Dusty by Smart Little Lena, to a 221. Reserve was Lil Bit Reckless, who Russ rode to the championship of the Open Classic/Challenge at Nampa.

The pair are fresh off their championship of the Ft Klamath Ranch Festival Non-Pro Classic/Challenge, and the mare now has over $107,683 in lifetime earnings. The mare’s largest paycheck of $12,681 came from being 21st in the 2009 NCHA Open Super Stakes ridden by Russ.The pair also tied for 14th in the 2010 Open Classic/Challenge.

Royal Blue Mecom, owned and ridden by Brett Neff, won both the Classic/Challenge Non-Pro Gelding and $200,000 Ltd. Finals. The son of Mecom Blue out of Merada Boonsmal by Peptoboonsmal, collected $6,234.39 at the Idaho show, including the championship of the Amateur Classic/Challenge and the Amateur Gelding title.

The Reserve Champion of the Amateur Classic/Challenge was Sandra Figge, Ketchum, Idaho, riding Little Cash Cat, a 5-year-old son of High Brow Cat out of Dox Irish Rap by Miss N Cash. Little Cash Cat previously won the 2009 Utah CHA Marker $10,000 Limited Open Derby and tied for fourth at the 2009 Mebane Ranch Festival Cutting Derby Gldg. Division. He has over $8,156 in lifetime earnings, with close to $3,000 earned in aged events.

UNCOLA NON-PRO:
Ron Davis, Bend, Ore., won the Uncola Non-Pro Finals riding RD Bud Light.

The 16-entry Uncola Non-Pro Finals were won by Ron Davis, Bend, Ore., riding RD Bud Light, an 8-year-old gelding my Tamalight out of Misholena by Smart5 Little Calboy. The pair picked up $2,533.33 for the finals title and the Non-Pro Gelding paycheck, giving the gelding over $143,854 in lifetime earnings. The gelding is a great aged-event gelding but also a war-horse, with most of his money being earned in weekend competition. The winner of the $200,000 Ltd. Finals was Preston SSkaar, Menan, Idaho, riding Stylish Windy.
Click here for full results>>

ROY CARTER WINS 3RD ANNUAL WESTERN SPORTS CUTTING CLASSIC

Sept. 9, 2010
The 3rd annual Western Sports Cutting Classic was held at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center Aug. 25-29 2010. According to show management, the entries held strong and had a slight increase from 2009. The show paid out $99,686.96 and the change to classes being non- prorated was a big hit! (Non-pro-rated classes are when a specific amount is added to the Open division and a specific amount is added to the Non-Pro division; not one lump sum being pro-rated by the number of entries in each division).

Holding "weekend" Limited Age Events during a "major" Limited Age Event (which is a new NCHA rule) was well received and participated in by many contestants. In the major Limited Age Event classes, the 4-Year-Old Open Derby was won by Roy Carter riding Dark Side Diva for owner Anna Rodriguez. The pair earned $4,152.50. The 5//6-Year-Old Open Classic was won by Steve Oehlhof riding Haymaker owned by the Center Ranch, earning $3,963.35. The 3-Year-Old Open Futurity was won by James Payne riding Circle Bar Cut N Jem owned and shown by Jerry Daniel.

Non Pro Major Limnited Age Event class winners included: Non-Pro Futurity - Sarah Morine, Weatherford Texas; 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Derby - Brady Davis, Texarkana, Texas, and the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro Classic - Brad Rodgers, Madill Okla..

Amateur champions were: 4-Year-Old Amateur Derby - Anna Rodriguez; 5/6-Year-Old Amateur Classic - Kelsey Karanges.

Plans are for Western Sports Productions to producie this show again in August 2011 with increased added money for all divisions.

Scheduled for Sept. 16-19, 2010 is the Western Sports True Grit NCHA-approved Limited Age Events/weekend cuttings to be held in the Will Rogers Complex in Fort Worth, Texas. Entries are due in the office by Sept. 10.
Go to: www.westernsportsproductions.com for more information

WR THIS CATS SMART OFFSPRING MONOPOLIZE OPEN FUTURITY AT FORT KLAMATH RANCH FESTIVAL

PHIL HANSON AND LHR SMOOTH JAMIE MAY WIN DERBY; RUSS WESTFALL RIDES LIL BIT RECKLESS TO CLASSIC/CHALLENGE OPEN FINALS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Aug. 27, 2010 – Ft Klamath, Ore.
What did the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 horses have in common during the Fort Klamath Ranch Festival Open Futurity held Aug. 21-27 in Ft. Klamath, Ore.? The answer: They were all sired by WR This Cats Smart, the earner of $236,514 and a son of High Brow Cat out of the great mare The Smart Look the producer of offspring earning over $1.2 million sired by Smart Little Lena. Owned by Wagonhound Land & Livestock, Douglas, Wyo., the stallion is standing at the 6666 Ranch, Guthrie, Texas.

Steve Schlesinger won the Open Futurity riding Hallie Cat for Donna Lu Campbell's DLC Ranch.

Scoring a 222 in the finals of the 65-entry Futurity was Hallie Cat, a gelding out of Handle Bar Hallie by Handle Bar Doc, bred and owned by Donna Lu Campbell’s DLC Ranch, Fernley, Nev., and ridden by Steve Schlesinger. The pair saved it all for the finals as they scored a 215.5 in the first go-round and a 216 in the second go – only earning $32.50 in the go-rounds. However, the pair went home with a $17.675.47 paycheck.

Scoring a 215 was the Reserve Champion, This Cats Jazzy, a daughter of Jazz A Lee by Dual Jazz, bred and owned by Debbie and T. J. Day, Reno, Nev., ridden by Tom Long. The pair finished third in the first go-round, scoring a 217.5 for a $260 paycheck. Their 213.5 in the second go-round failed to place and they went home with a $14,646.59 paycheck.

Third place and the Futurity Gelding title went to WR Bano, a bay gelding out of Gerlie Gun by Playgun, bred and owned by Todd and Erin Bimat, Orland, Calif., ridden by Todd. The pair picked up a total of $13,772.61 for their 214.5 score.
Click here for full Open Futurity results>>

OPEN DERBY:
Phil Hanson rode LHR Smooth Jamie May to the Open Derby title, while giving her a lead in the tight Horse of the Year standings.

With over $200,000 won this year, LHR Smooth Jamie May, a daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of Just Scarlet by Smart Lil Ricochet, owned by Sherry Chamberlain’s South Lazy H Ranch, Weatherford, Texas, and ridden by Phil Hanson captured the 47-entry Open Derby title by scoring a whopping 228 – the highest of the show. The win gave them a lead in the tight Horse Of The Year standings by earning 12 points. With 66 total points she leads Third Cutting, who has 60 points.

The mare’s other championships included the Breeders Invitational Open Derby ($80,618.52), the NCHA Open Derby ($46,565) and the Bonanza Cutting Open Derby ($30,172.66) . The pair picked up $8,700.22 for their Ft Klamath Open Derby Championship.

The Reserve title and the Derby Open Gelding title went to Pure Redwhiteandblue, a red-roan gelding by Mecom Blue out of Purely bob by Bob Acre Doc. Bred by Jerry Durant, Weatherford, Texas, the gelding sold to H&H Quarter Horses, Chappell Hill, Texas in February 2006 and Frank and Bonnie Martin, Las Vegas, Nev., the current owners, bought him in August 2009. He was ridden by Tim Smith to a 222. The pair earned $7,337.22 for the Reserve title and $488 for the Gelding title for a total of $7,825.22, which boosts his lifetime earnings to close to $41,593.

La Reina Sofia, a daughter of CD Royal out of Smart Smokette by Smart Little Lena, owned by Carmel Cutting Horses, Inc., Carmel, Calif., and ridden by Russ Westfall, won the $10,000 Ltd. Horse division, collecting $1,648.80. The pair also finished fourth in the Open Derby for an additional $4,611.24 for a total of $6,260. Bred by Katie Fonsen, Sebastopol, Calf., and transferred to Carmel Cutting Horses in September 2009, the mare currently has lifetime earnings of $10,464.
Click here for full Open Derby results>>

OPEN CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Russ Westfall won the Open Classic/Challenge riding Lil Bit Reckless, owned by him and his wife Janet.

The 35-entry Open Classic/ Challenge finals were won by Westfall riding Lil Bit Reckless, a 6-year-old daughter of CD Royal out of Trouble Lynn 495 by Smart And Trouble, owned by Russ and his wife, Janet. The pair scored a 226 in the Finals, collecting $8,449.90, upping the mare’s earnings to over $143,500. The win was their first in 2010.

The Reserve title was a tie, with each horse scoring a 218.5 and winning $5,927.20. My Lil Lanta Lena, a 5-year-old daughter of Mylanta Lena out of Twinkle Lil San by Grays Starlight, owned by George Hearst, Paso Robles, Calif., and ridden by Bonnie Johnson, also from Paso Robles, tied with Quite The Fat Cat, a 5-year-old stallion by Mr Peppys Freckles out of Quite The Cat by High Brow Cat, owned by Mike Rutherford, Houston, Texas, and ridden by Gavin Jordan, Wilton, Calif.. Jordan and Quite The Fat Cat also won the Gelding Finals for an additional $351.
Click here for Open Classic/Challenge results>>

NON-PRO FUTURITY:
Katie Fonsen-Young monopolized the Fort Klamath Non-Pro Futurity riding For Instance. The pair won the Non-Pro, Gelding and $100K Rider titles.

Katie Fonsen-Young, Sebastopol,, Calif., captured the championship of the 23-entry Non-Pro Futurity finals by putting the first aged-event money on For Instance, a gelding by SR Instant Choice out of Travalen Tessie by Travalena. The gelding, bred by Fonsen-Young, monopolized the Futurity by also carrying her to the Gelding and the $100K Rider titles. Her lifetime earnings of close to $105,000 went up by an additional $7,055.

However, Fonsen-Young also earned an additional $11,423.79 placing second and third in the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge Finals, winning the Gelding Finals and placing 1-2 in the $100K Rider finals. She left Fort Klamath with close to $18,500.

The Reserve title went to veteran non-pro Janet Westfall, Los Olivos, Calif., riding Sweet On Cee Dee, a daughter of CD Royal out of Sweet Little Jeep by Genuine Jeep. The mare was home-grown having been bred and raised by Janet and her husband Russ. The Westfalls own both CD Royal and Genuine Jeep. The pair picked up their first aged-even paycheck of $4,963.44. Westfall also captured the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge Finals riding Lil Dusty Lola, earning an additional $7,675.70,
Click here for Non-Pro Futurity results>>

NON-PRO DERBY:
Jerry Erwin rode Iced Out to the Non-Pro Derby title, $100K Rider and Amateur Derby finals.

Jerry Erwin, Ridgefield, Wash., rode Iced Out, a daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of Absolutely Stunning by Smart Little Lena, to the championship of the 24-entry Non-Pro Derby, scoring a 219 and taking home $6,878.68. Owned by Erwin and his wife Kathy, the mare also won the Non-Pro Derby $100,000 rider finals for $488 and the Amateur Derby Finals for an additional $1,373.35.

Erwin also finished third in the Amateur Derby finals riding Perfect Hand Plum to $986.42 paycheck and third in the Non-Pro $100K Rider Finals for $195.20. Erwin came into the show with $63,100 in NCHA lifetime earnings.

Iced Out had over $48,700 in lifetime earnings prior to the Fort Klamath show, including her largest paycheck of $17,552.50 for winning the 2009 Brazos Bash Open Cutting Futurity. With her Fort Klamath earnings, she now has over $57,440 in lifetime earnings.

The Reserve title, scoring a 218, went to Jeff Barnes, Wilton, Calif., riding Spookys Nine Eleven, a daughter of High Brow Cat out of Spookys Cash by Miss N Cash, bred and raised by Barnes, a top non-pro with over $355,000 in NCHA lifetime earnings. The pair also won the Non-pro Derby $10K Ltd. Horse finals for an additional $1,171. The pair left for home with a $6,837.05 total paycheck.

The winner of the Non-Pro Derby Gelding Finals was Suzanne Rodoni Silverberg, Santa Cruz, Calif., riding Reys Hot Wheels to a 213 and a $351.00 paycheck. The gelding sired by Dual Rey out of Smart Little Beauty by Smart Little Lena, had $30,414 in lifetime earnings prior to Fort Klamath.
Click here for results of the Non-Pro Derby>>

NON-PRO CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Janet Westfall rode Lil Dusty Lola to a 223 and a $7,675.70 paycheck in the 25-entry Non-Pro Classic/Challenge Finals. She also finished sixth on Lil Bit Reckless for an additional 42,143.84. Lil Dusty Lola is a 5-year-old daughter of the Westfall’s stallion, CD Royal, and out of the great mare Smart Like Dusty by Smart Little Lena. Her lifetime earnings going into the Fort Klamath show topped $91,200, including 2010 placings at the NCHA Non-Pro Classic Challenge, the NCHA Super Stakes Open Classic and the championship of the South Point Winter Non-Pro Cutting Classic.

Katie Fonsen-Young tied for second and third place riding Cat Cooper, a 5-year-old gelded son of Smooth As A Cat out of Smart Smokette by Smart Little Lena, to the Reserve title with a 217 score, collecting $6,175.54. She tied for third with Julie Elrod riding Clownin Pepto, with a 213 score for an additional $4,253.45. Cat Cooper and Fonsen-Young also won the Gelding finals for $46800 and the Non-Pro $100,000 Rider finals for an additional $526.80. Cat Cora and Fonsen-Young also finished second in the $100K Rider finals for $351.20. Altogether, Fonsen-Young took home $11,774.99 in the 25-entry class.
Click here for Non-Pro Classic/Challenge results>>

AMATEUR:
The Amateur Derby title was won by the winner of the 13-entry Non-Pro Derby - Jerry Erwin riding Iced Out. The pair scored a 219 and earned $1,373.35. Sting Cat Sting, owned and ridden by Nicole Carson, San Clemente, Calif., finished as Reserve with a 214 for $1,177.38 and won the Gelding finals for $195.

Eric Freitas, Santa Maria, Calif., a cross-over from the reined cow horse industry, tied for the championship of the 12-entry Amateur Classic/Challenge Finals with Traci Hatch Shehady, Morristown, Ariz. Both scored a 215 and earned $1,196.97.

Freitas rode CD Cinco De Mayo, a 5-year-old daughter of CD Royal out of CT Sweet Union by Doc’s Hickory. The mare had previous earnings of $29,170, including two championships in 2010: the PCCHA Spring Classic $50,000 Amateur and the $25,000 Amateur. Freita’s NCHA lifetime earnings coming into the show were close to $23,500.

Hatch-Shehady, with NCHA lifetime earnings of over $12,600 coming into the show, rode His Reyflection, a 5-year-old gelding by Dual Rey out of Sweet Shorty Lena by Shorty Lena, with over $30,600 in lifetime earnings coming into the show. The pair also won the 6-entry $15,000 Amateur class, scoring a 222 for an $875 paycheck. This was only their second money-earning aged event in 2010; the other was an 11th place in the Arbuckle Mount Cutting 5/6-Year-Old Amateur.
Click here for Amateur Derby results>>
Click here for Amateur Classic/Challenge results>>
Click here for $15,000 Amateur results>>

There was also a $35,000 Non-Pro class with seven entries with Julie Clarke, Bend, Ore., taking the championship and Reserve Champions. For the Championship title and $950 paycheck, Clarke was riding Little Silver Belles, a 7-year-old daughter of Hes A Peptospoonful out of Kadee Lena Belle by CD Olena. The mare had prior earnings of over $194,600; however, this was their first aged-event paycheck in 2010.

For the Reserve title, she rode Boonlight Angel to a 217 for $683.33. The 7-year-old daughter of Boonlight Dancer out of Chicks Peppy Angel by Smart Chic Olena had prior earnings of over $28,800; however, this was also the mare’s first aged-event check in 2010. Julie, who owns the Clarke Butte Ranch, has lifetime earnings of over $22,800.
Click here for $35,000 NP results>>

PHIL HANSON “BLOWS THEM OUT OF THE WATER” – TWICE – IN OPEN DERBY

KRISTEN GALYEAN TAKES NON-PRO TITLE RIDING HARLEY

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Aug. 1, 2010 – Fort Worth, Texas
Phil Hanson won the Championship and Reserve Championship of the NCHA Open Derby held during the NCHA Summer Spectacular.
Photo by Shari Forrest

Phil Hanson, Weatherford, Texas, had to beat himself to win the NCHA Open Derby Finals held Saturday, July 31, during the NCHA Summer Spectacular which started July 11 in Fort Worth, Texas. Hanson finished the 21-horse Open Finals as the Champion and Reserve Champion, taking home over $85,500. Kristen Galyean, Claremore, Okla., wife oftop trainer Wesley Galyean, rode Harley to the Non-Pro Championship, while Carl Smith, Jacksboro, Texas, and Mr Rister were Reserve.

THIRD PLACE IN DRAW WAS A CHARM FOR HANSON: IN OPEN DERBY FINALS:
When Hanson scored a 223 on Pounce, a daughter of High Brow Cat out of Haidas Little Shorty by Haidas Little Pep, owned by Julie Clarke’s Clarke Butte Ranch, Bend, Ore., as the third horse in the first bunch of the Open Derby Finals, many thought the finals had seen their winner. However, when Hanson cut again as the third horse in the second bunch, riding LHR Smooth Jamie May, scoring a whopping 227, most knew they had seen the Champion. Only Wesley Galyean riding Rascal Cats came close, also scoring a 223 as the sixth horse in the second bunch, to tie with Hanson and Pounce for the Reserve title.

LHR Smooth Jamie May, a daughter of Smooth As A Cat, out of Just Scarlet by Smart Lil Ricochet, owned by Sherry Chamberlin’s South Lazy H Ranch in Weatherford, Texas, had led going into the semifinals where they scored a 216.5, tying with nine other horses for fifth place. But the pair’s busy performance in the finals, had the crowd screaming and gave them the championship after a cow popped out of the herd, but the great mare stayed on her chosen cow until the whistle blew.

Bred by Tommy Manion, Inc., Aubrey, Texas, the mare sold to Scott Johnston, Weatherford, Texas, (who at the time was working out of Slate River Ranch), in December 2007 as a yearling. Hanson saw the mare work and in June of 2009, Chamberlin purchased her. The pair picked up $46,465 for their Derby Championship and she has now won close to $200,000 in lifetime earnings. All of her money was won in 2010, since they didn’t have a good NCHA Futurity in 2009 when the mare came up sore. Since then; however, Hanson, with NCHA lifetime earnings of over $2.7 million, and the mare have won the Breeders’ Invitational Open Derby for $80,618.42 and the Bonanza Open Derby for $30,172.66. They were also finalists in the NCHA Super Stakes Open Derby and finished third at the Arbuckle Mountain Open 4-Year-Old Futurity.

Pounce was bred by Heidi Carpenter, Kerrville, Texas, and sold to Hare Quarter Horses, Malin, Ore., who sold her to John Semanik, Jacksonville, Fla., as a yearling for $29,000 during the 2007 NCHA Preferred Breeders Sale – Session 2. Clarke purchased the mare in May of this year. Prior to her Reserve title and $39,036 paycheck from the Derby, she had only earned $15,625.50 – with her largest paycheck of $5,000 coming from being the 2010 NCHA Open Super Stakes.

Wesley Galyean and Rascal Cats tied with Hanson and Pounce's 223 score for the Reserve Championship.

Tying with Pounce’s 223, was Wesley Galyean, with lifetime earnings over $1.6 million, riding Rascal Cats, a son of High Brow Cat out of Keena Pep by Dual Pep, owned by Steven Feiner, Los Angeles, Calif. Bred by Billy Martin, Millsap, Texas, Feiner purchased the stallion in May of 2010. The stallion’s largest paycheck prior to the $39,036 he won at the NCHA Open Derby was a third-place split in the Breeders’Invitational Open Derby, where he picked up $25,171.70. His lifetime earnings now top $106,300. Galyean had a great Derby finals, as his wife Kristen rode Harley, a gelding owned by her and Wesley, to the Non-Pro Championship, taking home $16,655.

Although Boyd Rice won the Open Classic Challenge on the super horse Third Cutting, he failed to make the finals in the Open Derby; however, he was there helping his son Tatum, Alvarado, Texas, ride Shes Twice As Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x Dually Lil Pep), owned by Jennifer and Jeffrey Foland, Weatherford, Texas, take fourth place and a $31,606 paycheck for their 220 final’s score. Jennifer also rode the mare in the Non-Pro Finals, finishing in a tie for 10th, earning an additional $11,372, raising the mare’s lifetime earnings to over $133,500.

This year’s finals included nine offspring of High Brow Cat, three by his son Smooth As A Cat, five by Dual Rey and one each by Peptoboonsmal, his sons Peptotime and Hes A Peptospoonful, plus Cats Merada and TR Dual Rey.

KRISTEN GALYEAN REDEEMS HARLEY BY WINNING NON-PRO DERBY
Wesley and Kristen Galyean at the Breeders' Invitational.
Photo by Shari Forrest

Wesley Galyean was disappointed when he missed the Derby Open Finals by one point riding Harley, a gelding by Spots Hot out of Cattilion by High Brow Cat. But he was overjoyed when his wife Kristen, won the Non-Pro Derby with a 221.5 and collected a $16,655 paycheck. The pair also won the Limited Non-Pro Championship, picking up an additional $8,715 check.

The gelding’s lifetime earnings now total close to $120,900 but only four of those checks came with Kristen in the saddle. Other than her two Derby titles, Kristen rode Harley to the championship of the Breeders’ Invitational Derby $200K Limited Rider for $9,059.45 and a tie for second in the Non-Pro for $22,630. Kristen currently has lifetime earnings of over $140,000. Wesley earned the rest of Harley’s money, including his largest paycheck of $31,033 for being a finalist in the 2009 NCHA Open Futurity.

Bred by Tim Barry, Byron, Ill, Wesley had purchased Harley in December 2007, when he was only a yearling, since he was sired by his stallion Spots Hot that he had rode to the championship of the 2004 NCHA Open Futurity.

Carl Smith, Jacksboro, Texas, better known as the owner of the great stallion Third Cutting, rode Mr Rister, a red roan gelding by Mr Boonsmal To You out of Ristos Sweet Play by Smart Aristocrat, to a 218 for the Reserve title, collecting a $16,126 paycheck. Bred by Glade Knight of Slate River Ranch, Smith purchased the gelding from Knight in the 2008 NCHA Futurity 2-Year-Olds by Select Sires Sale for $16,000. Not only was his $16,126 paycheck the largest the gelding had ever earned, but it was even larger than his previous $14,343 lifetime earnings. He now has close to $30,500 in lifetime earnings. Smith has over $246,000 in NCHA lifetime earnings.

Third place, earning $15,598 for a 216 score, was Spooked By A Cat, a gelding sired by Cat Ichi out of San Starlight by Grays Starlight, owned by Gary and Jessica Gonsalves, Millsap, Texas, and ridden by Jessica to a 216 and a $15,598 paycheck. Jessica currently has over $141,000 in NCHA lifetime earnings. Gary, a top trainer, rode Rockin W, a Dual Rey stallion owned by Alice Walton’s Rocking W Ranch, to ninth place in the Open Finals, scoring a 217.5., for an $18,852 paycheck. Trained by Gonsalves, the stallion won the 2009 NCHA Open Futurity with catch rider Tony Piggott in the saddle. At that time Piggott worked for the Rocking W Ranch but has since gone out on his own.

In the Non-Pro Finals, Dual Rey had the most offspring with five, while TR Dual Rey, Peptoboonsmal and Sweet Lil Pepto each had two. The rest of the finalists were sired by stallions that had only sired one finalist, including: Cat Ichi, Duals Blue Boon, Reys Dual Badger, Lenas Jewel Bars, Smooth As A Cat, Smart Lil Scoot, Mr Boonsmal To You, Quejanaisalena, Freckles Fancy Twist and Spots Hot. Ironically, the first seven horses in the final standings were sired by stallions that were represented by only one offspring in the Finals.

This year's Open Derby featured 237 entries, compared to 264 in 2009, while the Non-Pro had 150 starters, down two from last year's 152.
Click here for full results>>

IT’S A WOMAN’S WORLD AT NCHA SUMMER SPECTACULAR

BONNIE MARTIN RIDES RUBYS ROYAL CD TO NON-PRO CLASSIC/CHALLENGE TITLE; KATHLEEN MOORE CLAIMS CHAMPIONSHIP AND RESERVE IN AMATEUR DERBY

Article and photo by Glory Ann Kurtz
July 21, 2010
Bonnie and Frank Martin

It was a “woman’s world”, Tuesday, July 20, when Bonnie Martin, Las Vegas, Nev., picked up her largest check of 2010 by winning the NCHA Non-Pro Classic/Challenge Finals, scoring a 221 on Rubys Royal CD for a $12,861 paycheck. Just prior to the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge Finals, Kathleen Moore, Madill, Okla., won the Amateur Derby riding Sarenadual and tied for the Reserve title riding Heres Lookin At You.

NON-PRO CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Bonnie Martin, 62, may be old enough to enter the Senior class, but she’s tough enough to win the Non-Pro, especially when she rides Rubys Royal CD, a 6-year-old daughter of CD Royal out of Smart Little Ruby by Smart Little Lena. The pair’s $12,861 paycheck, which was the largest they had pocketed this year, raised the mare’s lifetime earnings to over $236,100. But Martin didn’t stop there as she also won the Senior championship and her husband, Frank, 63, won the Derby Non-Pro Limited Senior title.

This was the first time that Bonnie and Rubys Royal CD had taken home a championship from one of the Triple Crown events – and since she is a 6-year-old, it will be her last. But 2010 was a good year, with the pair splitting seventh in the NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Classic for $12,232, finishing third at the Breeders invitational Non-Pro Classic for $12,094.63 and now the championship of the NCHA Non-Pro Classic/Challenge. Her trainer, Phil Hanson, Jr., also rode the mare to the finals of the Breeder’s Invitational Open Classic/Challenge.

The mare’s largest paycheck of $28,108 came in 2008 as a finalist in the NCHA Open Super Stakes. Bonnie was also a finalist in the Non-Pro Division for an additional $20,351. The great mare was a gift from her husband, who was the winner of the same show in 1998 and purchased her from Hansen’s father.

The Reserve title went to Chad Bushaw, a financial advisor from Weatherford, Texas, riding Show Rey, a 6-year-old son of Dual Rey out of Lenas Snow by Docs Stylish Oak. The pair scored a 220 and collected $12,432.The check was also the pair’s largest during 2010, bringing his lifetime earnings to close to $223,500. The earner of over $2.2 million, also picked up a $5,450 check for a 19th-place tie on Reylena Moon, a daughter of Dual Rey out of Carolena Moon by Peptoboonsmal.

Third place went to Nelson Knight, Weatherford, Texas, the son of Slate River Ranch’s Glade Knight, riding Candy Cat (DNA), a daughter of That Sly Cat out of Flying F Candyflex (Aus) by Docs Spinifex. The pair scored a 218, earning $12,003. The paycheck, which was the largest of the 5-year-old mare’s lifetime, raised her lifetime earnings to close to $75,000.

AMATEUR DERBY:
Kathleen Moore did a double-take during the Amateur Derby, capturing the championship riding Sarenadual, a daughter of Dual Pep out of Sarenalena by Smart Little Lena, to a 217.5, collecting a $5,557 paycheck. She also tied for the Reserve spot riding Heres Lookin At You, a daughter of Peptoboonsmal out of Smart Lookin Hi Brow by High Brow Hickory. The pair tied with Bernie Kirkland, Weatherford, Texas, riding Be Clever, a daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of TM Silhouette by Smart Lil Ricochet. Both scored a 215, for $5,215.

Sarenadual, with close to $35,000 in lifetime earnings, was a finalist in the 2009 NCHA Amateur Futurity and finished in the 10 of several 2010 aged events; however, it was the pair’s first championship. Heres Lookin At You has over $33,600 in lifetime earnings, including being a money earner in the 2009 NCHA Amateur Futurity. The pair won the Arbuckle Mountain Amateur Futurity and were Reserve at the Abilene Spectacular Amateur Derby.

The Classic/Challenge Amateur finals will be Thursday, July 22, while the Open and Non-Pro Finals of the Derby will be held Saturday, July 31, starting at 3 p.m. The Western Bloodstock Sale starts at 9 a.m. that day.
Click here for full results>>

BUSH FAMILY ON FIRE AT AUSTRALIA’S TOOWOOMBA FUTURITY

DEAN HOLDEN TAKES 16TH ANNUAL GOONDIWINDI FUTURITY

July 19, 2010
Ian Bush and his won, Jamie, were on fire during the Toowoomba Futurity, winning three non-pro aged events. The event was held July 5-11 at Darling Downs. Dean Holden captured the championship of the 16th Annual Goondiwindi Futurity only three days later.

TOOWOOMBA FUTURITY:
Ian won the Non-Pro Futurity riding Roc N Style, the Non-Pro Derby on his colt Stylish N Casual and was also a finalist in the Open Derby finals. Jamie, Ian’s 19-year-old eldest son with over $50,000 in lifetime earnings, scored a 228 aboard Stylish Doll to not only win the Non-Pro Classic Challenge .

Aside from the Bush family dominance, Rob Hodgman won the Open Futurity with a 224.5 score riding Roc N Style, owned by Geoff and Gab Shnitzerling. The Reserve title went to Winderadeen Whisky Cat, ridden by Jason Leitch to a 223.5. Hodgman also finished third riding EBS Mitown to a 222. Corey Holden finished fourth riding Whos Tack Cat to a 218.5.
Reserve in the Non-Pro Futurity was Jackie Dudley riding Erins Shorty Lena to a 216. Lori Mackay finished third riding Dual N Boonsmal to a 210.

The Open Derby was won by Todd Graham riding Ranch Playgirl to a 220, followed by Corey Holden and Currell Peptos Shadow and Jason Leitch riding Smartys High Card, with each scoring a 219. In the Non-Pro Derby, Lacey Elliott rode Ad Lethal Style to the Reserve title; Ben King riding Docs Linkon finished third with a 215.5 and Peter Shumack and Racketeer Cat (IMP) finished fourth with a 213.

The Open Classic was won by Ian Francis and One Roan Peptos, scoring a 228; Reserve was Corey Holden riding Amaroo Shjeoak to a 224 and third was split by Aaron Wheatley and Whos Top Cat and Jason Leitch riding Winteradeen Blacklabel Act – with both scoring a 222.

Reserve in the Classic/Challenge Non-Pro was James Parker riding Winderadeen Blacklabel Cat to a 223, followed by Peter Dunn and Playin Artist, scoring a 220 for third. Fourth went to Michael Bell riding One Moore Minnie Mee to a 219.

The Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals was won by Chris Major riding Just Justine to a 146. Reserve was split between Dubbo Turner riding Roys Style and Felicity Forsythe riding Peptos Stylish Diamond. Both scored a 145. Fourth went to Mark Wonka riding Yulibar What a Playgirl to a 144.

16TH ANNUAL GOONDIWINDI FUTURITY:
Dean Holden rode Kevin Marsden's Playin Moore for the Futurity title at the 16th Annual Goondiwindi Futurity, held July 14-18. The Reserve title went to this year's Australian NCHA Futurity champion Jason Leitch, riding his and his wife, Rachel's horse, Winderadeen Whisky to a 218. Third went to Todd Graham riding Mummas Stylish Gift to a 216.5 for Brien Cobcroft and fourth went to Rob Hodgman riding Roosters Lil Darlin to a 216 for K & T Nicholson Clavar P/L.

The Non-Pro Futurity Championship was tied when Jackie Dudley riding Erins Shorty Lena and Tania Black rode Hootin Acres to an identical 217 score. However, during a work-off Black won the event with a 215 while Dudley scored a 213. Third with a 209 went to Chris Murphy riding Boot Scootin Sally and fourth was a tie between C.J. Moore riding Ularu Spirit and Jackson Gray riding Roanies Oak. Both scored a 207.

Hodgman captured the Open Derby finals riding his and his wife, Monica's EBs Philaris to a 219.5. The Reserve went to Graham riding Winderadeen Scat Catt for Mark and Joanne Smith to a 219. Third, with a 218.5, was Phil Dawson riding A Little Red Colonel to a 218.5 and fourth was Frank Green riding Winderadeen Grouse Kitty for Rex and Hazel Willliams, to a 218.

The Non-Pro Derby was also a tie between Sara Welk riding Starlight N Pepto and Peter Shumack riding Eyebrows Cat. Both scored a 217; however, in the work-off Shumack won with a 212 score, while Welk finished with a 0. Third was taken by Joanne Margaret Smith riding Winderadeen Scat Cat and fourth was taken by Lacey Elliott riding JA Lethal Style.

The Open Classic/Challenge was won by Phil Dawson riding WD A Lil Shortnin for B. T. & D.A. Elliott, scoring a 225. The Reserve title, with a 219, was split between Heath Sinclair riding Playin Artis for Peter and Margaret Dunn and Aaron Wheatley riding Erin Flashy Rey for Tristar QHs.

Angie Jolly rode Dual Windstorm to the championship of the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge with a 221. The Reserve title went to Steve Smith riding Redneck Woman to a 215. Third was split between Peter Dunn riding Playin Artist and Michael Bell riding One Moore Minnie Mee. Both scored a 213.5.

For full results go to: http://cuttinghorselink.com

BREEDER’S INVITATIONAL CLOSES WITH A RECORD PURSE OF CLOSE TO $1.8 MILLION PAID OUT

989 ENTRIES DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM 2009’S 1,020 BUT IS SECOND HIGHEST IN EIGHT YEARS OF THE EVENT

By Glory Ann Kurtz
May 30, 2010 – Tulsa, Okla.
The Breeder’s Invitational (BI) closed out their 12 days of aged-event competition on May 29, paying out a record $1,798,300 to entries which numbered close to 990 – making it the second largest BI show entry-wise.

Phil Hanson won $80,618.52 of the $432,532 total Breeder's Invitrational Open Derby purse riding LHR Smooth Jamie May.

The big winner was Phil Hanson, Weatherford, Texas, who took home the Open Derby’s first-place paycheck of $80,618.52 of the $432,532 total Open Derby purse, riding LHR Smooth Jamie May. Owned by Sherry Chamberlain’s South Lazy H Ranch, Weatherford, the daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of Just Scarlet by Smart Lil Ricochet, scored a whopping 225 as the first horse to cut in the finals – a score which held up through the other 22 riders.

The Reserve title went to Austin Shepard riding Bet Hesa Cat to a 219.5 and collecting $46,859.88. The stallion, sired by High Brow Cat, is out of Bet Yer Blue Boons by Freckles Playboy and is owned by the Bet Hesa Cat Syndicate, based in Millsap, Texas. Shepard is one of the eight syndicate members who purchased the yearling at the NCHA Futurity Sale.

Hanson purchased LHR (for Lazy H Ranch) Smooth Jamie May, a Tommy Manion bred mare, for Chamberlin from Scott Johnson, who worked at the Slate River Ranch, last May after the 2009 Breeder’s Invitational. Chamberlin named the mare after James May, the Weatherford banker who helped her with the sale. The mare won close to $70,000 prior to the BI, winning the Bonanza Cutting, placing third at the Arbuckle Futurity and making the finals at the NCHA Super Stakes. Their next show will be the NCHA Summer Spectacular in July.
Click here for Open Derby results>>

The Open Derby $100,000 Ltd. Rider championship went to TJ Good riding High Brow Kwackin for the Jackson Land & Cattle Co, LLC, scoring a 434.5 following two go-rounds and taking home the $8,293.82 paycheck. The Reserve title went to Jaime Beamer riding GP Scooter Cat for Gil Porter, scoring a 433 for $6,220.36.
Click here for $100,000 Ltd. Rider Open Derby Results>>

DUSTIN ADAMS TAKES NON-PRO DERBY RIDING THE DOCTRESS ORDERS
Dustin and Deena Adams. Dustin won the Non-Pro Derby riding Doctress Orders.
Photo courtesy BI

Although Dustin and Deena Adams brought several horses to the Breeder’s Invitational, they hadn’t had a good show until the finals of the Non-Pro Derby, where Dustin rode The Doctress Orders, a daughter of Dual Rey out of The Boonsmal Doctress by Peptoboonsmal, to a 220 and the $30,310.75 first-place paycheck. The Adams raised the mare and Dustin had shown her dam to $211,000. Adams, an NCHA Hall of Fame Non-Pro Rider, has earned close to $2.7 million in lifetime earnings and is the all-time leading non-pro rider at the Breeder’s Invitational.

Christina and Kristen Galyean, who are sisters-in-law, tied for the Reserve title of the Non-Pro Derby.
Photo courtesy BI

The Reserve Championship was split between sister-in-laws Christina Galyean riding Harley, and Kristen Galyean, who is married to Christina’s brother, Wesley, riding Playin T Etta. Both scored a 217, taking home $22,630.23. The run was extraordinary for Christina as she had given birth to her and Lloyd Cox’s daughter, Leighton, on April 11 and was competing at her first cutting event since January. Playin T Etta (TR Dual Rey x Playin Gayetta x Playin Stylish) was purchased last November and Cox trained the mare, which had over $31,000 in career earnings prior to the BI.

Kristen’s mount, Harley, sired by Spots Hot, the 2004 NCHA Futurity Champion, that had been ridden by Wesley to over $53,500 prior to the BI, where he was ridden by both Kristen and Wesley, who made the Open Derby finals. Kristen took home an additional $9,059 for winning the Non-Pro Derby $200,000 Ltd. Rider class.
Click here for Non-Pro Derby results>>

Carol Ward rode Strawberry Betty to the Senior Non-Pro Derby title.
Photo courtesy BI

The Senior Non-Pro Derby title and $6,736.24 paycheck went to Carol Ward, Rancho Murieta, Calif., riding Strawberry Betty, a daughter of Bet On Me 498 out of Justa Swinging Jane by Justa Swinging Peppy. The pair scored a 219 in the Senior finals. Ward purchased the mare as a futurity prospect from St. Nick’s Pines, LLC, Gillett, Wi.

Eleven horses qualified for the Senior finals, which offered a unique “Deal or No Deal”: twist. Riders could accept the judges’ score, without seeing it first, or run again by paying an additional $750. Each horse was allowed only one rerun. Four horses out of the 11 had re-runs in the finals.
Click here for Sr NP Derby results>>

Russ and Debbie deCordova. Russ won the Non-Pro Derby $10,000 Non-Pro Derby class riding Hydualin Cat.
Photo courtesy BI

Russ deCordova, a cattle rancher from Groesbeck, Texas, won the Non-Pro Derby $10,000 Novice Horse Class riding Hydualin Cat to a 218, taking home an $18,092.80 paycheck. Although his trainer, Ronnie Rice, had failed to make the Open Derby finals, he also rode the gelding sired by Smooth As A Cat out of Hydualin Dolly by Dual Pep, to the championship of the $10,000 Novice Open Derby title earlier in the week.

Lauryn Crouch was the Reserve Champion of the Non-Pro Derby $10,000 Novice Horse class riding Pretty Girl Cat.
Photo courtesy BI.

The Reserve title went to Lauryn Crouch, the wife of trainer Allen Crouch, Noxapater, Miss., riding Pretty Girl Cat, a daughter of Pretty Boy Cat out of Weekiva Star by Hickoryote, to a 217.5 and a $14,412.52 paycheck. The little mare is nicknamed “Mustang Sally” due to her small size and full mane when they purchased her.
Click here for Non-Pro Derby $10,000 Novice Horse results>>

Taking home the Open Sale Incentive was Prime Time Kat, owned by Kenneth Jackson and ridden by Clint Allen. The pair picked up a $14,545.45 paycheck.
Click here for Sale Incentive results>>

RONNIE RICE PICKS UP BI WIN ON HYDUALIN CAT

By Glory Ann Kurtz
May 27, 2010 – Tulsa, Okla.
Ronnie Rice, Grandview, Texas,won the Breeder's Invitational Open Derby $10,000 Ltd. Horse riding Hydualin Cat owned by Russ deCordova.
Photo courtesy BI

Ronnie Rice, with lifetime earnings topping $4.1 million, has been training and show cutting horses longer than most of us can remember. The Grandview, Texas, trainer’s most recent win came during the Breeder’s Invitational 113-entry Open $10,000 Ltd Horse Derby, riding Hydualin Cat to a 221.5 and collecting $20,721 – more money than the young stud has earned in his cutting career.

Owned by Ronnie’s good friend and non-pro competitor Russ deCordova, Groesbeck, Texas, the stallion sired by Smooth As A Cat out of Hyadualin Dolly by Dual Pep, had lifetime earnings of close to $11,400 prior to his $10,000 Limited Horse win – all won by deCordova; however, he has now accumulated over $32,000 in lifetime earnings. Rice is the father of top cutters Tag and Scotty Rice.

DeCordova earned all of the young stallion’s earnings at the 2010 NCHA Super Stakes, making the Non-Pro semifinals, finishing third in the Non-Pro Gelding Stakes and tying for ninth in the $10,000 Novice Non-Pro division. DeCordova and the stallion competed in the $10,000 Ltd Non-Pro on Wednesday, May 26, scoring a 215.5 in the first go-round of competition.

A 219 score earned Roy Carter, Crockett, Texas, the Reserve title riding Smarty Rockin Doc, a son of Smart Lil Scoot out of Shesa Real Doc by Real Doc, owned by his son, Cole. The pair picked up $16,988.34. The paycheck was the largest for Smarty Rockin Doc, who had earned $10,758 prior to the BI competition. His total lifetime earnings now top $27,745.

Carter has a special affection for the young stallion as he rode his sire to the championships of the 2002 NCHA Super Stakes Classic/Challenge, The NCHA Summer Spectacular Classic/challenge and the Brazos Bash, earning Equi-Stat’s leading 6-YearOld in all divisions title in 2002. The pair also finished fifth in the 1999 NCHA Open Futurity. The stallion finished his aged-event career with over $266,425 in lifetime earnings – thanks to Carter.

Third, scoring a 215, was Bruce Morine, Weatherford, Texas, riding Sheza Skeeto Kitty for Billy and William Aylesworth, Lipan, Texas. The daughter of High Brow Cat out of Sheza Neato Skeeto by Skeeto, took home a $14,023 paycheck, which was her first earned from an aged event.

With the Non-Pro go-rounds currently in progress, the $10,000 Ltd. Horse Finals will be held Friday, May 28 and the Non-Pro Finals will be held the final day of the show: Saturday, May 29, along with working and non-working finals of several other classes.
Click here for results of Open Derby $10,000 finals>>

TODAY’S NEWS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
May 23, 2010
Michelle Anderson and Pantera Cat won the Breeder's Invitational Non-Pro Classic Challenge.
Photo by Glory Ann Kurtz

Michelle Anderson wins Breeder’s Invitational Non-Pro Classic Challenge riding Pantera Cat; Heather Stiles takes Non-Pro $200K Ltd Rider riding Dulces Joker; Kristen York captures Amateur Classic/Challenge Finals. The event is being held in Tulsa, Okla., through Saturday, May 29.

MICHELLE ANDERSON COMES FROM LAST HOLE IN FINALS TO NON-PRO CLASSIC/CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP
Michelle Anderson, Weatherford, Texas, is a pro at taking home money from the Breeder’s Invitational, but when the two go-rounds of the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge was over, she found herself in the last hole in a group of horses that scored a total of 429.5 -the cut-off for qualifying for the 23-horse Finals.

Riding Pantera Cat, a 5-year-old son of High Brow Cat out of Shesa Smart Lena by Smart Little Lena, Michelle had scored a 215.5 in the first go-round and a 214 in the second go. But a sparkling 221.5 in the finals, gave her the championship and paycheck for $17,098.08. Last year, the pair had finished third in the Non-Pro Derby, collecting $22,199 plus the $2,219.92 Sire/Dam Incentive Award. But altogether, the pair has now won close to $90,000 in the cutting arena, including a tie for the championship of the 2010 NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes Classic.

Pantera Cat is owned by Anderson Cattle Co., owned by Michelle and her husband Steve, who also competed in the Non-Pro finals, taking 16th place riding Thursday Cat for a $4,167.30 paycheck. Michelle also finished 23rd on Baba Boon for $2,500 more..

Coming in to the Reserve spot was veteran Non-Pro Kyle Manion, Aubrey, Texas, riding Bling Bling Bling, a 6-year-old daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of Fancy Frostina by Smart Little Lena, with a score of 220. The pair took home $14,396.39, which added to the mare’s lifetime earnings of $19,533 gives her a total of $33,930. Manion also finished 10th on Smooth Rey Of Hope, taking home an additional $5,980.28.

The most accomplished horse of the three was third-place Rubys Royal CD, a 6-year-old daughter of CD Royal out of Smart Little Ruby by Smart Little Lena, ridden by Bonnie Martin to a 217.5, taking home $12,095. The paycheck raised the mare’s lifetime money to over $218,000.

STILES WINS CLASSIC/CHALLENGE LIMITED NON-PRO RIDER:
The $200K Limited Non-Pro Rider award went to Heather Stiles, Scurry, Texas, riding Dulces Joker, a 5-year-old gelding by Dulces Smart Lena out of Miss Joker Tanquery by Tanquery Gin, to a 219.5. The win gave Heather $6,896.67 in the Ltd. Division. The pair had also finished in a tie for sixth in the Non-Pro division with a 216 for an additional $7,188.93.

Reserve in the Ltd. Non-Pro Rider division was Steve Feiner, Los Angeles, Calif., riding Mandaley Rey, a 5-year-old son of Dual Rey out of Dainty Playgirl by Freckles Playboy to a 219 and a $6,315.15 paycheck. The pair also finished 14th in the Non-Pro, scoring a 211 and collecting an additional $4,771.63.

YORK TOPS AMATEUR CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Kristin York, Saratoga, Wyo., rode Docs Alota Pepto, a 6-year-old son of Sweet Lil Pepto out of Barb A Doc by Smart Little Lena, to the championship of the Amateur Classic/Challenge. The pair scored a 219, taking home the $8,938.97 first-place paycheck. Docs Alota Pepto had over $64,400 in lifetime earnings prior to the Breeder’s Invitational, including his largest paychecks of $15,194 for sixth in the 2009 NCHA Open Classic/Challenge and $10,743 for an eighth-place split in the 2010 NCHA Super Stakes Open Classic.

A new ranch in Weatherford and the hiring of top trainer Roger Wagner seems to agree with Jon Winkelried, who took the Reserve title riding Dual N At Noon to a 216 and a $7,772.79 check. Of course, retiring from Goldman Sachs and riding a lot may also have helped Winkelried’s fast trip to the top. Dual N At Noon, a 6-year-old daughter of Dual Pep out of Sugar Dox Com by Playdox, had $148,866 in lifetime earnings coming into the BI, including her largest paycheck of $52,008.34 for placing second in the 2008 Breeder’s Invitational Open Derby.

For full results go to http://www.breedersinvitational.com. Also click on BI Daily for the daily news, photos and articles published by Sheri Forrest. Click here for Breeder's Invitational results>>

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RETURNS

BET ON MERADA & T J GOOD TOP BI OPEN CLASSIC/CHALLENGE

By Glory Ann Kurtz
May 20, 2010 – Tulsa, Okla.
“Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.” You hear that daily from the Stock Market wizards – and now it’s certainly true in the cutting world - namely the Breeder's Invitational held May 15-29 in Tulsa, Okla.

Who would you bet on? Rey Down Sally, ridden by Gary Gonsalves, was a two-time winner of the Breeder’s Invitational, with lifetime earnings of close to $330,000, including a tie for third in the 2007 NCHA Open Futurity. And Gonsalves, the earner of over $2.4 million in the cutting arena, had eight entries – more than anyone in the BI Open Classic/Challenge - and the pair had tied for the first go-round lead. They were definitely tagged by many to win the event.

In a surprise move, TJ Good won the Open and Ltd. Open at the BI riding Bet On Merada.

Bet On Merada was the earner of less than $9,000 in lifetime earnings, finished 14th after two go-rounds, with her highest lifetime placing being fifth at the 2010 NCHA Super Stakes Limited Open Classic. She was ridden by T. J. Good, who had $122,128 in lifetime earnings, and was a limited open rider with only one entry in the division. The BI allows unlimited entries.

Gary Gonsalves and Rey Down Sally were the favorites of the BI Open Classic/Challenge, but had to settle for the Reserve title.

The finals of the 138-entry 5/6-year-old division of the show featured 27 top horses and trainers. As expected Gonsalves and the 6-year-old daughter of Dual Rey out of Solano Sally by Doc’s Solano, owned by Tom Bailey’s Iron Rose Ranch LLC, Carbondale, Colo., were leading with a 222.5 after 15 head had worked. It was a big surprise when Good and Bet On Merada, a 5-year-old daughter of Bet On Me 498 out of Meradas Missie by Freckles Merada, owned by Richard Field’s Jackson Land & Cattle Co., Weatherford, Texas, scored a whopping 224.5, wining both the Open division and the Ltd. Open Division. The pair collected $24,228.28 for their Open win, while Gonsalves and Rey Down Sally picked up $18,510.94 for the Reserve title.

According to Good, who competed in the Reined Cow Horse events prior to going to work for Jackson Land & Cattle Co., the mare was injured as a 2-year-old and late in her training so she completely missed her Futurity year. Fields purchased the mare from Lindy Burch when he bought the Oxbow Ranch in Weatherford. The mare’s first show was the 2009 NCHA Derby, where she finished 10th in the Limited Open. So far this year, the pair has picked up $6,223 for being a semifinalist in the NCHA Super Stakes Open Classic and finishing fifth in the Limited Open.

Third place went to Eddie Flynn, riding Little Bob Peepto, a 5-year-old daughter of Peptoboonsmal out of Bowmans Little Jewel by Smart Little Lena, owned by Peter and Nora Stent, Woodside, Calif., scoring a 220. The pair earned $14,622.46, which was added to their lifetime earnings of $34,043.53. The third place was the highest of her career and the paycheck was the mare’s largest.

With the BI being run by stallion and mare owners, it was no surprise that the riders were allowed to ride as many horses as they wanted to. Some feared that if you gave the top riders all the horses they wanted to ride, you couldn’t beat them. But it was interesting to note that even though Gonsalves had eight horses entered and went to the second go on six of them, only one (13%) made the finals. Both Phil Rapp and Lee Francois had five head entered, with Rapp qualifying for the second go-round on four. He took two to the finals – finishing 14th and 24th. Francois, entered five head and took all five to the second go, but only made the finals on two – finishing 23rd and 26th.

Six of the finalists only entered one horse and took that horse all the way to the finals, including Good. Four riders had two entries, going to the finals on one. Other riders with two finalists included Paul Hansma who had four entries and who finished sixth and 18th; Flynn, with four entries and two finalists finishing third and seventh and Austin Shepard with four entries and two finalists, finishing 15th and 19th.
Click here for Open Classic/Challenge full results>>

The Amateur Derby finals was won Venezuela native Isidro Sigala riding Sofie Rey , a 4-year-old daughter of Dual Rey out of Safari Fever by Playin Safari in a work-off, scoring a 218 for the top paycheck of $6,799.96. Taking home the second-place $5,781.99 paycheck was Tommy Williams, Rosie, Ark., riding Smart Fifteen, a 4-year-old daughter of Playdox out of Sevens N Eights by Smart Little Lena to a 213. Both scored a 216 during the regular finals.

Sigala, Weatherford, Texas, who also won the 66-horse preliminary go-round in the Amateur division, is a student at Texas Christian University, working toward a Master’s degree in Business Administration. His trainer is Lee Francois, Murchison, Texas. He purchased Sofie Rey last October from her breeder Jan Mapes, Kim, Colo., an artist and sculptor who created the NCHA trophy several years ago. The pair finished 12th in the 2009 NCHA Amateur Futurity and in 2010 was Reserve in the Amateur Derby at the Cattlemen’s Cutting and third in the $50,000 Amateur at the Bonanza Derby. The mare’s lifetime earnings now top $21,580.

Williams and Smart Fifteen had $8,788 in lifetime earnings prior to the BI, which included the championship of the 2010 NCHA Super Stakes Amateur Sr. Rider and eighth place in the Amateur plus a seventh in the Tunica Amateur Futurity.

Third place went to Little Dab A Doo, a 4-year-old son of Abrakadabracre out of Lucky Sugar Hickory by Count Hickory, owned by Judy and George Manor, Millsap, Texas, ridden by Judy to a 215, earning $4,764.02. Prior to the BI, Little Dab A Doo won $60,129, including a tie for 17th during the 2009 NCHA Open Futurity and a seventh in the Limited Open.
Click here for Amateur Derby results>>

Click here for the BI schedule, results and BI Daily>>

IF YOU CAN’T SELL ‘EM, TRAIN ‘EM

WOODY BARTLETT AND LEE FRANCOIS TEAM WITH REYS DESIRE TO WIN NCHA OPEN SUPER STAKES

By Glory Ann Kurtz
April 6, 2010 – Fort Worth, Texas
Woody Bartlett (left), the owner of NCHA Super Stakes Open Champion Reys Desire, and rider Lee Francois.
Photo by Robert Eubanks

When Woody Bartlett, a veterinarian from Pike Road, Ala., found himself with two colts to break, he, like many others, sent them to Gerald Alexander. When they were broke, he sold one; however, he just couldn’t get the other one sold. He asked Alexander what he would do with Reys Desire, a daughter of Dual Rey out of Playguns Desire by Playgun. “I’d take her to Lee Francois,” said Alexander. That’s what happened – the rest is history, as Francois and Reys Desire won the April 5 finals of the XTO Energy/NCHA Super Stakes, netting Wood a $112,599 paycheck for their 224 score.

SUPER STAKES OPEN FINALS:
In a finals that included a new sire, Smooth As A Cat, having the most finals’ qualifiers with seven, Francois and Reys Desire worked as the eighth horse in the finals, scoring the high 224. Following him in the draw was Im Catman, (High Brow Cat x Cowstruck x Smart Little Lena), owned by Chuck and Stephanie Roven’s Reata Cutting Horses, Los Olivos, Calif., ridden by Matt Budge. The pair scored a 221.5, giving them the Reserve Championship title and a $96,954 paycheck.

Lee Francois shown with his wife Holly.
Photo by Robert Eubanks

This wasn’t Rey’s Desire’s first success, as the pair had previously finished sixth in the 2009 NCHA Futurity, picking up a $77,921 paycheck. They also tied for third in the recent Bonanza Open Derby for an additional $18,558. Their lifetime earnings now top $209,000.

It was Im Catman’s second competition for the day, as earlier he had scored the winning score of 223.5 in the Gelding competition, taking home an additional $12,871 – for a total paycheck of $109,825 from the Super Stakes. The amount totally eclipsed the close to $8,000 he had won prior to the Super Stakes and following the event, his bank account ballooned to $117,800 in lifetime earnings. Stephanie will compete on the gelding in the upcoming Super Stakes Non-Pro competition.

Third place in the Open Super Stakes finals, with a 220.5 score, was Mamas Cats A Star, a gelding by Smart Little Lena out of Star Fillaree by Grays Starlight, owned by Carrie Rhodes, Arlington, Wash., and ridden by Craig Thompson. The pair collected $81,310.

The Reserve Champion Gelding was Harley, a gelding by 2004 NCHA Futurity Champion Spots Hot out of Cattilion by High Brow Cat, owned by Wesley and Kristen Galyean, Claremore, Okla., and ridden by Wesley to a 223 and an $11,115 paycheck. The gelding currently has earnings of close to $46,915.

Other stallions represented in the Super Stakes Open finals included High Brow Cat, 4; Peptoboonsmal, Dual Rey and Smart Little Lena with two each and Mecom Blue, TR Dual Rey, Hes A Peptospoonful, Reys Dual Badger and Dualin Jewels with one each. Matt Gaines was the only rider to qualify more than one horse for the finals, finishing fifth on Special Nu Baby and 20th on A Smooth Criminal, for a total of $62,677.

The John Deere Limited Open division was won by Arosesuchaclatter, a daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of Mates Irish Rose by Smart Mare, owned by Brazilian Amando Costa Filho and ridden by Bart Nichols. Their 222 score earned them $10,176. Reserve went to Dual Flames, a son of Dual Rey out of Some Reminiscing by Smart Little Lena, owned by Carol Ward, Rancho Murieta, Calif., ridden by Chris Johnsrud to a 218.5 score for an $8,770 check. The pair also qualified for the Open Finals, tying for sixth with another 218.5 for a $33,603 check.

CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Boyd Rice

Third Cutting, ridden by Boyd Rice, and Dont Look Twice with rider Phil Rapp in the saddle, have been running head-to-head all year, and the finals of the NCHA Super Stakes Classic/Challenge was no exception, with both horses scoring a 226 for a $45,431 paycheck. Prior to the finals, their lifetime earnings were separated by less than $7,000 – with Don’t Look Twice earning $341,300 to Third Cutting’s $334,311. Obviously, since both horses earned the same amount of money at the Super Stakes, they are still separated by less than $7,000 in lifetime earnings.

Carl and Shawnea Smith, Jacksboro, Texas, purchased Third Cutting at the Polo Ranch Dispersal Sale.
Photo by Robert Eubanks

Third Cutting, a 5-year-old stallion by Boonlight Dancer out of Crab Grass by Smart Little Lena, owned by Carl and Shawnea Smith, Jacksboro, Texas, was the ninth horse to work in the first group of tough cattle. The pair had won the 2009 NCHA Open Super Stakes for $121,173 and the Incentive for an additional $16,678, and the 2009 Open Derby for $75,000. They also tied for eighth in the 2008 NCHA Open Futurity, earning $79,286. Battling soundness problems, the pair also tied for fifth at the 2009 Abilene Spectacular Open Derby for $15,013 and won the 2010 Abilene Classic/Challenge for $15,132.

Phil Rapp

Dont Look Twice, a 5-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat out of Tapt Twice by Dual Pep, is owned by Louis and Corliss Baldwin, Fort Worth, Texas. Baldwin is the chief financial officer of XTO Energy.

Dont Look Twice didn’t have any earnings from the 2008 NCHA Futurity, but made up for it in a 2009 winning frenzy, finishing fourth in the Open Super Stakes for $70,119 and the Reserve Championship behind Third Cutting in the 2009 Open Derby for a $28,777 paycheck. They also won the Augusta Futurity, Bonanza, PCCHA Fall Sakes, West Texas Derby, El Rancho Derby and the AQHA World Show Junior Cutting. They also placed in several other events. In 2010, the pair won the Cattlemen’s Open Classic, was Reserve at the Augusta Classic and the Abilene Spectacular Open.

Third place went to Special Nu Kitty, a 6-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat out of Nu I Wood x Zack T Wood, owned by Julie Wrigley’s Wrigley Ranches LLC, Weatherford, Texas, ridden by R. L. Chartier III. The pair picked up a $33,980 paycheck for their 222 score. The amount raised the mare’s lifetime earnings to over $191,200. Her largest paycheck of $42,734 came from being a finalist in the 2007 NCHA Open Futurity, where she scored a record 227 in a go-round.

The John Deere Limited Open Classic title went to T. J. Good riding NQH Tom Cat for Wyoming’s Jackson Land & Cattle Co. – who recently purchased the Oxbow Ranch in Weatherford, Texas. The gelding by High Brow Cat out of Spooky Lucy by Grays Starlight, scored a 223.5, earning $5,188. Second went to Lil Dulce Lu, a daughter of Dulces Smart Lena out of Miss Haulin Hickory by SR Instant Choice, also owned by Carol Ward and ridden by Chris Johnsrud. The pair scored a 221 for a $4,436 check.

The night culminated 10 days of Open competition for the NCHA Super Stakes Open Derby for 4-year-olds and Classic/Challenge for 5/6-year-olds. The event started on March 26 and will finish up on April 16, following Non-Pro and Amateur competition. The regular schedule of having the Amateur and Non-Pro competition first was switched around this year with the results being cussed and discussed in the coming days and weeks.

The event features entries from coast to coast, with the most entries coming from Texas, with 920, followed by Oklahoma with 124, California with 72 and Louisiana with 65. It continues today with the first go-round of the Amateur Classic/Challenge. The finals of the Amateur Classic/Challenge will be held Thursday, April 8, while the finals of the Super Stakes Amateur will be Friday, April 9. The finals of the Super Stakes and Super Stakes Classic Non-Pro will be held Friday, April 16.
Click here for full results>>

SCOTT AMOS DOMINATES WSCHA LIMITED AGED EVENTS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
March 29, 2010 – Loveland, Colo.
Scott Amos (right) rode the WSCHA Classic Champion Smooth Calie Cat, owned by Kristin Omvig. At left is Nate Miller who took Reserve riding Smart Curly Brow, onwed by J. D. Morgan. Awards are being presented by Terry McClure.

Scott Amos rode three horses to close to $6,800 during the Western States Cutting Horse Association Limited Age Events held March 12-14 at “The Ranch” in Loveland, Colo. He also trained Mr Scottin Budha for Mat Turnbull, Hotchkiss, Colo.,who finished second in the Classic Non-Pro, taking home $1,672.97.

Scott Amos also won the WSCHA Derby riding PRF Reys Gingerpunch for Peter DeLeeuw, Tomball, Texas. Shown from left: Julie Williams, Amos, Terry McClure, Reserve Champion Paint Me A Pepto, Becca Francis and Ken Platt.

The Loma, Colo., trainer won the Classic Open riding Smooth Calie Cat, a 5-year-old daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of War Lena Calie by War Lena Bars, owned by Kristin Omvig, Billings, Mont., for $3,629 and finished fourth riding High Lightning, a 5-year-old son of High Brow Cat out of Lightning Lil Dulce by Smart Little Lena, for Turnbull, for an additional $821.40. Reserve in the class was Smart Curly Brown, owned by J. D. Morgan and shown by Nate Miller.

Amos also captured the Open Derby title riding PRF Reys Gingerpunch, a 4-year-old daughter of Dual Rey out of Sons Miss Sprat by Sons Rushette, for Peter DeLeeuw, Tomball, Texas, for an additional $2,329.52. Reserve went to Paint Me A Pepto, owned by the Painted Valley Ranch and ridden by Kenny Platt.

From left: Amos, Mat Turnbull, Reserve Champions of the Non-Pro Classic, Terry McClure presenting and Jerry Gregory, the Non-Pro Classic Champion.

The winner of the Non-Pro division was Jerry Gregory, Kimball, Neb., riding Smoothe Scootin Cat, a 6-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat out of Cash N Scooter by Cash Quixote Rio. The pair won $1,930.78.

Lloyd Cox more than likely attended the event for only one day - Saturday, March 13, as he swept the Open Derby that day, winning $3,406.59 of the $4,129.20 total purse. The only check he didn’t take home was the $722.61, which was for the third and fourth-place he split with Kenny Platt riding Paint Me A Pepto. He finished first on Smart Stingrey for John McClaren, second on SDP Alcapoon for Shane Plummer, split third on Heres Lookin At You for Kathleen More and fifth riding Stars Smart Baby for Randall Bass.

JANET WESTFALL COLLECTS $16,300 IN SOUTH POINT NON-PRO DERBY AND CLASSIC/CHALLENGE

JILL LONG WINS NON-PRO DERBY RIDING SPOOK SOMEBODY

By Glory Ann Kurtz
March 2, 2010 – Las Vegas, Nev.
The past few days have been an exciting time for Janet Westfall, Los Olivos, Calif. The wife of trainer Russ Westfall won the South Point Non-Pro Classic/Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 27, and finished second in the Non-Pro Derby, collecting $16,300. Then on Monday, March 1, Janet and Russ closed on their horse facility in Weatherford, Texas, selling the 28 acres to Lindy Burch.

NON-PRO & AMATEUR CLASSIC/CHALLENGE:
Janet Westfall, Los Olivos, Calif., rode Lil Dusty Lola to the championship of the South Point Non-Pro Classic/Challenge.
Photo by Midge Ames

With the aged events of the South Point Winter Show being held at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Feb. 23-27, Westfall captured the finals of the 5/6-Year-Old Classic/Challenge division riding Lil Dusty Lola, with a final’s score of 224. This was a full 10 points above her 214 score in the second go-round where the pair squeaked into the finals with the last qualifying score of 430. The leader going into the finals was David Booth, Acton, Calif., riding Crossing Red River, scoring a 435, while the first go-round was won by Teri Paradis, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, riding Lil Scoot N Peppy to a 219 score. The second go was won by Debbie Day riding Scootin With Style and a 220 score.

The 5-year-old red roan daughter of CD Royal (the Westfall’s stallion) out of the great mare Smart Like Dusty by Smart Little Lena, was bred by Carlos and Kathleen Fandino, Acton, Calif. Smart Like Dusty is a daughter of Smart Little Lena out of Lil Star Dusty by Grays Starlight with $175,952.62 in lifetime earnings.

Russ has trained for the Fandinos for over 20 years and they purchased the mare from them in August, after he had ridden her to close to $63,500 – including the Reserve Championship of the 2009 Mebane Ranch Festival Open Cutting Derby. After they purchased her, Janet rode her to a third in the El Rancho Non-Pro Cutting Derby and eighth in the PCCHA Fall Non-Pro Stakes. The mare now has lifetime earnings topping $72,400.

Canadian Teri Paradis rode Lil Scoot N Peppy to the Reserve Championship of the Non-Pro Classic Challenge. Teri is shown with her husband Jim.
Kurtz photo

Reserve in the Non-Pro Derby was Lil Scoot N Peppy, owned by Jim and Teri Paradis and ridden by Teri. The pair scored a 220 in the finals and picked up $8,750 after also winning the first go-round. The couple call Canada home; however, they spend the winters riding cutting horses in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Reserve title was especially special to Teri, 47, because she had major back surgery in 2008. Jim, an oil field mud supplier, also competes regularly in cutting completion.

Lil Scoot N Peppy is a 6-year-old daughter of Smart Lil Scoot out of Bonito Peppy by Peppy San Badger and following her reserve title has over $43,850 in lifetime earnings. Her largest paycheck of $5,263.24 came from the 007 Calgary Stampede Wrangler Open Cutting Futurity where she was a finalist. That same year she won the Canadian Supreme Non-Pro Cutting Futurity. During 2009, she was Reserve Champion of the NCHA Western Nationals $3,000 Novice Division besides placing in the finals of several major Canadian events.

David Booth, Acton, Calif., with his mother Liz. David left the South Point with close to $18,500, while Liz won the Amateur Non-Pro Classic/Challenge.
Kurtz Photo

The Classic/Challenge Non-Pro Gelding Finals and $250,000 Ltd. Rider championships went to 21-year-old David Booth riding Crossing Red River, a 6-year-old son of Hes A Peptospoonful out of Smarts Love County by Smart Little Lena, owned by his parents Roger and Liz Booth. Booth also finished third in the Non-Pro Finals, picking up a total of $10,636 after also finishing second in the go-rounds. Booth also finished third in the Non-Pro Derby riding Blu Rey, a son of Meradas Blue Sue out of Bingos Nurse by Dual Rey, plus they won the Derby Ltd. Rider and Gelding Finals, collecting an additional $7,832. Altogether, David left the South Point with close to $18,500.

David has been cutting for the past 7 years, while his mom and dad, Roger and Liz Booth, have been cutting since the early 1980’s. They got out of cutting, and then got back into it seven years ago – this time cutting as a family.
David is currently going to Junior College in Valencia, striving for a business degree. Roger and Liz own a grading and excavating company, working for several movie stars in Beverly Hills.
Click here for Classic Non-Pro results>>

The Amateur Non-Pro Classic/Challenge finals were won by David’s mother. Liz scored a 220 riding Smart Michealangelo, a 5-year-old son of Doc O Wena out of Smart Masterpiece by Smart Little Lena. The win gave him over $42,240 in lifetime earnings. His biggest paycheck of $8,509.50 came from a Co-Reserve Championship of the 2009 PCCHA Fall Stakes $200,000 Limited Non-Pro. The pair were also finalists in the 2009 NCHA Amateur Derby.

Susan Lucchesi, Florence, Mont., was Reserve Champion of the Amateur Non-Pro Classic/Challenge riding Sweet Jesus.
Kurtz photo

The Reserve Amateur title went to Susan Lucchesi, 35, Florence, Mont., riding Sweet Jesus, a 5-year-old daughter of Sweet Lil Pepto out of Genuine Jean by Genuine Peppy. The $1,600 paycheck gave the mare lifetime earnings of $5,840. Susan, who trains with Brian Anderson, the Reserve Champion of the Open Classic/Challenge, has been cutting for six years and is a healthcare consultant. She said her husband is not involved in cutting – or horses – his hobby is white-water kayaking.

Gina McDonald, Ketchum, Idaho won the Senior Classic/Challenge Amateur Finals riding Something Powerful to a $1,200 paycheck.
Click here for Classic Amateur resuilts>>

NON-PRO & AMATEUR DERBY:
Jill Long, Gardnerville, Nev., won the Non-Pro Derby riding Spook Somebody.
Photo by Midge Ames

Jill Long, Gardnerville, Nev., loves cutting last in the draw and she also loves Corriente cattle, which is a good thing because the second go-round of the 11-entry Non-Pro Derby, which determined a “pencil” (adding the first and second go-round together and paying the total of the two go-rounds) finals, featured all Corriente cattle – and Jill drew last.

“That’s what we use at home,” said Jill about the Corriente cattle following her win. “We love them but I was glad I drew last because sometimes the deeper you are in the draw in them, the more settled they get and it’s a better place to be. I’m used to being last. I’d rather be last than first any day - even if it isn’t Corrientes. It’s just a more comfortable place for me because the herd is more settled.

Jill rode Spook Somebody, nicknamed “Spook,” to a 217, winning the second go-round and the “pencil” finals. The pair picked up a total of $9,250 after earning $8,000 in the pencil finals, $750 for winning the second go-round and $500 for second in the first go-round which had been won by George Thiel, Minden, Nev., riding Gatos Bonita.

Jill and her husband of 11 years, trainer Tom Long, bought Spook, a gelding by Somebody Smart out of Smart Little Spook by Grays Starlight, from their good customer Rees and Nicole Freeman of the Grouse Butte Ranch LLC, Roseburg, Ore., last September.
“Tom came to me one day up in Oregon and said I made a deal with Rees and I bought that gelding (Spook Somebody) so you’d have something to show before you showed in Fort Worth (at the NCHA Futurity),” said Jill. “I said, ‘Oh OK’ but. I didn’t know I was getting another horse but he likes to have me mounted.”

Since then, the couple have both had success with Spook Somebody, with Tom finishing 10th in the 2009 South Point Open Cutting Futurity and Jill placing seventh in the PCCHA Non-Pro Fall Futurity. Jill won a total of $9,250 after placing second in the first go for $500 and winning the second go-round with a 217 for an additional $750. The pair won $8,000 for having the highest combined score of 431 following the two go-rounds.

Coming into the South Point show, the gelding had won around $12,000 according to Jill. The paycheck put the gelding at over $21,250 in lifetime earnings. She has been winning money on the gelding at the weekend shows in the small aged events but this is the first major aged event for the gelding. Plans are to enter him in the PCCHA Futurity if they can get a slot.

“He’s an honest horse with a cool personality,” said Jill. “He’s got an awesome stop – and he stops hard every time. But he’s not very big – in fact, he’s little. Actually I like big, broad-bodied horses but I fit this horse good. I normally don’t fit little horses but I think I fit him good because he stops hard.”

Jill Long and her husband trainer Tom Long.
Kurtz photo

Jill’s last big win was the 2007 PCCHA Non-Pro Derby riding their 7-year-old stallion Cats Gotta Diamond . “He’s been injured but we will start showing him again in March,” said Jill. He’s won about $150,000. He’s my baby – but they’re all my babies. They’re all out of Diamond J Starlight, our daughter of Grays Starlight, and we have a hard time selling them.

Jill, who is closing in on $490,000 in lifetime earnings, has almost earned enough to qualify for the Non-Pro the Hall of Fame. “I would sure like to make that this year; I’ve had that goal for the last three years, but every year, my horses get hurt, so I hope I get there. I’m very close.”

Jill emphasizes that it’s not an easy job to be a trainer’s wife. “We don’t get the good horses most of the time because we don’t have enough money to buy good horses. And you work all day; work hard and when it’s your turn to show, you’re worn out. It’s not easy, but I like doing what we do. I love being in the position I’m in.”

Janet Westfall, Los Olivos, Calif., with her husband trainer Russ Westfall.
Kurtz photo

The Reserve title and $7,300, which included a $500 check for second in the second go-round, went to Janet Westfall, Los Olivos, Calif., who also won the championship of the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge riding Lil Dusty Lola. This time she was riding Sunday Belles, a daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of the great mare Kadee Lena Belle by CD Olena.

Sunday Belles was bred by the Church Family Trust of Las Vegas, Nev., and sold to Jean (Candy) Jones, Lakeside, Calif., as a yearling. Her dam, Kadee Lena Belle, a daughter of CD Olena out of Hickorys Cash Lady by Doc’s Hickory, was ridden by Russ for close to $98,000 before being retired. The Westfalls purchased the mare from Candy, who was one of their customers, who decided to sell her because she couldn’t afford to send her to the shows once she was trained.

The Westfalls purchased Sunday Belles, a beautiful sorrel mare with a coon tail, a blaze on her face and four white socks, as a 3-year-old in August 2009,. Prior to the South Point show, Janet showed her in the NCHA Non-Pro Futurity at Fort Worth and was second in first go-round. The pair made it to the semifinals and was only a half point out of making the Finals on her. This is only the mare’s second show and will head to her next show with $12,300 in lifetime earnings.

“She fits me good and I like her. Russ trained her and I’m the only one who has ever ridden her.” She will be showing her in the 4-year-old events, including the PCCHA Derby next week. She is also entered in the NCHA Super Stakes.

The Westfalls will be closing on their Texas ranch on Monday, March 1, and will be moving back to their Los Olivos, Calif., ranch. NCHA Hall of Famer Lindy Burch has purchased the Westfall’s Texas ranch. It is rather ironic, as when Burch had her place for sale in Weatherford, the Westfalls were interested in buying it. However, when their California ranch didn’t sell, they decided to sell the Texas ranch and return to California. (See complete article in “Late Breaking News.)
Click here for Non-Pro Derby results>>

AMATEUR DERBY:
C H DeHaan, Scottsdale, Ariz., rode Red Feathers Merada to the championship of the Amateur Derby.
Photo by Midge Ames

Even though there were only five entries in the Amateur Derby, the quality of horses and riders was outstanding. Taking home the $1,684 first-place paycheck for a 218 score was C. H. DeHaan, 55, Scottsdale, Ariz., riding Red Feathers Merada, a daughter of Cats Red Feather out of Meradas Baby by Meradas Money Talks to a career-best 218. The win was a first in an aged event for both DeHaan and Red Feathers Merada.

Red Feathers Merada was bred and raised by Dale Stallkamp, Blue Earth, Minn., and purchased by DeHaan in January of her 3-year-old year. “What really attracted me to her in the first place was that she was sired by Cats Red Feather, and I really like him. He’s built real well – he’s sturdy – and as you can tell, I need something sturdy to carry me around. She’s very strong and can move me around pretty good.”

Nicknamed “Roxanne” by a loper, the mare was trained by Dell Bell, who at that time was training out of Al Dunning’s barn. DeHaan, a businessman involved mostly in healthcare-related businesses, was raised on a cattle ranch in the middle of Kansas, lives only 12 miles from Dunning.

“This is my third show that I rode her in,” said DeHaan. “I showed her last weekend a couple of days in the Derby at the South Point weekend show and we did good. Al showed her a couple of times also but he didn’t want to show her in the Open Derby because we didn’t want to overdo her since she was so young. He’ll show her some this year.

DeHaan got involved in riding cutting horses when he was real young but once he entered college, he quit. However, he started back in the horse business in the early 1990s when his daughter, Megan, was showing reining horses. “I enjoyed the reining because I could be with her,” said DeHaan. Then when Megan went to college in 2001, DeHaan sold all the reining horses and bought a crippled cutting horse.

“I enjoyed cutting so I went out to Al’s place. I had a reining saddle and I tried to have him let me ride with him. He said, ‘No I don’t think so – we have all the amateurs and non-pros that we need.’

“But I brought out my one-legged cutting horse and Al let me put the reining saddle on him. When we got through with that first lesson, I had clumps of hair all over . When we got through, he said, ‘OK, I’ll help you.’

“For an amateur, I’ve been a little bit successful and had a lot of fun. I have lots of buckles – but no trophy saddles. This has been my biggest win as a cutter – and hopefully it’s not my last.: Plans for DeHaan include going to Paso Robles and then probably Carol Ward’s El Rancho show.

Everyone seems to ask DeHaan what his real first name is. The truth is that his name on his birth certificate is “CH” DeHaan, He was named after his two grandfathers: Charles and Howard DeHaan. However, because of 9/11 he can’t have initials on his driver’s license so they made him put two full names on his driver’s license. His driver’s license says Charles Howard DeHaan, while his birth certificate says CH DeHaan.

Angel Pinuelas, Jr., of Scottsdale, Ariz., was the Reserve Champion in the Derby riding Right Of Rey.
Kurtz photo

Reserve Amateur was Angel Pinuelas, Jr., 54, also of Scottsdale, Ariz., earning $1,322 for a 215 he scored aboard Right Of Rey, a Dual Rey gelding out of Smart Little Rey by Smart Little Lena that he bred, raised and trained himself.

Pinuelas also has previously competed in the reining and reined cow horse events, although he prefers cutting. “I always liked the cow work the best,” said Pinuelas, and I just couldn’t compete successfully in the “down the fence” division.
Click here for Amateur Derby results>>

BONANZA CUTTING CHANGES DATES AND LOCATION; UP 15% IN ENTRIES

PHIL HANSON WINS OPEN FUTURITY RIDING LHR SMOOTH JANIE MAY OWNED BY SHERRY CHAMBERLAIN’S LAZY H RANCH

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Feb. 20, 2010 – Alvarado, Texas
Phil Hanson won the Bonanza Cutting 4-Year-Old Division riding Sherry Chamberlain's LHR Smooth Jamie May.

When the NCHA Finals moved from Amarillo, Texas, last year, the dates for the event opened up and Paul Crumpler’s Bonanza Cutting quickly moved into the dates and out of Abilene. The move was definitely a good one since the show’s entries were up 15 percent, showing increases in all divisions: Open, Non-Pro and Amateur in both the 4-Year-Old and 5/6-Year-Old competitions. However, according to competitors, with several problems, including no heat, the facilities left something to be desired. The show will more than likely not be held in the same facility next year.

However, Phil Hanson, riding for Sherry Chamberlain’s Lazy H Ranch, Weatherford, Texas, wasn’t complaining, as he rode LHR Smooth Jamie May to the championship of the 4-Year-Old Open Futurity and a $30,172.66 paycheck. The daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of Just Scarlet by Smart Lil Ricochet, was bred by Tommy Manion, Aubrey, Texas, and purchased by Chamberlain as a 2-year-old after she had been started by Scott Johnston, who trains out of the Slate River Ranch in Weatherford. However, Hanson and the mare didn’t have any luck during their first outing at the NCHA Open Futurity, not making it past the second go. However, this time the pair pulled off a win with a 219, earning the largest paycheck at the Bonanza Cutting held Feb. 12-20 in Alvarado, Texas.

The Reserve title and $23,818.13 for their 217 score went to TLC Cantinero, a gelding by Smart Little Lena out of Cats Barmaid Chick by High Brow Cat, owned by Rob and Carrie Tiemann, Pflugerville, Texas, and ridden by Ryon Emerton. The paycheck gave the gelding lifetime earnings of $41,688 and was the highest he had placed.

Spookys Smarty Rey and Gary Gonsalves captured the 5/6-Year-Old Open with the highest score of the entire event – a 227, earning $18,714.12. The 5-year-old gelding by Dual Rey out of Spookys Smarty Pants by Smart Aristocrat is owned by Tom Bailey’s Iron Rose Ranch, Carbondale, Colo. Altogether the gelding picked up over $22,000, including winning the gelding award and go-round money. The gelding currently has over $32,000 in lifetime earnings, including being a finalist at the Mebane Ranch Festival in the Open and Gelding divisions; the El Rancho Open Cutting Futurity and the PCCHA Fall Open Gelding Stakes.

The Reserve title went to Dont Look Twice, a 5-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat out of Tapt Twice by Dual Pep, owned by Waco Bend Ranch and ridden by Phil Rapp. The pair scored a 221.5, earning over $16,200. The pair won the 4-Year-Old Open at the 2009 Bonanza and now have over $328,000 in lifetime earnings, including championships of the 2009 West Texas Open Derby, El Rancho Open Derby, Augusta Open Futurity, Big Country Open Derby, PCCHA Fall Open Stakes and co-champion of the 2010 Augusta Open Challenge.

NON-PRO:
Chad Bushaw, a financial advisor from Weatherford, Texas, won the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro division riding Twisting Playdough, a daughter of Freckles Fancy Twist by Badgers Playdough by Playdox. The pair scored a 220.5 for close to a $14,000 paycheck. Previously the pair was semifinalists at the 2009 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity and finished fifth at the 2010 Abilene Cutting Non-Pro Derby. Bushaw bred and raised the mare, which currently has over $25,400 in lifetime earnings.

Bushaw also picked up close to $30,000 in the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro finishing third on Snow Rey, fourth on Meradas Crown and seventh on Reylena Moon.

The Reserve title was a three-way split with a 216 score between Smart Little Macho and Wes Smith, DeLeon, Texas; Toy Engine and Mary Ann Rapp, Weatherford, Texas, and Shes Twice As Smooth and Jennifer Foland, also from Weatherford.

Smart Little Macho, a son of Macho Little Lena out of Haidas Cibola by Haidas Little Pep, has no previous earnings; Toy Engine, a daughter of Playgun out of Cool The Engines by Smart Little Lena, had close to $62,000 coming into the Alvarado event and Shes Twice As Smooth, a daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of Dually Lil Pep by Dual Pep with over $32,835 in lifetime earnings coming into the Non-Pro division. Ridden by Tatum Rice, she was Reserve Champion of the Limited Open Division of the 2009 NCHA Futurity and a semifinalist in the Open Division. The pair also earned $1,825 for 10th place in the Open division at the Bonanza.

The 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro Champion was Sam Good, Mansfield, Texas, riding Lean On Rey, a 5-year-old son of Dual Rey out of Smartlittlelenastoy by Smart Little Lena, to a 223 and a close to $18,000 paycheck. The stallion currently has close to $85,000 in lifetime earnings, with his largest paycheck coming from a 9th-place tie in the 2009 NCHA Open Super Stakes. Ridden by Tag Rice, he was also a semifinalist in the 2008 NCHA Open Futurity and made numerous other Open and Non-Pro finals during 2009.

Reserve Champion with a 221 score was Julie Wrigley, Weatherford, Texas, riding Pretty Katz, a 5-year-old son of Pretty Boy Cat out of Aristo Katz by Smart Aristocrat. Wrigley picked up over $14,358 in the Non-Pro Division after her trainer R. L. Chartier finished in a fifth-0place tie in the Open Division, for $7,953. Pretty Katz now has over $228,000 in lifetime earnings, including a check for $22,251 for a fifth-place tie in the 2009 NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes.

AMATEUR:
Renee Lord, Granbury, Texas, won the $50,000 4-Year-Old Amateur riding Zanolenas Cat, a daughter of Cats Merada out of Zanolena Day by Smart Zanolena. Her over $3,500 paycheck upped the mare’s earnings to over $15,500, including a fifth-place in the 2009 West Texas Open Futurity and 10th in the Brazos Bash Open Futurity.

Reserve went to Kathleen Moore, Madill, Okla., riding Sarenadual, daughter of Dual Pep out of Sarenalena by Smart Little Lena. Their over $2,700 paycheck upped the mare’s lifetime earnings to over $13,000, including a third place in the Amateur Futurity at the 2010 Futurity at Tunica and a paycheck in the Bonanza Open division ridden by James Payne. The pair also placed in the 2009 NCHA Amateur Futurity.

Laura Landers, Weatherford, Texas, captured the championship of the 5/6-Year-Old Amateur riding Smooth An Boon, a 5-year-old gelding by Smooth As A Cat out of Lil Autumn Splendor by CD Olena. The geldings close to $3,700 paycheck upped his lifetime earnings close to $64,600 – all won in Non-Pro Competition - including his largest paycheck of $26,090 for the Reserve Champion of the Non-Pro Derby at the 2009 Breeders Invitational, ridden by her previous owner Kellie Earnheart. The pair also picked up $2,509 in the Non-Pro Sire/Dam Incentive at the Breeder’s Invitational.

Reserve Champion of the 5/6-Year-Old Amateur was Stephen Dees, Schulenberg, Texas, riding Hildas Pussy Cat, a 5-year-old daughter of That Sly Cat out of Hildas Toy by Squeak Toy. The pair picked up close to $3,100, the largest check of their career together. Previously they were finalists at the Brazos Bash Amateur Derby.

The show featured 505 total entries in the Open, Non-Pro and Amateur Divisions of the event, up 72 (15%) from 2009 when it was held at Abilene. The largest increase of 26 came in the Open 4-Year-Old and the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro.
For full results click here>>

SOUTH POINT SHOW OFFERS FREE ROOMS, FREE STALLS, FREE DINNERS AND FREE GAS AND GIFT CARDS

OPEN NCHA SHOW FEB. 19-22; AGED EVENTS FEB. 23-MARCH 3

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 28, 2010 – Las Vegas, Nev.
The South Point Winter Championship show, which includes four days of NCHA Open show events and nine days of aged-event classes, held Feb. 19-March 3, has been spiced up with freebies, including free rooms, stalls, dinner and gas and gift cards.

Originally the event advertised $126,000 in added money; however, with the added classes, the added money has jumped to $140,000. Also, show producer Paula Gaughan has announced that 1) ALL trainers who show at least three of the four days at the weekend show (Feb. 19-22) will get one free room for four nights; (2) ALL trainers who show in the aged event show will get one free room for nine nights and one free stall; 3) ANY trainer who shows all four days at the weekend show and shows in the aged event gets dinner for six at the Primarily Prime or Baja Miguels; 4) Plus there will be a bonus for a throw of the dice for all non-pros and amateurs at the aged event for free dinners at Primarily Prime, Silverado, Baja Miguels and Don Vitos restaurants – as well as gas and gift cards; 5) ALSO, the trainer from the farthest away at the aged event and the trainer with the most stalls at the weekend show AND the trainer with the most stalls at the aged event AND the trainer with the most open entries at the aged event also get the “Bonus throw.”

The weekend classes (Feb. 19-22) will included $750 added in seven classes for a $408 total fee. Classes include the Open, Non-Pro, $10,000 Novice, $15,000 Novice NP, $3,000 Novice, $5,000 Novice NP and the $50,000 Amateur. Five other jackpotted classes, with no added money, will be held, including the $2,000 Rider, $10,000 Amateur, $20,000 Non-Pro, Youth Scholarship and a $1,500 Novice horse.

Aged-event classes include a $30,000 added Open Derby and Classic/Challenge ($1,420 entry fee) , $25,000 added Non-Pro Derby and Classic/Challenge($1,320 added in each). Within the Derby will be a $10,000 Ltd. Class with $10,000 added (Entry fee $1,090). If an entry is already entered in the Open Derby, the fee is $600.

A $50,000 Amateur class will also be held in the Derby and Classic/Challenge with $3,000 in added money and a $590 entry fee. A 55-and-older Senior Classic will be held within the Classic/Challenge Amateur with a $370 entry fee. Gelding classes will be held winin all Open and Non-Pro divisions, with a $370 entry fee, as well as a $250,000 ltd. Non-Pro within all non-pro divisions, with $370 entry fee.

Also new will be Any-age Open Horse and Non-Pro classes with $1,000 added and a $535 entry fee and a Pro-Am with $6,000 added and a $970 entry fee.
For more information and entry blanks, click here>>

PAUL HANSMA RIDES REYMINATE TO ABILENE SPECTACULAR 4-YEAR-OLD OPEN TITLE; THIRD CUTTING AND BOYD RICE TOP 5/6-YEAR-OLD

DUAL REY SIRES TOP THREE IN OPEN 4-Y-O DIVISION

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 7, 2010
Paul Hansma rode Reyminate to the championship of the Abilene Spectacular 4-Year-Old Open division with a 226 score.

A whopping 226 score gave Paul Hansma and Reyminate the $25,000 championship paycheck of the 4-Year-Old Open Division of the Abilene Spectacular held Jan. 2-13 in Abilene, Texas. In fact, Dual Rey offspring took the top three spots in the division.Third Cutting, the 2008 NCHA Derby and Super Stakes Champion, ridden by Boyd Rice to a 227, won the Open 5/6-Year-Old division.

4-YEAR-OLD OPEN:
Hansma, the winner of the 1996 NCHA Open Futurity riding Playboy McCrae, rode Reyminate, a stallion sired by Dual Rey out of Amanda Stargun by Playgun, owned by Dub and Christy Leeth, Cleburne, Texas, won both go-rounds of the 124-entry 4-Year-Old Open competition prior to winning the finals. The pair had previously qualified for the semifinals of the 2009 NCHA Futurity.

Following close behind with a 225 was a Dual Rey daughte, Short Of Reymarkable, out of Shortish by Shorty Lena, owned by a new owner Roger Turner, Midland, Texas, and ridden by Dave Stewart. The pair won a $15,000 paycheck plus $2,875 for topping the $10,000 Novice Horse division. Stewart and the mare had qualified to the second go-round of the 2009 NCHA Open Futurity.

Third was Matt Gaines riding Special Nu Baby, a daughter of Dual Rey out of Nu I Wood by Zack T Wood, for Gary and Shannon Barker, Madill, Okla, winning $8,500. The pair had been finalists in the 2009 NCHA Open Futurity, winning $61,510 in Fort Worth.

T. J. Good, riding Trick Pepto, a daughter of Peptoboonsmal out of Tricka Lena by Poco San Lena, owned by Jackson Land & Cattle, Jackson, Wyo., won the 4-Year-Old Limited, scoring 437.5 following two go-rounds of competition and taking home a $1,500 paycheck. Reserve went to Casey T. Carson, riding Swingins Lucky Mate, a gelding by Smart Mate out of Sweet Swingin Melody by Peppy Boy 895, for Dan Churchill, Moline, Ill, winning $1,000.

A total of $61,000 was paid out in Stallion Incentive paychecks, with the first-place check of $12,250 going to Lindy Burch of the Oxbow Ranch, Weatherford, Texas, for Way Better Bet by Bet On Me 498. Second and a 10,250 check went to Toy Engine, owned by Phil and Mary Ann Rapp, Weatherford, Texas, ridden by Phil.

5/6-YEAR-OLD OPEN:
Boyd Rice and Third Cutting topped the 5/6-Year-Old Open division at the Abilene Spectacular.

Third Cutting, a stallion sired by Boonlight Dancer out of Crab Grass by Smart Little Lena, owned by Carl and Shawnea Smith, Jacksboro, Texas, took home a $12,000 paycheck for their win of the 91-entry 5/6-Year-Old Open. The pair had previously won over $307,000, tying for eighth in the 2008 NCHA Futurity, then won the NCHA Super STakes and Derby. They tied for fifth in last year's Abilene Spectacular 4-Year-Old Division.

The Reserve title went to Playin N Fancy Smart, a 6-year-old daughter of Smart Little Lena out of Playin N Fancy Peppy by Freckles Playboy, with over $270,000 in lifetime earnings, and owned by the Slate River Ranch, Weatherford, Texas, was ridden by Kory Pounds to a 222.5. The pair collected an $8,500 paycheck. Third, scoring a 221.5 for a $7,500 check was Dont Look Twice, onwed by the Waco Bend Ranch, Fort Worth, Texas, ridden by Phil Rapp.

The Limited Open was won by J. D. Roberts who rode Tequiero CD, a daughter of CD Olena out of Tequiero Peppy by Peppy San Badger, owned by Stanley and Taryn Morris, Abilene, Texas, to a 432.5 in the two go-rounds. The pair collected $1,750.

The event continues today with the first go-round of the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro. All the finals for the Amateur and Non-Pro will be held Monday, Jan. 11. The show was shortened from its original schedule of completing on Wednesday, Jan. 13 as entries were down substantially from last year when there were 211 (compared to this year's 124) in the 4-year-old Open and 139 (compared to this year's 91) in the 5/6-Year-Old Open.
Click here for schedule, draws and results>>

HANSMA RIDES REYMINATE TO 4YO OPEN LEAD AT ABILENE SPECTACULAR

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 4, 2010
Paul Hansma, Weatherford, won the first go-round of the 4-Year-Old Open following the first day of the Abilene Spectacular. Hansma is riding Reyminate, owned by Dub and Christy Leeth.

After the first two days of competition at the Abilene Spectacular, held Jan. 2-3 in Abilene, Texas, Paul Hansma holds the lead in the 124-entry 4-Year-Old Open riding Reyminate, a stallion sired by Dual Rey out of Amanda Stargun by Playgun, owned by Dub and Christy Leeth, Cleburne, Texas. The pair, who sent to the semifinals in the 2009 NCHA Futurity, scored a 221.

Following close behind with a 220 is Wesley Galyean riding Rascal Cats, a son of High Brow Cat out of Keena Pep by Dual Pep, for Billy Martin, Millsap, Texas. The pair also made the semifinals of the 2009 Futurity. Third, scoring a 219, was a tie between Trick Pepto, a daughter of Peptoboonsmal out of Tricka Lena by Poco San Lena, owned by Jackson Land & Cattle, Jackson, Wyo., ridden by T. J. Good; Pretty Fletch, a son of Pretty Boy Fletch out of Abigail Fletch by Jae Bar Fletch, owned by Jack and Susan Waggoner, Bridgeport, Texas, ridden by Clint Allen, and Smart Moria Boon, a stallion by Peptoboonsmal out of Smart Moria by Smart Little Lena, owned by Ralph Gray, Argyle, Texas, ridden by Clint Allen..

With 124 entries, the Open 4-Year-Old division guarantees $25,000 to the Champion. The event continues today with the first group of the 91-entry 5/6-Year-Old Open. The second go-rounds will take place Tuesday through Thursday, with the finals being held Friday, Jan. 8.