NCHA News

On Tuesday, Desires One And Only, shown by Brandon Westfall, added 219 points to his first round score of 221 to take the lead, with a total of 440 points, on the first of three days of NCHA Futurity Open second go-round competition. Texas Tuxxedo, who also scored 221 in the first go-round with R.L. Chartier, earned 218.5 points and a total of 439.5 points.

At the end of the day, with 98 horses worked, and 144 more to work during the next two days, the bubble stood at 428.5 points for Open contenders vying for a ticket to the Semi-Finals on Dec. 14, and 427 points for those headed to the Open Limited Finals on Friday, Dec. 4.

Desires One And Only, by One Time Pepto, is owned by Russ and Janet Westfall, Granbury, Tex. Russ Westfall showed I Reckon So and Sugarlesss, both sired by Kit Kat Sugar and owned by the Westfalls, to earn 218 and 221 points, respectively, as the second and third horses in the first set, on the first day of Open go-round competition. And he will show them both on Wednesday in the second go-round with son Brandon helping.

A half-brother to Thundercat LTE $302,762, as well as to Desires Little Rex LTE $287,519, the 2007 NCHA Futurity Open reserve champion, Desires One And Only is out of Desire Some Freckles LTE $188,990, a leading producer of 29 earners of $1.5 million.

This will be the second year for Brandon Westfall, 19, to ride in NCHA Futurity Open competition. His first time to show in the Futurity was in 2014, when he qualified for the Non-Pro Semi-Finals on Johnny Royal, sired by CD Royal. In 2017, riding Smooth Lil Cowtown, Brandon was NCHA Futurity Non-Pro reserve champion. In 2018, he showed Ringo, a full brother to Sugarlesss and full brother in-blood to I Reckon So, as an Open and Open Limited Futurity finalist.

Lil Bit Reckless and Just As Reckless, the dams of Sugarlesss and I Reckon So, are out Trouble Lynn 495, dam of 9 NCHA money earners of $747,768, all sired by Westfall-owned stallion CD Royal.

Texas Tuxxedo is owned by Thomas and Deborah Herold, West Point, Iowa. Sired by Once In A Blu Boon, the red roan stallion is out of the High Brow Cat daughter Lil Puma, whose maternal granddam, Easters Little Lena, is a full sister to Smart Lil Scoot LTE $266,125, sire of earners of over $5 million. Easters Little Lena is also a full sister to Sweet Lil Lena, dam of Sweet Lil Pepto LTE $219,595, sire of earners of over $4.7 million, and of Sweet Little CD, dam of High Brow CD, 2007 NCHA Futurity champion and sire of the earners of more than $9.5 million. 

The NCHA Hall of Fame earner of over $2.3 million, R.L. Chartier first qualified for the NCHA Open Futurity Finals in 2008, when he placed fourth and fifth-place and earned a total of $243,300 aboard Hay Maker, owned by Scott Cusick, and Pretty Katz, owned by Wrigley Ranches. Chartier also tallied another $39,822 that year as winner of the Open Ltd with Haymaker, and fourth-placed Ltd finalist on Pretty Katz.

In 2016, Chartier showed A Little Bossy LTE $403,677, by CD Lights, to win the 2012 NCHA World Championship Finals, and in 2016 as NCHA Open World Champion and World Champion Gelding.

The NCHA Futurity Open second go-round continues through Thanksgiving Day, November 28. For full results go to the NCHA Futurity Schedule. To read more from Sally Harrison visit sallyharrison.com.