NEW PLAYERS MAKING THEIR NAME IN THE DERBY
Never count your money ‘til the cuttin’s over! On Sunday evening, July 23, when the buzzer sounded ending the first go-round of the open Derby, some new hitters led the pack while some past champions bit the dust. It took a score of 213 to make the cut.
The top horse leading the roster was BR Pianoman, owned by Julie Ann Wrigley and ridden by Bill Riddle. The stallion, by Docs Stylish Oak and out of I Know A Secret scored 221.5 to win the first –go round. Three horses scored a half point behind him to tie for 2nd place with a 221. The tying horses were BR Instant Replay owned by Walton’s Rocking W Ranch Inc. and ridden by Eddie Flynn; Play For Chic, owned by James J. Blumer, Jr. and ridden by Kathy Daughn and Purdy Aristocrat, owned by Jack and Susan Waggoner and ridden by Bill Freeman.
BR Pianoman was only doing what comes naturally by leading the first go-round. Already, the stallion has been a finalist at the NCHA Futurity, the Abilene Spectacular, the Memphis Futurity, and the Bonanza. While Play for Chic was also an NCHA Futurity Finalist, BR Instant Choice and Purdy Aristocrat weren’t in the Futurity Finals.
NCHA Futurity finalist and Bonanza Champion PB Twisted and Super Stakes Champion JR Colord Prom scored 215 to make the cut. PB Twisted is owned by H & W Ranch LTD and ridden by Faron Hightower while JR Colord Prom is owned by Nancy Clayton and ridden by Chubby Turner.
Some horses, however, familiar to the finalists’ circle, won’t be making an appearance at this one. Shania Cee, the 1999 Futurity Champion ridden by Shannon Hall lost a cow and rode from the arena while Reserve Champion, A Hocus Pocus Cat ridden by Corky Sokol scored 211, two points too short to return to the 2nd go. Loyd Cox and Sunolena Barrachone, who, not only was an NCHA Futurity finalist but also won the Augusta Futurity in January didn’t make the cut, and neither did Capoo, the NCHA Futurity Finalist and Memphis Futurity Reserve Champion ridden by Paul Hansma.
It took two days and 17 sets of cattle to work the 248 entries in the first go- round. Those horses with a score of 213 or better, the top 60% of the first go-round will compete in the 2nd go-round on Monday, July 24, 2000, cutting for one of the 60 slots available for the Derby Semi-finals. The Semi-finals are slated for Saturday, July 29 with the Derby open finals following 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.