The 2016 National Reined Cow Horse Association Jack and Phoebe Cooke Memorial Derby preliminaries wrapped up Thursday, June 16, in Paso Robles, California, determining the finalists in three Open and three Non Pro divisions. Those riders will compete with a clean slate on Saturday, June 18, for their respective Championships.
Derby Open Finalists
Twenty-one Open horses and riders will advance to the finals. The high composite score of the preliminaries, a 659.5, (215.5 herd/224 rein/220 cow), belonged to Smooth Bellingrath (Smooth As A Cat x Very Special Peppy x Peppy San Badger) shown by top NRCHA Professional Nick Dowers, Dyer, Nevada, and owned by his family’s Triple D Ranches LLC. Smooth Bellingrath had the high score of the Open rein work prelims (pictured above).
It took a score of 650.5 and above to qualify for the Open finals.
The high score of the Open fence work preliminaries, a 225, belonged to SJR Metallic Star (Metallic Cat x Starlights Rhonda x Grays Starlight), shown by Phillip Ralls and owned by the Billie Jo Ralls Trust.
Derby Intermediate Open Finalists
There will be 20 riders showing in the Intermediate Open finals. Dualin Stargun (Dual Rey x Amanda Stargun x Playgun), shown by Justin Lawrence for the Dualin Stargun Partners, won the preliminary go-round with a composite score of 658.5 (219 herd/215 rein/224.5 cow). Lawrence and the 2011 stallion had the high score of the Intermediate Open fence work prelims and also finished second in the Open composite.
A 643 and above was required to make the Intermediate Open finals.
Derby Limited Open Finalists
The Limited Open finals field will be made up of five horses and riders. The top score in the prelims, a 648, belonged to King Hill, Idaho, horseman Ryan Thomas, riding Magicat (Metallic Cat x Magical Lena x Little Lenas Legend), owned by Joyce Pearson. Thomas and the 2011 mare had the high score of the Limited Open fence work and rein work prelims, and also qualified for the Intermediate Open finals.
A 635.5 and above was required to make the Limited Open finals.
Non Pro & Intermediate Non Pro Finalists
In the Derby Non Pro, nine riders will advance to Saturday’s clean slate finals, and seven will compete for the Intermediate Non Pro Derby Championship. The top score of the preliminaries in both divisions, a 654 (219 herd/214 rein/221 cow), belonged to Kathy Wilson, Clarksburg, California, riding her 2011 mare Sanalea Chex (Tomcat Chex x Smart Little Sanalea x Ill Be Smart).
It took a 635 score and above to qualify for the Non Pro and the Intermediate Non Pro finals.
Novice Non Pro Finalists
The high score of the Novice Non Pro preliminaries, a 652.5 (220 herd/214 rein/218.5 cow) belonged to Hope Miller, Brush Prairie, Washington, riding Cashs Catmando (Metallic Cat x Shesa Lota Cash x Nu Cash). Miller also qualified for the Intermediate and the Non Pro finals.
Six competitors will advance to the Novice Non Pro finals, and it took a minimum score of 627.5.
