Shannon McCarty and Chicaroos Cat
The National Reined Cow Horse Association’s biggest and richest event for 4- and 5-year-old horses, the Jack & Phoebe Cooke Memorial Derby, kicked off Monday, June 13 at the Paso Robles Event Center, Paso Robles, California. Rein work preliminary competition for Non Pro and Open riders filled the schedule.
In the Derby Non Pro, presented by Pony Tail Sportswear, Shannon McCarty jumped out to an early lead when she earned the high score of the rein work prelims, a 218, riding Chicaroos Cat (Hick Chicaroo x Kat Five x High Brow Cat). McCarty, of Solvang, California, and her 4-year-old mare already have a 2016 NRCHA Premier Event championship on their resume, after winning the Stallion Stakes Non Pro title in April.
Click here to watch video of the high-scoring runs of the day.
The rein work go-round winner in the Derby Intermediate Non Pro, Novice Non Pro and Amateur divisions was 16-year-old Sonya DiStefano of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who rode Reys Stylish Bell (Dual Rey x Blues Stylish Bell x Doc’s Stylish Oak), to a 215.5.
Sonya DiStefano and Reys Stylish Bell
In the Derby Non Pro Limited division, Anne Albert of Roy, Washington, piloted White Knight Time (One Time Pepto x Little Lady Stylish x Smart Little Uno) to the top rein work score, a 215.5.
Anne Albert and White Knight Time
NRCHA Derby Open Rein Work Prelims Underway
The Derby Open rein work prelims will not be complete until Tuesday, June 14. The high score thus far in the Open, a 224, belongs to Some Kinda Merada (Cats Merada x Ima Fern Believer x Peptoboonsmal) shown by NRCHA 2 Million Dollar Rider Todd Bergen, Eagle Point, Oregon, for owner Cable Creek Ranch LLC.
The action from Paso Robles resumes at 8:00 a.m. Pacific time with the conclusion of the Open rein work prelims, the Non Pro herd work prelims, and the first of the Open herd work prelims.
Todd Bergen and Some Kinda Merada
