The second day of competition in the NCHA Kit Kat Sugar Super Stakes completed the first go-round of the 5-Year-Old Open, on Friday, March 26, where 59 horses with 215 points or higher qualified for the Open second go-round, to be held on Monday, March 29. In addition, 14 horses with 216 points or more qualified for the Intermediate Open Finals, held on Wednesday, March 31, and 10 horses with 215 points or higher qualified for the Open Limited Finals, also to be held on March 31.
The high score going into the 5-Year-Open second go-round remained 223 points, which was scored on Thursday, March 25, by Dr Sueish with Kenny Platt, for Robert Tregemba; Spookys Honey Badger with Grant Setnicka, for Robert Thigpen; and Tuff Nu Catillac with Matt Miller, for Blakley Colgrove Simoneaux.
Too Suen To Drive LTE $53,089,. shown by Phil Rapp for Waco Bend Ranch, Fort Worth, Tex., scored 219 points to top qualifiers for the Intermediate Open Finals. Sired by Boon Too Suen and bred by Phil and Mary Ann Rapp, Too Suen To Drive was a 2019 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro finalist with the Rapps’ son Ryan, who also showed the mare to win the 2020 Non-Pro Plus 4-Year-Old Cutting and to claim reserve in the 2020 Cattlemen’s Non-Pro Derby.
Too Suen To Drive is out of the Hydrive Cat daughter Tuned Up To Drive LTE $125,134, who Mary Ann Rapp show as reserve champion of the 2014 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity, and to claim reserve in the 2015 Abilene Spectacular Non-Pro. Tuned Up To Drive and Mary Ann Rapp also won 4-Year-Old Non-Pro championships in the 2015 West Texas Futurity and the Cattlemen’s Derby.
Phil Rapp, a leading NCHA Hall of Fame earner of over $9.2 million, tied with Lloyd Cox and Smooth Talkin Style LTE $293,232, for the 2015 NCHA Super Stakes championship aboard Dual Rey son Dont Stopp Believin LTE $457,714, who was bred by Waco Bend Ranch.
Phil Rapp also won the 2006 NCHA Open Super Stakes aboard Dual Smart Rey LTE $257,553, as well as the 1994 Open Super Stakes on Tap O Lena LTE $450,639, dam of Tapt Twice LTE $279,457, the tap root female of the Rapp family breeding program, as well as that of Waco Bend Ranch.
Reyzin Cash LTE $25,459, shown by Bear Davis for Iron Rose Ranch, Carbondale, Colo., scored 218 points to top qualifiers for the 5-year-Old Open Limited Finals. The Dual Rey daughter was reserve champion under Davis in the 2021 Abilene Spectacular 5/6 Open Limited.
Bear Davis, the NCHA earner of $209,238, won the 2016 NCHA Super Stakes 4-Year-Old Amateur Unlimited championship riding Red Solo Catt LTE $168,991, by Metallic Cat.
Friday’s action included the first of four days of Open 4-Year-Old first go-round competition, which continue through Monday, March 29.
Gettin Places, ridden by all-time leading money earner Lloyd Cox for Darren Blanton, marked the top score of 221. Gettin Places LTE $7,656, is a son of Dual Rey out of One Red Mist LTE $160,584, bred by Steve Smith.
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