NCHA News

Metallic Drifter and Matt Gaines, first to work in the 22-horse Arbuckle Mountain Classic Open Finals, posted a 222-point challenge that proved unbeatable. The three closest challengers tied with 219.5 points: Sir Long Legs with Austin Shepard; Candi Cat under Geoffrey Sheehan; and Rollz Royce with Beau Galyean.

Metallic Drifter earned $7,500 for the win and also collected first-place money in the Open Novice and Open Gelding divisions. Owned by Jim Vangilder, Weatherford, Tex., the 5-year-old Metallic Cat gelding placed fourth with Gaines in the 2018 Arbuckle Mountain 4-Year-Old Derby, as well as taking reserve last year in the Augusta Futurity and the Idaho Futurity.

Bred by Arcese Quarter Horses, out of Ruby Bagonia $114,255, Metallic Drifter $93,720, is half-brother to three $100,000+ earners, including ARC Ruby Playgunia $207,186, Rubys Radar $141,297, and Ruby Duece $111,773.

Six-year-old Sir Long Legs $334,758, by High Brow Cat, is owned by Lew Hall, Lakeland, Fla., who purchased him from his breeder, Michelle Cannon, at Western Bloodstock’s 2014 NCHA Futurity Select Yearling Sale. Shepard showed the colt as reserve champion of the 2016 Futurity and as champion of the 2016 NCHA Derby. The pair also won the 2017 Southern Futurity 4-Year-Old Open and claimed the 2018 Southern Classic championship, as well.

Sir Longs Legs is out of Smart Little Lena daughter Lil Lena Long Legs $189,672, dam of eight NCHA earners of $749,259.

Rollz Royce $194,584, by Dual Smart Rey, is owned by Thomas Guinn, Philadelphia, Miss. The 5-year-old stallion’s record of five major championship wins includes the 2019 Bonanza Classic, which he won earlier this month. He was also reserve champion of the 2018 NCHA Super Stakes.

Rollz Royce is half-brother to SS Blacks Lil Litty $185,839, as well as Badboonarising $173,534, and Show Biz Kit Kat $65,129. The four half-siblings are the only NCHA earners from seven foals out of Show Biz Kitty, an unshown daughter of High Brow Cat. Show Biz Kitty’s dam is 1993 NCHA Open World champion Show Biz Sandy, who was shown by Billy Ray Rosewell, an NCHA Hall of Fame Rider, who passed away earlier this week.

Candi Cat $65,700 is owned by Beechfork Ranch, Weatherford, Tex. The 5-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat is a full sister to 2007 NCHA Futurity Open champion High Brow CD, the sire of earners of $8.5 million.  Sheehan showed Candi Cat as a finalist in the 2017 NCHA Futurity and most recently, prior to the Arbuckle Mountain Classic, the pair were finalists in the Ike Hamilton Classic.