NCHA News

Two previous NCHA Derby winners, both shown by James Payne on Friday, July 10, the first day of 2020 NCHA Metallic Cat Summer Spectacular Classic Challenge competition claimed the day. Summer Time Fun, co-champion of the 2019 NCHA Derby with Payne, scored 224 points to top the eight-set day, while The Animal, winner of the 2018 NCHA Derby, marked 222 points, Friday’s second-highest score. Adan Banuelos showed 2018 NCHA Futurity reserve champion Badboonarising to place third with 221.5 points.

Summer Time Fun LTE $96,438, co-champion with Caution Piping Hot and R.L. Chartier of last year’s NCHA Derby, is owned by her breeder Ty Moore, Madill Okla., and is one of 30 horses (25%) from Friday’s  119-horse field that were sired by Metallic Cat, the title sponsor of the show. Her dam, Hey Georgy Girl, by Wild Thing, has produced 12 money earners, including Summer Time Fun’s full brother Let Georgie Do It LTE $145,663, shown by the late John Rockey as 2016 NCHA Amateur Horse of the Year.

The Animal LTE $229,870, winner of the 2018 NCHA Derby and reserve champion of the 2017 NCHA Futurity under Lee Francois, is owned by Cindy Perez, Winnie, Tex., and was bred by EE Ranches, who own his sire, Cat Ichi. The Animal is a full brother to Ichis My Choice LTE $418,693, owned by Constance Jaeggi and shown by Grant Setnicka as 2016 NCHA Open Horse of the Year.

James Payne, the NCHA Hall of Fame earner of over $3.5 million, won the 2012 and 2014 editions of the NCHA Classic Challenge, respectively, on Sarenadual LTE $174,153, owned by Kathleen Moore, Madill, Okla., and Once In A Blu Boon LTE $318,012, owned by Charlotte Farms, Rosston, Tex.

Payne also scored 219.5 points on Friday riding Stylish Hailee LTE $131,492 for Kathleen Moore. Bred by Kathy Knost, the Halreycious daughter and Payne placed fourth in last year’s NCHA Derby.

Five-year-old Badboonarising LTE $287,490, by Once In A Blu Boon, was bred by Royce Stallcup and is owned by Plantation Farms, Denham Springs, La. In addition to Badboonarsing, yesterday Adan Banuelos also showed Catillac Reys LTE $195,129 and Reystylin Smooth LTE $200,919 to score 219.5 and 217 points, respectively for Ten/27 Ranch, Denham Springs, La.

Banuelos, the NCHA Hall of Fame earner of over $2.2 million, showed Catillac Reys, by Metallic Cat, as reserve champion and champion gelding of the 2018 NCHA Derby, and 6-year-old Reystylin Smooth, by Smooth As A Cat, to win the West Texas Classic and the Brazos Bash Classic in 2019.

Mitch Butler and Dmacs Pink Martini led the Open Limited with 219.5 points, followed by Bear Davis and My Beach My Wave with 219. Dmacs Pink Martini LTE $31,294, by Woody Be Tuff, is owned and was bred by David and Stacie McDavid, Fort Worth, Tex. My Beach My Wave LTE $62,814, by Metallic Cat, is owned by Whit and Kim Davis, Millsap, Tex. Bear Davis, the NCHA earner of $182,279, was reserve champion of the 2016 NCHA Derby Amateur Unlimited and won the 2016 NCHA Super Stakes Amateur Unlimited on Red Solo Cat. Mitch Butler, the NCHA earner of $77,806, placed fifth in the 2018 NCHA Derby Open Limited on Princess Of Bel Air and was eighth in the 2019 NCHA Super Stakes Open Limited riding Dmac Smooth N Wise. The NCHA Metallic Cat Summer Spectacular Classic Challenge continues through Wednesday, July 29.

To read more from Sally Harrison, visit her blog at sallyharrison.com.