The Amateur & Unlimited Amateur go-round of the 2020 NCHA Futurity concluded on Sunday, December 6 with that day’s high-scoring rider, Unlimited entry Khader Daoud, Crestview, Fla., posting 219 points aboard Once A Kitty, by Once In A Blu Boon. Jacob Morris, Dabel, Okla., an Amateur and Unlimited Amateur entry, scored 218.5 points on Talks To Angels, by Smooth Talkin Style, while Jaco Messenger, Mutal, Okla., also a double entry, marked 218, the day’s third highest score, on Cowgirl Blues 17, by Once In A Blu Boon.
Khader Daoud, the NCHA earner of $169,914, qualified for his first NCHA Futurity finals in 2006, riding the High Brow Cat daughter A Lynxs Cat LTE $44,036, and that same year won the NCHA Classic Challenge 5/6 Non-Pro championship on Peponita Times Two LTE $193,123, by PA Pete Bolton. In 2017, Daoud was an Amateur Unlimited finalist aboard Cat In A Dually LTE $46,030, by Bet Hesa Cat.
Once A Kitty, bred by Circle Y Ranch, Millsap, Tex., is a half-sister to the Dual Rey son Rockin W LTE $329,772, winner of the 2009 NCHA Open Futurity. Once A Kittys dam, 2004 NCHA Open Horse of the Year Boon San Kitty LTE $498,188, has produced 19 NCHA earners of $883,211.
Jacob Morris, the NCHA earner of $11,776, was reserve champion in November of the 2020 Waco Texas 3-Year-Old Futurity Non Pro and won the Non-Pro Limited riding Smooth Chandolenacat, by Smooth As A Cat. He also won the 2020 Cotton Stakes 5/6 Amateur Limited and the Western States Fall $50,000 Amateur on Kickin In The Stix LTE $9,762, by Cats Merada.
Talks To Angels was bred by Dottie Hill, Glen Rose, Tex., and is a first foal out of Peptos Opus Cat LTE $75,456, by Peptoboonsmal. Peptos Opus Cat is a three-quarter sister to Shesa Spoonful A Fun LTE $97,690 and Mr Opus Time LTE $81,004. Her dam, Opus Cat LTE $59,385, by High Brow Cat, is out of Flips Lil Angel $68,397, by Colonel Flip, a 1996 NCHA Futurity Open finalist under Leon Harrel.
Jaco Messenger, the NCHA earner of $34,647, won the 2020 PCCHA Futurity 4-Year-Old Amateur and Intermediate championships, as well as the Brazos Bash Amateur, on Sneakinaroundtheboon LTE $20,679, by Once In A Blu Boon.
Cowgirl Blues 17, bred by Wade Rust, Gordon, Tex., is a half-sister to Smooth Lil Cowtown LTE $127,352, out of the Sweet Lil Pepto daughter Sweet Lil Cowtown LTE $74,422. Sweet Lil Cowtown is a half-sister to Smooth As A Twist LTE $148,086.
The McAlister Assets Unlimited Amateur Semi-Finals, with 79 riders who scored 213 or better, will be held on Monday, December 7. The Rios of Mercedes Amateur Semi-Finals, with 75 riders who scored 210 or better, will be held on Tuesday, December 8.