NCHA News

Sixty horses and 49 riders with cumulative go-round scores of 430 points following the conclusion of second go-round competition, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, qualified for the 2019 NCHA Futurity Semi-Finals, to be held on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Megan Miller, showing Hit Tha Flo, by Dual Smart Rey; Kylie Rice, riding Jae Zee, by Boon Too Suen; and Brandon Westfall, aboard  I Reckon So, by Kit Kat Sugar, tied with the 437.5 points, the high cumulative score. All three also qualified with a second mount. Miller earned 432.5 points on Moonish, by Hottish; Rice claimed 434.5 points on Guantanamo Rey, by Dual Rey; and Westfall earned 431 points riding Desires One Time, by One Time Pepto.

In addition, Blakley Colgrove and Paula Wood, who tied with 436.5 points, the third-highest cumulative from the go-rounds, also tied with 435, the fifth-highest score. Wood, who won the first go-round with 222 points on Kitty Kat Boon, by Kit Kat Sugar, and claimed a cumulative of 436.5 points, also topped the last day of second round competition with 221 points and earned a cumulative of 435 aboard Dona Dey, by Dual Rey. And Colgrove showed R Rated Cat, by High Brow Cat, to earn 217 and 219.5 points and a 436.5-point cumulative, scored 217.5 points in both go-rounds aboard Rather Smooth, by Smooth As A Cat. Cody Hedlund, with a 435.5-point cumulative on Luv The Way U Lie, by Once In A Blu Boon, also showed Lyin With Royalty, by One Time Royalty, to earn 433.5 points. 

Chad Bushaw, Austin Adams, Dean Holden, Jennifer Foland, and Christina Cox rounded out the field of riders with two qualifying mounts. Adams earned a cumulative of 434.5 with One Blu Fox, by Once In A Blu Boon, as well as 433 points on Twistd Mister, by Smooth As A Cat. While Bushaw rode Ava Rey, by Dual Rey, and What Ifs, by Metallic Cat, to earn 433 points and 432, respectively.

Dean Holden showed A Hope And A Future, by Metallic Cat, for a cumulative of 432.5 points, and Be Humble And Kind, also by Metallic Cat, for 430.5. Jennifer Foland showed Two Hot, by Spots Hots, to earn 432 points, as well as Why At Earp, by Smooth As A Cat, for 430 points, while Christina Cox, showed both Miss Sweet CD, by High Brow CD, and Super Tuff Kitty, by Woody Be Tuff, for cumulatives of 431.5.

Kylie Rice’s mount Jae Zee, a half-brother to 2018 NCHA Open Futurity champion Crey Zee LTE $300,801, is the only horse to have qualified for both the Open and the Non-Pro Semi-Finals. The Metallic Cat gelding and Tim Smith advanced to the Open Semi-Finals with a cumulative of 438 points. Bunz Of Steel, who Page Bowman showed to advance with 437 points, the second-highest Non-Pro cumulative score, also qualified for the Open Limited Finals, with Matt Williams.

The 2019 NCHA Futurity, World Finals and Futurity Sales continue through December 15. To read more from Sally Harrison visit sallyharrison.com