Miss Blu Boon LTE $48,123, by Once In A Blu Boon, placed third with Moore in the NCHA Non-Pro Derby, and earned her biggest single payout as third-place finalist in the Abilene Spectacular, under Lloyd Cox.

Cassie Cerny, Brazoria, Tex., was the West Texas Non-Pro Derby reserve champion with 219 points aboard Rose E LTE $40,709, by Thomas E Hughes. Cerny is a Senior Youth competitor and NCHA earner of $37,443, almost all of it won on Rose E, who was bred by Clay and Jodie Cerny. Cassie and Rose E won the NCHA Derby Non-Pro Limited, claimed reserve in the NCHA Derby Non-Pro Intermediate, and placed tenth in the Derby Non-Pro finals. They also won the Non-Pro Derby Limited and were Non-Pro and Non-Pro Limited finalists at the Non-Pro Plus in Amarillo.

Cody Hedlund, Lipan, Tex., and Brad Wilson, Lone Grove, Okla., tied for third with 218.5 points. Cody Hedlund, the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of $1,061,070, won last year’s West Texas Non-Pro Derby riding Wood Ya Teles LTE $51,900. He also won the 2015 West Texas 5/6 Non-Pro Classic on Meteles Cat LTE $433,565. This year, Hedlund was riding Luv The Way U Lie LTE $21,144, by Once In A Blu Boon, who he bred out of Teles Bout This Cat $230,047, a three-quarter sister to Meteles Cat.
In addition to earning $6,500 for third place in the West Texas Derby Non-Pro finals, Brad Wilson, the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of $637,308, also won the Non-Pro Gelding and the Non-Pro Intermediate divisions. His horse, Sumkinda Kitkat LTE $44,160, by Kit Kat Sugar, has also carried him as a Non-Pro finalist in the NCHA Derby, the Cattlemen’s Derby, the Arbuckle Mountain Derby and the Non-Pro Plus.

Von Sutten wins Amateur championship


Von Sutten, Weatherford, Tex., scored 219.5 points aboard Maggies Kit Kat LTE $6,169, by Kit Kat Sugar, for the Amateur championship, worth $5,700. Sutten, the NCHA earner of $594,213, won last year’s West Texas 5/6 Amateur Classic riding Superey LTE $93,369, by Dual Rey, a full brother to Lil Rattler LTE $338,873 and Button Down Supercat LTE $285,048, among the earners of more than $1.4 million out of Highbrow Supercat LTE $364,690.

John Brengard, Paragould, Ark., earned the Amateur reserve title with 218.5 points on How Sweet Rey Is LTE $12,502, who Daniel Sanchez showed as reserve champion of the 2020 NCHA Derby Open Limited, and to place second in the West Texas Open Limited.  The Dual Smart Rey gelding also carried Brengard, the 2015 NCHA Amateur Rider of the Year and earner of $224,850,in the West Texas Amateur Intermediate finals.
Brengard also showed Metallic Huntress LTE $13,885, by Metallic Cat, in the 2020 West Texas Amateur and the Amateur Intermediate finals. Metallic Huntress is a three-quarter sister to Smooth As A Huntress LTE $90,227, who Brengard showed to win three Amateur limited age championships.

Amy Roberts, Canyon, Tex., the NCHA earner of $153,762, scored 216.5 points to place third on Lotta Skeet LTE $20,618, by Kit Kat Sugar. In addition, Roberts won the Amateur Derby Senior division. Earlier this year, Roberts and her gelding also won the Ike Hamilton Derby Amateur Intermediate and placed in the NCHA Derby Amateur Intermediate.

Colton Cogdell carries 5/6 Amateur with 222


Showing homegrown Almost Metallic LTE $36,707, by Metallic Cat, Colton Cogdell, Tulia, Tex., scored 222 to win the Amateur championship. Cogdell and his gelding, third-placed in the 2019 West Texas Derby Non-Pro Limited, also placed in the finals of the 2020 Amateur Intermediate.
Cogdell’s first success at the West Texas Futurity was in 2016, when he placed fourth in the Amateur Unlimited Derby on Dont Sweat My Swag LTE $29,172, by Metallic Cat, who Cogdell also showed to place fourth in the 2017 5/6 Amateur Unlimited. Both Don’t Sweat My Swag and Almost Metallic are from the maternal line of Lynx Melody, the 1978 NCHA Futurity Champion owned by Colton’s grandfather, Billy Cogdell.

Jose Sigala, Weatherford, Tex., the NCHA earner of $124,695, scored 218 points as reserve champion of the 5/6 Amateur riding Merlott LTE $27,558. Sigala had also shown the Dual Rey son in the 2020 NCHA Classic Challenge Amateur finals, as well as the colt’s three-quarter brother, Bordeauxx, by Bet Hesa Cat as a finalist in the 2019 West Texas Futurity 5/6 Amateur Intermediate.

This year, Isisdro Sigala, Jose’s son, showed Bordeauxx to place third with 218 points in the 5/6 Amateur finals. Isidro Sigala, the NCHA earner of $334,889, also tied for seventh with 212 points on See Ya At Cadillacs LTE $52,424, by Sigala Rey, a full brother to Merlott. See Ya At Cadillacs also carried Isidro to place third in the both the 2018 NCHA Super Stakes Amateur Unlimited and the 2018 NCHA Derby Amateur Unlimited.
In 2011, Isidro Sigala won the West Texas 5/6 Classic Non-Pro and Non-Pro Limited riding Sofie Rey LTE LTE $148,557, by Dual Rey. Sophie Rey is the dam of Sanctus LTE $110,361, bred by Isidro and sired by High Brow Cat, and winner of five major 2020 events, including the West Texas Open Derby, under Rodrigo Tabago for owner Scott Durham.

West Texas Summer Time Fun for Kathleen Moore
Aug 14 - Summer Time Fun delivered on her name Thursday, August 13, in the West Texas Futurity 5/6 Non-Pro Classic. First to the herd in the 15-horse finals, Summer Time Fun by Metallic Cat, delivered a 225-point winning score for Kathleen Moore, Madill, Okla. Chad Bushaw, Weatherford, Texas., scored 221 points aboard Bittersweet, by Metallic Cat, to claim reserve, while Nadine Payne, Overbrook, Okla., placed third with 220.5 points riding Blu Velvet, by Once In A Blue Boon.

The top three finalists earned $7,500, $7,000, and $6,500, respectively, for their placings, from a total purse of $55,726; Kathleen Moore also earned $2,000 for thirteenth place on Stylish Hailee, by Halreycious.
Kathleen Moore, the NCHA earner of $640,301, showed 5-year-old Summer Time Fun earlier this year to place third in the Cattlemen’s 5/6 Non-Pro Classic. And last year, she was third in the West Texas Derby riding Khaleesi Kat LTE $87,950, by Bet Hesa Cat, as well as fifth in the 5/6 Classic aboard The Golden Shot LTE $106,143, by WR This Cats Smart.
Summer Time Fun LTE $110,824, owned and bred by Ty Moore, Kathleen’s nephew, is a full sister to Let Georgie Do It LTE $145,723, out of Hey Georgy Girl LTE $130,829, by Wild Thing DNA.
Chad Bushaw, the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of over $3.6 million, rode Bittersweet LTE $183,537 to win the 2017 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity, as well as the 2018 NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes and the 2018 Breeders Invitational. Bittersweet, the 2018 NCHA Non-Pro Horse of the Year, also carried Bushaw’s son, Charles Russell, to win the 2018 West Texas Derby Amateur championship.
Nadine Payne, the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of $659,668, won the 2019 NCHA Non-Pro Derby on Blue Velvet, who she bred out of Velvets Best Shot LTE $53,156, also the dam of Velvets Revolver $277,382 and The Golden Shot LTE $106,143. Payne also won the 2018 West Texas 3-Year-Old Futurity on Desires A Gun LTE $45,762, by Boon Too Suen.

Double Zee doubles down with West Texas Futurity win

Aug 13 - Double Zee, bred and owned by Kevin and Sydney Knight, Weatherford, Tex., and shown by Tatum Rice, scored 221 points on Wednesday to win the West Texas 3-Year-Old Open Futurity. Side Chic, owned by Pat and Lisa Taylor, Pilot Point, Tex., scored 220 points under Lloyd Cox for the reserve championship. First and second-place payouts from the 15-horse finals were worth $15,000 and $13,000, respectively, from a purse of $88,316.

Double Zee, a gelding by first-year sire Reyzin The Cash, is a three-quarter  brother to 2018 NCHA Futurity Open champion and 2019 NCHA Horse of the Year Crey Zee LTE $339,712 and half-brother to 4-year-old Jae Zee LTE $57,361, the first money earners out of Eazee E LTE $211,145. Eazee E, 2017 NCHA Open Reserve World Champion, as well as Crey Zee, Jae Zee, and Double Zee, were all trained and shown by Tatum Rice, the NCHA Hall of Fame earner of $2,480,691.
Side Chic, owned by Pat and Lisa Taylor, Pilot Point, Tex., and sired by Smooth As A Cat, was bred by Holmes & Hill, Glen Rose, Tex. She is out of Cat Mom Do LTE $199,423, a half-sister by High Brow Cat, to Moms Stylish Player LTE $413,087, among  11 money earners of over $1.3 million out of Moms Stylish Babe LTE $413,087.
Hughes Got My Candy, shown by Travis Stewart for Alan and Tandy Steen, Georgetown, Tex., scored 225 points to win the West Texas Futurity 3-Year-Old Open Limited, while Reyzin Grace earned reserve with 222 points under Austin Johnson, for Brad Rogers, Madill, Okla.
 Hughes Got My Candy, by Thomas E Hughes, was bred by Kelly Schaar, Goliad, Tex., and is the fifth NCHA money earner out of Peptocandy LTE $151,386, reserve champion of the 2005 NCHA Open Futurity with Ronnie Rice.
Reyzin Grace, by Reyzin The Cash, was bred by Eddie and Barbara Young, San Angelo, Tex., and is the first foal out of Cajun Grace LTE $52,856, by High Brow CD. She is also the third 3-year-old by first-crop sire Reyzin The Cash to shine in the West Texas Futurity. In addition to Open Futurity champion Double Zee and Open Limited reserve champion Reyzin Grace, Reyzin The Cash is also sire of fifth-placed Open Futurity finalist Spreadin The Cash, shown by Adan Banuelos for breeder and owner Iron Rose Ranch, Carbondale, Colo.

Badboonarising and Adan Banuelos marked a 228 to win the 5/6 Open
Aug 12 - Five-year-old Badboonarising LTE $303,079, sired by Once In A Blu Boon, scored 228 points under Adan Banuelos, for Plantation Farms, Denham Springs, La., to win the West Texas 5/6 Open Classic on Tuesday, August 11, in Amarillo. His 6-year-old half-brother, Rollz Royce LTE $302,496, by Dual Smart Rey, was shown by Beau Galyean, for Thomas, Guinn, Philadelphia, to claim reserve with 225 points. Both stallions are ranked among leading 5/6 money earners and  were bred by Royce Stallcup, Seymour, Tex., out of the High Brow Cat daughter Show Biz Kitty, dam of 4 NCHA money earners of $881,959.

Hott Nu Cowboy LTE $132,896, ridden by Cullen Chartier for Circle R Cutting Horses, Oclala, Fla., scored 223 points to place third. The 6-year-old Hottish-sired gelding was bred by Wrigley Ranches, Weatherford, Tex., out of the High Brow Cat daughter Special Nu Kitty LTE $301,268, dam of 7 NCHA earners of $491,951.
Beau Galyean also placed fourth in the 16-horse finals with 222.5 points aboard Warlock LTE $108,763, owned and bred by Fults Ranch, Amarillo, Tex. Sired by Metallic Cat, 5-year-old gelding Warlock, is a full brother to Metallic Rebel LTE $411,837, the 2017 NCHA Open Horse of the Year. Sweet Abra, dam of Metallic Rebel and Warlock, is a leading producer of the earners of over $1.6 million.
Adan Banuelos showed three other 5/6 Classic finalists, in addition to champion Badboonarising. He scored 222 points on 6-year-old Reystylin Smooth LTE $231,668, by Smooth As A Cat, to place fifth for Ten/27 Ranch, Denham Springs, La. He also scored 218 points on 6-year-old Metallic Mania LTE $37,407, by Metallic Cat, to split 7/8 for SMF Cutting Horses, Aspen, Colo., and 11/14 with 214 points aboard Catillac Reys LTE $224,826, by Metallic Cat, for Ten/27 Ranch.
The West Texas Futurity continues through Sunday, August 16. For live website and scores, as well as work orders and results go to www.westtexasfuturity.com.

Sanctus claims fifth 2020 championship win winning big at the West Texas Open Derby with a 228
Aug 11 - After winning the NCHA Derby last month, Sanctus took the West Texas Derby on Monday. Seth Petit photo.
When Sanctus wins, he wins big. And the West Texas Open Derby, on August 10 in Amarillo, Tex., was no exception. Shown by Rodrigo Taboga, for Scott Durham, Fort Worth, Tex., Sanctus gave a 228-point performance that topped the 226 points he scored in each of three previous championship wins. The West Texas Derby win also represents his fifth this year and makes him a six-figure earner, as well as the leading 2020 earner. Including his $10,000 West Texas Open winner’s share, as well as $6,500 as reserve champion of the Open Intermediate, Sanctus is the current earner of $110,361.

Sired by High Brow Cat and bred by Isidro Sigala, Weatherford, Tex., Sanctus is a full brother to Sofies Choice Cat LTE $59,735, out of Sofie Rey LTE $148,557.
Twice In Santiago, with Adan Banuelos for Double Dove Ranch, Fort Worth, scored 223 points for the West Texas Derby reserve championship. The Once In A Blu Boon daughter was also reserve champion to winner Sanctus in the NCHA Derby, as well as in the Cattlemen’s Derby, and was reserve champion to Metallic Rey Mink in the 2019 NCHA Futurity.
Bred by Double Dove Ranch, Twice In Santiago LTE $240,337 (including $9,000 from the West Texas Derby) is the top money earner among cutting horse foals of 2016. Her dam, Twice As Reycy LTE $194,141, by Dual Rey, has produced seven NCHA earners of $966,323, including Pedel To The Metall LTE $263,494 and Reycy Moon LTE $209,363.
Kat Play scored 222.5 points under Hayden Upton to place third and earn $8,400, in the West Texas Open Derby. The pair also won the Open Gelding Finals with 222.5 points, and placed third in the Open Intermediate Finals with 222 points. Sired by Kit Kat Sugar, Kat Play came to Amarillo with $9,534 earned primarily by Upton and owner Hal Harvey Keene, Weatherford, Tex., in the NCHA Derby, and earned a total of $16,005 for his West Texas Derby Open performances.

To read more from Sally Harrison, visit her blog at sallyharrison.com.

By NCHA Press Release