NCHA News

Mike Wood, who has a record six NCHA World Finals Novice championships to his credit, moved closer to claiming another one on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 in the first round of the $25,000 Novice at the 7 Ranch World Finals in Fort Worth,’s Watt Arena.

He marked 224 on TRs Best Player to lead Spoons Lil Buckaroo with 221.5 and Superfly with 220.5. The second round and the non-working finals in the $25,000 Novice, $35,000 Non-Pro, $5,000 Novice Non-Pro and $2,000 Limited Rider will be determined on Thursday.

TRs Best Player was bred by Buffalo Ranch and is owned by Debra Winard, of Scottsdale, Arizona. The 10-year-old mare is by TR Dual Rey out of Lizzys Player. In her limited age career, she was reserve champion of the Southern Futurity. She came into the World Finals ranked 11th in the World Standings, but her first-round win moved her up to eighth place. 

TRs Best Player will be represented by her baby Peptos Dualin Banjos, to be ridden by Michael Smith Friday in the first round of Amateur competition.

Peptos Scootin Man, owned and shown by Tim Smith, has a lock on the $25,000 Novice World Championship with a $13,000 lead in the standings.

$35,000 Non-Pro

Gavin Clarke of Jackson, California, clinched the World Championship in the $35,000 Non-Pro division by winning the first round of the 7 Ranch World Finals with a 223 on Rubys CD Legacy, the same mare that Emily Meyer rode to win the class at the 2017 NCHA World Finals.

Clarke led Debra Winard on Reys Hot Wheels with a 219 and Leah Stewart on Footprints By Gypsy with a 216.5 in the first round.

Rubys CD Legacy was bred by Phil Hanson by CD Lights out of Smart Little Ruby. The 11-year-old mare is a three-quarter sister to Rubys Royal CD, an earner of more than $248,000 with Hanson and owner Bonnie Martin.

Following the first round, Clarke had established a lead of $1,919 over James Figiel for the World Championship.

$5,000 Novice Non-Pro

Marilyn Kittelman of Yoncalla, Oregon, marked 223 on Smooth Like Foxetta to win the first round of the $5,000 Novice Non-Pro. A pair of Kings (unrelated) tied for second with 219: Christine King on This Isa Third and Amy Welch King on Countessa Kitty.

Smooth Like Foxetta is a 6-year-old mare bred by Glenn and Debbie Drake by Smooth As A Cat out of Travs Foxetta, by Travalena. Her second dam is Super Stakes reserve champion and $778,000 producer Stylish And Foxie.

Smooth Like Foxetta held steady in 14th place in the World Standings with her first-round win.

The World Champion will be Dual Rider, ridden by Katherine Whitby. The 8-year-old Flo Rider gelding has a lead of nearly $27,000 in the standings.

$2,000 Limited Rider

Heather Todd of Murray, Kentucky marked 221 on GS Zans Cat for a two-point win in the first round of the $2,000 Limited Rider. Parker Reynolds scored 219 on MK Jessie Rey, while Sharon Wilson posted a 217.5 on Cougars January Jonz.

GS Zans Cat was bred by Gordon Sevig by Smooth As A Cat out of Zans Red Gold, and is owned by Chaser Ray Crouch. The 12-year-old mare has earned more than $184,000.

Heather Todd’s go-round win moved her from sixth in the standings up to third.

Aden Bernhagen has an unbeatable lead for the World Championship with $12,965 going into the final round. Meredith Simister is sitting in second place with $7,206.

To read more from Sally Harrison visit sallyharrison.com