First Time’s The Charm

Sam Shepard proves first in can win

(Fort Worth, TX) – Being the first to compete used to spell certain death for any chance to win a cutting competition, but Magnolia Spring, Alabama, trainer Sam Shepard proved that thinking wrong by winning the finals of the National Cutting Horse Asssociation’s Classic Challenge Open Finals July 17.

Riding Desire Some Freckles, Shepard scored a stunning 227 in the competition for five- and six-year-old horses as the first rider into the herd taking a shot at a total purse of $319,806. Owned by Rockin S Ranch LLC of Fairhope, Alabama, the six-year-old daughter of Freckles Playboy and out of the mare Genuine Desire, scored a 224 as the second horse in the herd almost a week earlier to win the go-round competition July 11.

With total career earnings of $116,898 in aged event finals, Desire Some Freckles added $47,808 with the win. Matt Gaines of Weatherford, Texas, took second-place earnings of $41,058 riding Smart B Back which he owns with his wife, Donna. Third-place earnings of $34,308 went to Smokin Trona, ridden by David Stewart and owned by Richard and Terrye Brown of Commerce, Georgia. Typical Hickory, piloted by Darren Simpkins, captured the fourth-place check worth $27,558 for owners Roger and Shannon Meline of Madisonville, Texas. Fifth place went to Jack Ruby, also ridden by Gaines, for earnings of $20,808 for owner Mary Cavanaugh of Parker, Texas.

Shepard selected the mare as a two-year-old for Rockin 5 Ranch partners Arthur Cordy and Kenny McLean.

“She has all the good Playboy characteristics,” said Shepard. “She is a big stopper and mover. Real fluid and strong. She’s gotten much smarter about reading a cow and she still does all those pretty things.”

Action continues during the Summer Spectacular with Classic Challenge Amateur competition concluding Friday, June 20. Derby competition for four-year-old horses end with the finals of the Non Pro and Open divisions Sunday July 29.

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