(Fort Worth, TX) — Straightshot Playgun and Tim Smith wasted no time moving to the head of their class today in the 2002 National Cutting Horse Association Summer Cutting Spectacular Derby Open second go-round.

When their designated two and one-half minutes were over, they added 225 points to their first-round score of 214 points for a ticket to the semi-finals round. Straightshot Playgun is a four-year-old gelded son of Playgun owned by Phil and Mary Ann Rapp of Weatherford, Texas. Tim Smith is a professional cutting horse trainer and friend of the Rapps from Temecula, California.

Leading the group of 64 to the Summer Cutting Spectacular Derby Open semi-finals is Nitro Dual Doc, ridden by Ascencion Banuelos of Jacksboro, Texas. Nitro Dual Doc was the high scorer of the first round with 223 points, and after gaining another 218 in today's second round, the team's score of 441 points is at the top of the chart. Nitro Dual Doc is a Peptoboonsmal stallion owned by Akin Land & Cattle Company of Gainesville, Texas.

The 2002 NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular is happening 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.