NCHA News

Little Jackson Cat, ridden by Mike Wood. Hart Photography.

Wednesday, November 28
Little Jackson Cat, shown by NCHA Hall of Fame Rider Mike Wood for Dawn Chapman of Chandler, Ariz., marked 223 to lead the first round of the $25,000 Novice at the Mercuria NCHA World Finals Wednesday. Pretty Smart Cat, ridden by Timothy Stryker for Bower Trading, Inc., was second in the go-round with a 221.

Three other classes, the $35,000 Non-Pro, $5,000 Novice Non-Pro and $2,000 Limit Rider, also had their first rounds Wednesday in Fort Worth’s Watt Arena. The second round and a pencil finals will be determined Thursday to sort out the show champions and the year-end World Championships.

Little Jackson Cat is a 2010 mare bred by the Estate of Kenneth Jackson by High Brow Cat out of Rey To Play, by Dual Rey. She has earned more than $202,000, including a Limited Open reserve championship with Grant Simon at the 2013 NCHA Futurity. Last year she won the Mercuria World Finals in the $25,000 Novice, ridden by Les Bates.

She earned $51,529 during the regular point year, bringing an unbeatable lead of more than $16,600 to the World Finals.

Brian Pearse on Reys Hot Wheels. Hart Photography.

In the first round of the $35,000 Non-Pro, Brian Pearse of Sturgeon County, Alberta, marked 222 on Reys Hot Wheels for a six-point lead over Melissa Corcoran on Smart Freckled Cat.

Two years ago, Pearse was second in the World Finals and Reserve World Champion in the $2,000 Limited Rider division riding Reyd. He went on to win the $35,000 Non-Pro World Championship last year with Reyd. This year, he finished the regular point year in fourth place in the standings on Reyd and Reys Hot Wheels. His first-round win moves him up a notch in to third place in the standings.

Reys Hot Wheels is a 12-year-old gelding bred by Brinkman Ranch by Dual Rey out of Smart Little Beauty. He’s earned more than $190,000 to date. Owner Colleen Pearse rode him to win the $50,000 Amateur championship at last year’s NCHA Scottsdale Nationals.

Melissa Corcoran, of Alamo, Calif., clinched the World Championship with her second-place finish in the first round on Smart Freckled Cat, a son of Widows Freckles.

Deborah Harrison on Sophisticated Rey. Hart Photography.

Deborah Harrison of Leduc County, Alberta, led the first day of the $5,000 Novice Non-Pro with a 223 on Sophisticated Rey. Caitlin Patty of Lindale, Texas and One Time At Bandcamp posted a 220 for the day’s second top score.

Harrison, an NCHA earner of $51,000, was previously a finalist with Sophisticated Rey in the Pacific Coast Derby Amateur Classic, Calgary Stampede Non-Pro Classic and the Canadian Supreme.

Sophisticated Rey was bred by Equistar Enterprises by Sophisticated Catt out of Dolly Rey, by Reys Dual Badger. The 7-year-old mare has earned more than $55,000. Harrison and Sophisticated Rey will finish out the year as Reserve World Champions.

The World Championship will go to overwhelming leader Michelle LeMaster of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Mootalic Cat, with a lead of nearly $24,000. Mootalic Cat is a 7-year-old mare bred by Gary and Jessica Gonsalves by Metallic Cat out of Etta Rey.

It will be LeMaster’s fourth NCHA World Championship. She previously won the $15,000 Amateur and $35,000 Non-Pro in 2010 with Budha Cash, and the $15,000 Novice Non-Pro with El Gato Benito in 2012.

Tulsa Beck on Jet. Hart Photography.

Tulsa Beck of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Jet marked 221 on Jet to lead the first round of the $2,000 Limited Rider division. Danielle Gibbons of Manteca, Calif., was second with a 218 on Metallic 007.

Beck, who brought NCHA earnings of $248 into the 2018 season, has been working for NCHA Hall of Fame Rider Tim Smith. She’s in third place in the World Standings.

Jet, owned by Cows & Horses, Etc. of Encintas, Calif., was bred by Billy Martin by the late Light N Lena, out of Shania Pep. The 10-year-old gelding has earned more than $150,000.

Mary Penner of Scottsdale, Arizona, has wrapped up the $2,000 Limited Rider World Championship with earnings of $16,313 through the first round. She’s riding Dr. Gerald Dorros’ Cyndi Cat in the World Finals.