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Quarter Horse News
Spring Season concludes on a high note
There was a runaway in the Open division, but a photo finish among the Non-Pros as the Quarter Horse News Spring Season of the Western Horseman Cup National Cutting Horse Association Championship Series concluded May 25.
Cat Ichi, ridden by Guy Woods for Bill and Jo Ellard's EE Ranches of Texas, piled up 310 points for a 90-point lead in the spring season standings. Meanwhile, Scott Ferguson of Hempstead, Texas, earned 285 points on Laredo Blue and Gay Bar Memories for a narrow 5-point lead over Dustin Adams of Logandale, Nevada, in the Non-Pro ranks.
Inaugurated last year, the Western Horseman Cup features a $250,000-added finals at the Augusta Futurity in January for horses that have qualified by earning points at existing limited age events across the United States and Canada throughout the year. The 2004 championship series encompasses 49 events with nearly $6 million in added money. The series is split into the Quarter Horse News Spring Season, which concluded May 25; the Horsecity.com Summer Season, which runs through September 18; and the Westernhorseman.com Fall Season which concludes November 13.
The top five Open horses and Non-Pro riders in each of the three seasons will be invited to the Augusta Futurity next January for the final showdown.
Cat Ichi parlayed brilliance and consistency to lead the spring standings. The stallion, by High Brow Cat out of blue hen broodmare Laney Doc, was a finalist at the NCHA Futurity, Abilene Spectacular, Augusta Futurity and Suncoast Futurity. He won the Memphis Futurity and was Co-Reserve Champion at the NCHA Super Stakes.
Sons and daughters of High Brow Cat filled four of the top five places in the Open standings.
NCHA Futurity Champion One Smart Lookin Cat, campaigning for John McClaren of McGregor, Texas, and trainer Craig Morris, earned additional points at Abilene, Augusta, Bluebonnet Stakes and the UBS/WSCHA Limited Age Event. The High Brow Cat x One Smart Look stallion picked up a total of 220 points for the season.
Athena Puddy Cat and Reys Dual Badger tied for third in the Open standings with 180 points. Ridden by Brad Mitchell for Jim and Suzanne Thomas of Savannah, Tennessee, Athena Puddy Cat is a High Brow Cat stallion who earned points at Augusta, Memphis, the Super Stakes, the Congress Spring Spectacular and the Pacific Coast Derby.
Reys Dual Badger is a Dual Rey stallion trained by Darren Simpkins for S&S Partners of Houston, Texas. He was a finalist at the NCHA Futurity, Augusta, Memphis, Suncoast, Bluebonnet, and Pacific Coast.
Miss Woody Two Shoes, ridden by Lloyd Cox for Lannie Louise Mecom of Avondale, Colorado, accumulated 175 points for fifth place. The High Brow Cat mare was Reserve Champion at Augusta and also earned points at the NCHA Futurity, Abilene, and Suncoast.
Non-Pro Leaders
With a win at the NCHA Futurity and a Reserve title at the Super Stakes, Scott Ferguson took a narrow lead in the Non-Pro race for the Western Horseman Cup. Ferguson scored his 285 points on Laredo Blue and Gay Bar Memories.
Dustin Adams of Logandale, Nevada, earned 280 points on Clays Instant Choice and JD Pearl Snaps, making the finals at the NCHA Futurity, Suncoast, Paso Robles Spring Roundup, and Pacific Coast Derby.
Wesley Galyean of Ardmore, Oklahoma, earned 265 points on Merada Quick Peppier and Hi Kitty Kitty. He scored at the NCHA Futurity, Abilene, Augusta, and Suncoast.
Mary Ann Rapp of Weatherford, Texas, finished fourth in the standings with 245 points earned on Blissful, Cat Tuesday and Lectric Brakes. Her points came at the NCHA Futurity, Augusta, the Bonanza, and Pacific Coast.
Craig Crumpler of Wichita Falls, Texas finished fifth with 220 points on Woody B Gun Shy and Fire In The Herd. He was successful at the NCHA Futurity, Abilene, Memphis, Bonanza, Super Stakes, and Bluebonnet.
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