Xavier Rodriguez, Miami, Fla., scored 220 points aboard One Moore Try, by One Time Royalty, to win the McAlister Assets Derby Amateur Unlimited division of the Metallic Cat NCHA Summer Spectacular. Lisa Taylor, Pilot Point, Tex., scored 219.5 points aboard Reycan In The Cash, by Dual Rey, for the reserve title, while Hilary Watson, Overland Park, Kan., placed third with 218 points on Double Cat Flash, by High Brow CD.
Xavier Rodriguez, the NCHA earner of $22,887, won this year’s Non-Pro Cutting Amateur Finals riding One Moore Try LTE $27,641, and also placed third with the gelding in the Breeders Invitational Amateur. In 2017, it was Cats To Smart LTE $23,206, by Just Playin Smart, that carried Rodriguez as a finalist in the NCHA Super Stakes Amateur Finals, and in 2018, as a finalist in the Arbuckle Mountain Classic Amateur Finals.
Lisa Taylor, the NCHA earner of $211,815, won the 2019 NCHA Super Stakes Amateur Unlimited riding Reycan In The Cash LTE $111,721, who was shown earlier in the year by trainer Lloyd Cox to place third in the Abilene Spectacular, the Ike Hamilton Futurity, and the Bonanza Derby. In addition, Greg Wright showed the Dual Rey gelding as reserve champion of the 2018 NCHA Futurity Limited Open.
Lisa Taylor also topped the 2005 NCHA World $10,000 Amateur standings and was reserve champion in the $20,000 Non-Pro standings riding SR Shortening LTE $174,868, by Shorty Lena.
Hilary Watson, the NCHA earner of $347,889, placed fourth in the 2017 NCHA Classic Challenge Amateur Finals riding Shady Lil CD LTE $139,748, by High Brow CD, and third in the 2018 NCHA Classic Challenge Amateur Finals with Iridescent Cat LTE $118,716, by Catty Hawk, and also won the Senior division. Her single richest win also came in 2018, aboard One Alley Cat LTE $125,322 by High Brow Cat, as third-place finalist in the NCHA Super Stakes Amateur Unlimited Finals.
Double Cat Flash LTE $56,614, Watson’s 2019 NCHA Derby mount, made his debut as third-placed finalist in the 2018 NCHA Futurity Amateur Finals with Christina Huntley.