Shining CD Light captures NRCHA Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby Open championship Displaying great prowess in each round of the Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby—the herd work, reined work and cow work—Shining CD Light (CD Lights x Jennys Spark x Shining Spark) ridden by Corey Cushing for Ophir Creek Stables, LLC, emerged with the premier event title in Fort Worth, Texas. Scoring a 220.5 down the fence to combine with their 220.5 in the herd and 221 in the reined work for a 662 composite, Shining CD Light and Cushing cinched the win today at Will Rogers Memorial Center’s John Justin Arena to earn $24,254.64 of the $254,187 total awarded across all Derby divisions to those scoring the highest cumulative scores.
“Today’s run, he was spot on,” said Cushing of Shining CD Light’s performance. “I couldn’t be more happy with him.”
In true reined cow horse fashion, Shining CD Light answered the challenge in the fence work in order to secure the win.
“The cow came out and as I was approaching it, I could tell it was going to be just a little bit softer, but I knew that it had to be a good run,” said Cushing. “I wanted to set things up right and not do anything crazy or get ahead of myself. I didn’t box it very long and came down the fence; he waited on me and didn’t get strong. He was reining really well and went up and made a really good first turn, then the cow came off the fence and ran toward the middle of the arena a little bit, but I went up around it knowing that I needed to get to the other side. I just made sure he was going the other way, got him over on the other side and just kind of kissed to him a little bit and he mothered right up to the cow. He knew right where he needed to be and he felt very pure the whole way through, I was really proud of him today.”
Plans for Cushing with Shining CD Light following this win include the NRCHA Stallion Stakes, Derby and other major events. “We’ll see how the rest of the year carries out,” said Cushing. “I just got him a couple of months ago. Clayton Edsall did a fantastic job training him so we’re pumped up and excited to see what’s to come.”
Cushing edged Opus Cat Olena (WR This Cats Smart x Opus Chic x Smart Chic Olena), ridden by Matt Koch for BoxO Quarter Horses, whose 657.5 (217.5 herd/214 rein/226 cow) took reserve honors and added $17,871.84 to his lifetime earnings.
Derby Intermediate Open Champion
CR Tuff Taffy (Woody Be Tuff x PeptoCandy x Peptoboonsmal) shown by Ben Baldus for Sarijane Stanton and Bill Pinckard took top honors in the Derby Intermediate Open with a 652.5 (216 herd/215.5 rein/221 cow) to earn $7,801.20.
Derby Limited Open Champion
The Derby Limited Open win went to Rooster Cogboon (Once In A Blu Boon x Roosters Lucy x Gallo Del Cielo) ridden by Clayton Anderson for Troop Quarter Horsesto a 637 (214.5 herd/209 rein/213.5 cow), which was worth $2,978.64.
Derby Level 1 Limited Open Champion
Bet Me Mister (Bet Hesa Cat x Misters Miss Remedy x Mister Dual Pep), ridden by Jill Cook for Cheryl Swanson, captured the Level 1 Limited Open with 636.5 (213 herd/210 rein/213.5 cow) to bank $3,800.16.
Derby Novice Horse Champion
The Derby Open Novice Horse title went to Cats Wooden Heart (WR This Cats Smart x Gay Wooden Heart x Doctor Wood), ridden by Brad Lund for owner Jack Bogart, to a 653 (217 herd/212 rein/224 cow) to earn $3,006.
Derby Non Pro Champion
Toni Hagen Heath earned the Derby Non Pro composite riding her husband Dan Heath’s Legend De Lena (Smart Peppy Doc x My Legend Del Cielo x Gallo Del Cielo) to the lead with a 643, which was worth $4,957.87. “He’s a really special horse,” said Heath. “We call him ‘Charlie,’ he is a Charlie Horse, he’s a character. This was the first year he didn’t have to compete against his older sister so he got to have his first show without her [as competition], and he won. He’s a neat horse and he’s just going to go on and be solid because he has just been awesome all the way through, very solid.”
Derby Intermediate Non Pro Champion
Winning the Derby Intermediate Non Pro for $2,135.70 and reserve in the Derby Non Pro for $3,966.30 was Paul Bailey riding Stylish Daisy Duke (Stylish Rey Gay x Classy SmokinLena x Tangys Classy Peppy).
Derby Novice Non Pro Champion
Carrie Volmer topped the Derby Novice Non Pro riding Sweet N Reycie (Sweet Little Pepto x Sheza Skeeto Rey x Red Rey King) with her 637.5 (209 herd/215.5 rein/213 cow) to earn $915.30.
Derby Amateur Champion
The Derby Amateur title was earned by Garrell Reilly riding Maebe Lucky (Metallic Cat x Scoot A Lil Closer x Smart Lil Scoot) with a 622.5 (211 herd/205.5 rein/206 cow), which was worth $1,957.50.
NRCHA World Championships Kickoff
The first Celebration of Champions world championship was awarded today in the Non Pro Two Rein. Morgan Holmes rode The Smart Dun (Dun It Big x Poco Smart Oak x Smart Little Lena) to the top of the field of finalists scoring 211 in the reined work and a thrilling 220.5 on the cow for a total on two of 431.5, which was worth $3,584. Owned and raised by the Holmes family, “T-Bone” is not only a world champion reined cow horse, but also a high caliber rope horse that fortunately didn’t require extensive preparation for the Celebration of Champions. “This was kind of interesting because I didn’t expect to show him here,” said Morgan. “I’m in my senior year at Texas Tech, so I showed him three times when I was at my house [in Florida] last January, got him qualified and then kind of forgot about it, so he hasn’t had a cow worked on him or practiced until we got here. He’s my dad’s good heel horse, he takes him to all the pro rodeos and World Series ropings. He does anything you want to do. His heart is bigger than probably any horse I’ve ever rode. This is his third year showing him here and I think the worst he’s placed is third with me. He’s so awesome, I was real proud of him today. I want to thank my dad, Jay, for letting me ride his horse because I kind of hijacked him, and my mom, Rhonda, because she always believes in me—no one just enters someone when the person hasn’t even been showing the horse.”
Celebration of Champions Activities
Don’t forget to stop by the Sponsor Showcase where NRCHA sponsors feature their vendor wares. On Thursday, February 21, make plans to attend the SDP Buffalo Ranch meet and greet and see the leading breeder’s stallions on-site at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. Meet Smooth As A Cat on Saturday, February 23 when Manion Ranch brings the leading sire to town.
Visit www.NRCHA.com for the latest results, event schedule and free, live broadcast provided by NRCHA Official Videographer Equine Promotion. All photos are provided by NRCHA Official Photographer Primo Morales.
