Memphis Futurity Attracts Brightest and Best

February 13, Memphis, TN  The annual Memphis Futurity & Classic always rates high on cutters’ calendars. This year’s seventh renewal offered $116,000 in added money and drew a host of the sports’ brightest stars. Four-year-old competition concludes on Tuesday evening, February 13, but the 5&6-Year-Old Classic open and non-pro champions have already donned their buckles.

Lannie Mecom’s 6-year-old mare, Smart Lookin Hi Brow, prevailed over a 31-horse finals’ field which many considered the best in the history of the event. Six horses scored better than 220 points – three tied for third through fifth place with 221’s.

Ridden by Lloyd Cox, Smart Lookin Hi Brow set a 223-point target, as the fourth horse to work in the first bunch of cattle. Bob Mayfield’s Power Proof, ridden by Tim Delagardelle, immediately followed with 220.5 points. That Cool Cat, ridden by Kobie Wood for Joe Montana, and Miss Martini Play, owned by Copa Casino/2 L Contractors and ridden by Gary Bellenfant, scored back-to-back 221s as the ninth and tenth horses in the first bunch.

Boyd Rice picked up 221 points on H.B. and Deborah Bartlett’s Can You Handle It, as the third rider in the second bunch. But it was Hickorys Advantage, ridden by Faron Hightower for Circle C Ranch of Orion, IL, who came within a point of Smart Lookin Hi Brow’s mark and claimed his own place as Reserve Champion.

Smart Lookin Hi Brow, by High Brow Hickory out of The Smart Look, was bred by Wiens Ranch Company of Sedalia, CO, and purchased by Mecom, who lives in Brenham, TX, last spring. The sorrel mare’s Memphis Futurity winnings of $16,000 pushed her career total past $150,000.

Bob Mayfield hails from Wills Point, TX, while former football star Joe Montana has a residence in California, but recently acquired a ranch near Paluxy, TX. Copa Casino is located in Biloxi, MS.

In the Non-Pro Classic, H.B. Bartlett DVM, of Pike Road, AL, opted against a workoff, when he tied himself for first and second place and was named Champion and Reserve Champion of the event. Bartlett scored 221 points on Cool Little Feet and Can You Handle It, to prevail over the 23-rider field. Alycia Bellenfant, of De Leon, TX, was third with 218.5 points aboard Moon Badge, by Playboys Badge.

Both of Bartlett’s mounts are 5-year-old mares. Cool Little Feet, with more than $155,000 in lifetime earnings, is by Smart Little Lena out of Royal Dandy Lena. Can You Handle It, the earner of over $170,000, is by Handle Bar Doc out of Special Little Peppy.

For complete results of the Memphis Futurity & Classic and click on “Show Results.”