NCHA News

Eddie Flynn and Play Miss Boonsmal marked 225 Saturday to take the lead 
in the first round of the Super Stakes Classic. Hart Photography.

Play Miss Boonsmal, ridden by Eddie Flynn, scored 225 points on Saturday to top two days and 186 entrants in the first go-round of the NCHA Super Stakes Classic Open, where horses with scores of 213 points or more (141 horses) will advance to Sunday’s second go-round.

CR Gotcha Covered, shown on Saturday by Tarin Rice, and What Daddy Don Know under Morgan Cromer on Friday, scored 220.5 points to tie with the second-highest score. The third-highest score of 220 points was claimed by five horses, all shown on Saturday: One Stylish Doll with Chris Hanson; Cutting Commander with Tag Rice; Starlight Prowler with T.J. Good; Ripping Ichi with Michael Cooper; and Stevie Rey Von bred, owned and shown by Ed Dufurrena.

Owned by Danny Jones, Ponoka, AB, Canada, Play Miss Boonsmal LTE $51,172 has been an open finalist with Flynn in six major events, including third-place in the 2017 Bonanza 5/6 Classic. The 5-year-old Peptoboonsmal daughter has also carried Jones as an amateur unlimited finalist in five limited age events.

Bred by Slate River Ranch, Play Miss Boonsmal is a half-sister to Rissy Cat, who scored 219 points on Friday under Bill Riddle to qualify for the second go-round. Play Miss Boonsmal and Rissy Cat are out of Play Miss LTE $180,165, shown during her career by John Mitchell and Slate River Ranch owner, Glade Knight. Mitchell also qualified for the second go-round with 219 points aboard CR Tuff Lucy, 217.5 points on MK Cats Kitty, and 214.5 points on TOF Smooth Operator, all owned by Glade Knight.

Eddie Flynn is an NCHA Hall of Fame Rider and the earner of $2,556,553. He won the NCHA Derby in 2000 and 2006 riding BR Instant Replay and Stylish Baby Doll, respectively, as well as the 2005 and 2006 NCHA Classic Challenge on Horse of the Year Boon San Kitty.

CR Gotcha Covered LTE $111,077, sired by Dualin Boon and owned by Joel and Jayne Colgrove, Boligee, Ala., made his debut under Tarin Rice as a 2015 NCHA Futurity finalist. Since then he has placed in eight other major events with Rice in the saddle.

Tarin Rice, winner of the 2012 NCHA Futurity aboard He Bea Cat, is an NCHA Hall of Fame Rider and earner of $1.7 million.

Of the five second go-round qualifiers with scores of 220 points, 5-year-old Metallic Cat son Stevie Rey Von LTE $329,388, winner of the 2015 NCHA Open Futurity, is the most accomplished. While 5-year-old  Ripping Ichi, sired by Cat Ichi and owned by Reata Cutting Horses, Los Olivos, Calif., is the earner of $75,719; 5-year-old Cutting Commander, sired by Third Cutting and owned by Vick Etheridge, Corinth, Miss., has earned $61,587; 5-year-old Starlight Prowler, sired by Dual Rey and owned by Bitterroot Ranch, Las Vegas, Nev., is the earner of $60,723; and 6-year-old One Stylish Doll, sired by One Time Pepto and owned by Bill Willis, New Bern, N.C., has earned $12,196.