NCHA News

Dustin Adams on Hot Sriracha. Hart Photography

Friday, November 23
Dustin Adams, Springtown, Tex., with 219 points, topped Friday, the first day of Non-Pro/Non-Pro Limited first go-round, in the 2018 North Texas Chevy Dealers NCHA Futurity, presented by Great American Insurance. Chad Bushaw and Kelsey Johnson, from Weatherford, Tex., tied with 218 points. All three riders are entered in the Non-Pro division.

Adams, the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of $3,860,889, was aboard Hot Sriracha, a Hottish daughter out of Catsa Dreamin ($51,481), producer of six NCHA earners of $121,391. Catsa Dreamin is a full sister to Cats In Ya Dreams ($268,895), by High Brow Cat.

In 2005, Adams was reserve champion of the NCHA Futurity Non-Pro riding The Doctress Orders. He also showed the Dual Rey daughter to win the 2010 Breeders Invitational. The Doctress Orders’s daughter, The Cat Doctress, by High Brow Cat, qualified earlier this week for the NCHA Futurity Open Semi-Finals, under Geoffrey Sheehan for Beechfork Ranch.

Chad Bushaw, the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of $3,431,714, won last year’s NCHA Futurity Non-Pro with 225 points riding Bittersweet, who also carried him to win this year’s NCHA Super Stakes and Breeders Invitational Non-Pro championships. Bushaw also won the NCHA Futurity in 2001 with Jerryoes, by Smart Little Jerry.

This year, Bushaw is riding Wood You If, a Woody Be Tuff daughter, who is half-sister to CR Smart Boots ($222,684), by Boon Too Suen. Her second dam, Smart Letha, has produced earners of $840,942, including Thomas E Hughes, an earner of $393,045 and a sire of money earners.

Kelsey Johnson, an NCHA Hall of Fame earner of $642,275, showed Smart Cat Rey RG, by Dual Smart Rey, to tie with Bushaw, and she was also among the top riders of the day with 214 points on Metallic Diva, by Metallic Cat. Smart Cat Rey RG is out the High Brow Cat daughter Smart Moria Cat, producer of earners of $268,006, and a full sister to Smart Kitty RB ($211,383), reserve champion of the 2008 NCHA Futurity Open with Lee Francois.

In Friday’s Non-Pro Limited divison, Lance Cooper, Weatherford, Tex., posted the high score of 217 points riding Babygoterboonjeanson, a full sister, by Boon Too Suen, to Suen You Will See ($163,778), a 2014 NCHA Futurity Open finalist under Lance’s father, Michael Cooper.

Lance Cooper was co-champion of last year’s NCHA Futurity Non-Pro Limited championship with Zen And Tonic ($130,455), a High Brow CD daughter who has carried him to win 11 limited age event championships.

Richard Rothwell, Abilene, Tex., marked 216 points, Friday’s second-highest Non-Pro Limited score, on Cats Playboy Bunny, by High Brow Cat. Rothwell earned his first check in limited age competition as a 1993 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro finalist on Pasta Playboy. This year, showing Metallic Baby Doll, by Metallic Cat, Rothwell has returned to cutting competition and was an Amateur finalist in the Bonanza Classic, as well as an Amateur Unlimited finalist in the Arbuckle Mountain Classic.

Non-Pro first go-round competition continues through Monday, November 26.