July 25, 2000
Derby First Go-Round Headliners Hanging In There!
Three of the highest marking horses in the first go-round of the NCHA Derby held onto their positions in the 2nd go round as well. Purdy Aristocrat owned by Jack and Susan Waggoner and ridden by Bill Freeman scored 219 in the 2nd go Monday, July 25. The score added to the score of 221 she marked in the first go, gave her a 440 and earned her the number-one spot in the total accumulation scores.
“This is a very athletic horse,” stated Freeman as he describes Purdy Aristocrat. “She’s really animated on a cow, and when I started her as a 3-year-old, she was probably as good a 3-year-old as I’ve ever had.”
Play For Chic, owned by James J. Blumer, Jr. and ridden by Kathy Daughn, who tied Purdy Aristocrat in the 1st go, scored 218.5 in the 2nd go-round to sit 2nd in accumulated scores with a total score of 439.5. BR Pianoman owned by Julie Ann Wrigley and ridden by Bill Riddle, the leaders in the first go-round, scored 217.5 to sit 3rd in the accumulated scores. BR Instant Replay owned by Walton’s Rocking W Ranch Inc. and ridden by Eddie Flynn, who had tied for 2nd place in the first go-round, scored 214 in the 2nd go to tie for 13-15 in the standings for the semi-finals.
In the 2nd go-round, PB Twisted, owned by H & W Ranch LTD and ridden by Faron Hightower marked 222 to become the highest scoring horse. Matched with his first go round score of 215, PB Twisted enters the semi-finals in 7th place. Right behind PB Twisted in the 2nd go-round standings sits Sheza Jazzy Player owned by Slate River Ranch and shown by John Mitchell. The mare scored 220 in the second go-round, and added to her first go-round score of 217, she sits in 9th place with a total score of 437 going into the semi-finals.
It took an accumulated score of 431 to earn a place in the 60-horses plus ties going to the semi-finals, which are slated for Saturday, July 29. The Derby open finals follow Sunday afternoon.
The NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular is now in its 2nd week at the Fort Worth Will Rogers Coliseum. While last week the 5&6-year-old horses and their riders competed, this week the 4-year-old horses will compete, with open, non-pro and amateur riders showing them. Daily go-rounds are free beginning each morning at 8:00 a.m. The ticketed finals performances on July 29 and July 30 are only $5.00 for general admission and $8.00 for reserved seating.
For more information on the NCHA and The Summer Spectacular, call (817) 244-6188 or visit the NCHA website at www.nchacutting.com.