(Fort Worth, TX) — Roy Carter rode Smart Lil Scoot to victory in April at the Flowmaster/NCHA Super Stakes Classic and held nothing back in Round Two of the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular today, either.

Carter, who is riding the Smart Little Lena-bred stallion for owner and professional golfer Hal Sutton of Shreveport, Louisiana, scored 227 points in the second round of competition to follow their first round score of 217. The combined total for the Hempstead, Texas, trainer and Smart Lil Scoot of 444 points makes them favorites for the Classic/Challenge Open Finals, which will be held on July 15. They will have to keep up the pace, as many other strong horse-and-rider pairs will join them in the finals. For example, Im On A Safari and Carlos Banuelos finished second after two rounds with 442.5 points. Banuelos is riding for Keith Hall of Phoenix, Arizona.

Round one leader with 224 points was BR Instant Replay, ridden by Ed Flynn for Walton's Rocking W Ranch in Mineral Wells, Texas. Flynn and the SR Instant Choice gelding returned in round two with 217 points, assuring them a spot in the Classic/Challenge Open Finals, as well.

Of the 210 horses that began the class, 122 horses made the cut after the first round, which ended yesterday. Of those, just 34 scored at or above the 434.5 points necessary for a spot in the finals. The 2001 Summer Cutting Spectacular Open Champions Nu I Wood and Matt Gaines are in that group

The 2002 NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular will take place July 9 - 28, 2002, at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The Summer Cutting Spectacular is the third portion of NCHA's Triple Crown of Cutting, which are limited age events beginning with the Futurity in December, the Flowmaster Super Stakes in April, and concluding with the July Summer Cutting Spectacular.

Thanks to the support of the Emison Insurance Agency and the Insurance Corporation of Hannover, added money for the 2002 Summer Cutting Spectacular will reach $221,000.

Among a host of insurance services provided worldwide, the Insurance Corporation of Hannover writes policies for livestock mortality through agent and NCHA member Ben Emison. ICH is a niche, special-program insurance company that carries a rating of "A" from A.M. Best rating services, and are the fifth largest reinsurer in the world. Currently, ICH insures roughly 20,000 horses ranging from miniature breeding animals to cutting horses to Grand Prix jumping horses.

During the 20 full days of cutting at the 2002 Summer Cutting Spectacular, special events like the youth scholarship cuttings, the East/West Work-offs, the Sponsors cutting and the Sooner Trailer/NCHA Day Work-off offer something for everyone involved with NCHA cutting. Plus, there will be lots of great shopping next door to the cutting at the Coors Light Trade Show.

Awards for class finalists and champions will be presented by NCHA sponsors including Cowboy Tack, Gist Silversmiths, M.L. Leddy's, Cinch Jeans, Sean Ryon Western Store and Saddle Shop, Walls, Stetson, Sooner Trailers, and KO Trading.

For a schedule of events at the 2002 NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular, hours for the Coors Light Trade Show, to learn more about the sport of cutting, how to get tickets for the finals, or for more information about the sport of cutting, please call the NCHA office at 817-244-6188 or visit our website at www.nchacutting.com.