NCHA News

David Taurel and Robert Masterson. Hart Photography.

David Taurel of Whitesboro, Texas, and Robert Masterson of Guthrie, Texas, split the win in the NCHA Futurity Amateur finals Tuesday evening in Fort Worth, Texas. Taurel, riding Playboy Is Smooth, and Masterson on Little Guy Cat, both marked 215 to share the championship.

Bella Anderson.

Bella Anderson of Weatherford, Texas, posted the top semi-finals score of 217, and placed third in the finals with a 212.5 on Bobby Jack Cat.

It was the first major win for Taurel, 58. He finished third in the NCHA Amateur Derby in 2016 on Gin Is So Smooth, and was a finalist in that event this year on Little Jewels Olena. He was reserve champion at the Brazos Bash this fall on Little Jewels Olena, and has been a 2017 finalist at the NCHA Super Stakes Classic, West Texas, and Arbuckle Mountain.

Playboy Is Smooth was bred by Triple S Quarter Horses by Smooth As A Cat out of Mary Has Freckles, a Freckles Playboy mare that was an NCHA Derby Open finalist with Eddie Flynn, and has produced earners of $47,000.

Robert Masterson, 48, was a finalist in the 2009 NCHA Amateur Futurity on Ms Tail Feather. He won the 2009 Amateur at the Abilene Spectacular on Classy Mecom, and took that mare on to the Limited Non-Pro finals of the NCHA Classic Challenge and the Amateur finals of the NCHA Super Stakes Classic.

Little Guy Cat was bred by Bill Masterson by Cats Merada out of Miss Biscalena, a multiple limited age finalist under Carlos Banuelos in Open competition, and Bill Masterson in restricted classes. Miss Biscalena has produced earners of $90,000, including Great Expectations, the Third Cutting mare that Nadine Payne rode to win the 2014 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity.

In third place, Bella Anderson rode Bobby Jack Cat, a gelding bred by Anderson Cattle Co. by Cats Quixote Jack out of Shestoostylish, a Dual Rey mare that earned $44,000.

Thirteen of the Amateur finalists have also qualified for Wednesday’s Unlimited Amateur semi-finals. They are:

• Robert Masterson on Little Guy Cat
• Bella Anderson on Bobby Jack Cat
• Karen Murray on Suen To Be Brilliant
• Tom Williams on Sofies Cat
• Eddie Young  on Smooth Duallin Cat
• Tyler Troop on A Fancy Blu Boon
• Ladene Sanderson on MK Hals Smooth Girl
• Jim Short  on Call Me What U Want
• Will Bushaw on Wood You Rather
• Bo Buckley on This Chic Be Tuff
• Alberto Rodriguez on Mo Metallic
• Duce Barlow  on Reyzer
• Viki Williamson on Metallic Princess

In addition, Bella Anderson has qualified for Thursday’s Non-Pro semi-finals on Martina Jack.