On November 27, riding Herradura Cat, by High Brow Cat, Scotty Rice, Weatherford, Tex., posted 221.5, the second-highest score from the first day of 2020 NCHA Futurity go-round competition. On Tuesday, December 1, Rice and Herradura Cat came back in the first day of second go-round competition with 220 points and a leading cumulative score of 441.5.

Austin Adams, Springtown, Texas, and Shoot N Star, by Smooth Talkin Style, claimed the next highest average of 438.5 points (219.5 and 219), while Bill Cowan and Handle On Randel, by Light N Lena, were third with 438 (219 and 219).

Scotty Rice, the NCHA earner of $518,106, has been an NCHA Futurity Non-Pro finalist four times and a Non-Pro Limited finalist three times, including in 2017, when he showed Times Be Tuff LTE $87,928 to place ninth in the Non-Pro Finals, and in 2003, when he was a Non-Pro finalist and placed third in the Limited Finals on Dee Cats Meow LTE $134,216.

Herradura Cat was bred by Darren Blanton, Dallas, Tex., out of the Smart Mate daughter Mate Stays Here LTE $112,317. A sixth-placed finalist in the 2006 NCHA Open Futurity under Jason Clark, Mate Stays Here is the dam of five NCHA earners of $120,702, including Dapper Cat LTE $71,011, a full brother to Herradura Cat.

Austin Adams, the NCHA earner of $454,394, has been an NCHA Futurity Non-Pro finalist three times, in addition to being a Non-Pro Limited finalist three times, and an Amateur finalist four times, including as reserve champion in 2007 with WRS Dually Smart LTE $16,508, by Smart Little Lena. Adams also placed seventh in the 2018 NCHA Futurity Open Limited aboard Metallic Special Cat LTE $26,086.

A Shoot N Star, by Smooth Talkin Style, was bred by Dottie Hill, Glen Rose, Tex., out of the WR This Cats Smart daughter SG Catty Starlight LTE $34,667, the dam of Riddler LTE $28,487, by Hottish. SG Catty Starlight is a full sister to Starlights Lil Cat $136,000, winner of the 2017 NCHA Scottsdale National Open Championship.

Bill Cowan, Ardmore, Okla., the Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of $993,800, has been an NCHA Futurity finalist four times, a Non-Pro Limited finalist three times, and won the Futurity Non-Pro Limited in 2008 riding Catty Hawk LTE $239,044.

Handle On Randel, bred by Cowan Ranch, is out of the Catty Hawk daughter Billies Catty LTE $225,578, who Cowan showed as a Non-Pro finalist in the 2014 NCHA Futurity. Billies Catty’s first foal, Billies Secret LTE $9,768, by Once In A Blu Boon, won the 2020 Southern Futurity 4-Year-Old Amateur Limited with Junior Youth rider Makenzie Cowan.

Billies Catty is out of the Mecom Blue daughter Little Bonnie Blue LTE $45,318, who was reserve champion of the 2007 NCHA Futurity Open Limited under Ryon Emerton, and also shown as a 2008 NCHA Derby Non-Pro and Non-Pro limited finalist by Bill Cowan. Little Bonnie Blue is also the dam of Billies Catty’s full brother Cattys Bonnie Blue LTE $68,969.

The 2020 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro second-ground concludes on Wednesday, December 2. The Limited Non-Pro Finals will be held on Wednesday, December 9, and the Non-Pro Semi-Finals on Thursday, December 10.

To read more from Sally Harrison, visit her blog at sallyharrison.com.