It was an action-packed day at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada, as Open and Non Pro Stakes exhibitors completed the third and final phase of competition – the cow work. National Reined Cow Horse Association riders have spent the past week working towards a spot in the clean-slate finals and a chance to capitalize on the $100,000 added Open purse and $25,000 added Non Pro purse.
Earning top honors in the Stallion Stakes Open preliminary cow work was Lindsay, California, horseman Lance Johnston. Johnston piloted HeloMyNamesJohnyCash (Cee Mr Hickory X Smart Card Chex X Ill Be Smart), a home-bred horse that he owns with his wife Tammy, to a 224 down the fence. The high score earned the Johnstons a $2,172 go round check and secured the lead in the Intermediate Open preliminaries.
HeloMyNamesJohnyCash – 2019 NRCHA Stakes Open cow work prelims from NRCHA Video on Vimeo.
To advance to the clean-slate finals, exhibitors needed a composite score of 653 in the Open, 642.5 in the Intermediate Open and a 632.5 in the Limited Open.
Stakes Open Novice Horse Champion
Arizona horseman Brad Barkemeyer clinched the 2019 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Novice Horse champion title aboard Metallics Playboy (Metallic Cat X Widows May Play X Widows Freckles).
The 649 composite (215.5 herd/ 215.5 rein/ 218 cow) earned a $2,691 paycheck for owners Larry and Karen Lommen.
Stakes Level One Limited Open Champion
Matt Frederick, of Emmett, Idaho, was crowned the Level One Limited Open Stakes Champion at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center.
Frederick piloted Harry De Haan’s 4-year-old gelding, Smooth Dera Max (Smooth As A Cat X Dera Dually X Dual Pep), to a 213 in the herd work, a 215.5 in the rein work and a 212 down the fence. The 640.5 composite was accompanied with a $2,710 win check.
Chex Out My Tuff ridden by Brent Ratliff – 2019 NRCHA Stakes Non Pro cow work prelims from NRCHA Video on Vimeo.
Stakes Amateur Champion
Kristen York captured her first NRCHA premier event championship title aboard ShezaCrackinNSparkin (Nabisco Roan X Sheza Shinette X Shining Spark) at the 2019 Stallion Stakes.
York, of Saratoga, Wyoming, piloted “Roxanne” to a combined score of 643.5 (215 herd/218 rein/210.5 cow). In addition to being crowned Amateur champions and earning $1,863, the pair also earned a spot in all three Non Pro Finals.
Stakes Non Pro Limited Champion
Three years later, Anne Albert captured her second Non Pro Limited Stakes championship title.
Albert, of Roy, Washington, started off the week of strong, winning the herd work preliminaries, and ended the week with the Non Pro Limited Stakes win. Albert rode WR Hotshot (WR This Cats Smart X Sunspot Flo X Mr Peponita Flo) to an impressive 647 composite (214 herd/219 rein /214 cow) and a $2,655 paycheck.
Non Pro Bridle Spectacular herd work tie for the lead
Non Pro riders put up big scores in the first leg of the $10,000 added Non Pro Bridle Spectacular.
Lindsay James and Maximum Spoonful (Hes A Peptospoonful X PG Maxine X Playgun) tied for the lead in the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular herd work with a 147.
Cutter McLaughlin and CD Dee Vee Dee (CD Lights X Shiners Missy Jay X Shining Spark) also earned an 147 from the judges to tie for the lead.
Non Pro Two Rein Spectacular herd work leader
After two successful years showing together in limited aged events, Bart Holowath and Smart Lookin Nurse (WR This Cats Smart X Nurseware X Dual Rey) are off to a great start in their two-rein adventure.
Holowath, of Cayley, Alberta, and “Finn” took the lead in the Non Pro Two Rein Spectacular by scoring a 147.5 in the herd work.
On Thursday, April 4, Stakes horses get a bit of break while the focus is turned to the seasoned horses for the spectaculars. For the free, live webcast, provided by award-winning videographer Equine Promotion, visit www.NRCHA.com.
Click here for the complete list of results.
2019 NRCHA Stallion Stakes program from NRCHA Video on Vimeo.
