Others, though, used the challenge to show the judges exactly what kind of horsepower they had. The high scorer of the day was Ronnie Rice riding Smart Sugar Badger, owned by Flying M Ranch in Lake Panasoffke, Florida. Rice, of Buffalo, Texas, rode San Tule Freckles to the 2001 NCHA Futurity Open championship title in December for Flying M Ranch. Today, he rode the Smart Little Lena stallion Smart Sugar Badger for 224 points.

The second-highest score was marked by Phil Rapp riding Dulces Smart Lena. Dulces Smart Lena is another stallion sired by Smart Little Lena. Rapp, of Weatherford, Texas, rode the stallion to 221.5 points for the Dulces Smart Lena Syndicate in Parks, Arizona.

Of the 60 horses that began the day with chances of going on to compete in the Super Stakes Open finals, only 21 scored the 216.5 points or more required for a berth in the money round. Tickets are still available for tomorrow's performance, which begins at 3 pm.

The 2002 Flowmaster / NCHA Super Stakes & Super Stakes Classic cutting will continue through Sunday, April 21, and pay out an estimated $2.2 million over the course of the show. Entries for the 2002 edition of the annual spring Fort Worth show have jumped an incredible 7 percent from last year's number, from 1,235 entries in 2001 to 1,328 entries in 2002. The $2.2 million purse is a record payout for the Super Stakes & Super Stakes Classic show, which dates back to 1981.

Favorites from the 2001 NCHA World Championship Futurity will be returning for a second shot at a major win at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in the Super Stakes. They will be joined by a host of other 4-year-old potential champions in seven divisions. Meanwhile, the 5- and 6-year-old horses -- many of which have built outstanding records -- will compete in three divisions of their own. All told, 10 champions will be crowned during the 2002 Flowmaster / NCHA Super Stakes & Super Stakes Classic.

The Super Stakes is a show for only the offspring of nominated stallions. However, with 137 of the industry's top sires on the list of nominees, the show is far from "exclusive." The Super Stakes is for 4-year-old cutting horses and the Super Stakes Classic portion of the show is for horses aged 5 and 6 years old.

In addition to the hefty checks that will be distributed, winners will also receive awards from NCHA sponsors like Gist silversmiths, Cowboy Tack, M.L. Leddy's, Flowmaster, Walls, and Cinch jeans.

Flowmaster, the title sponsor of the 18-day April cutting, is a household name in car racing circles. The company came on board as an NCHA sponsor this fall. Over the past 18 years, Flowmaster's patented technology has also blazed new trails in the passenger car and tow vehicle markets. Their customers are saving 100 million gallons of fuel per year.

The sport of cutting has evolved into a thriving industry with members of many backgrounds. From CEOs to cattle raisers to former rodeo stars and professional athletes, National Cutting Horse Association members find a common thread in one of the most challenging, exhilarating and exciting sports in the world -- riding good cutting horses.

For more information about the Flowmaster / NCHA Super Stakes & Super Stakes Classic, the history of the sport or how to become an NCHA member, please call 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.