John Swales and Cats Picasso scored a big 224 in the cow work to lead the Open prelim go-round and tie for the lead in the Open composite thus far. Photo by Primo Morales
A full day of Open cow work preliminaries filled the schedule at the Snaffle Bit Futurity – see highlights of the top-scoring run of the day, and hear from some of our leading professionals about what it takes to compete on the NRCHA’s biggest stage. Also, see what happened when flew our drone camera around for fun on the show grounds! It’s all here in the latest edition of the Reno Wrap Up:
Futurity Open
Fourteen out of the 18 sets of Futurity Open competitors went down the fence on Tuesday, taking one step closer to the clean-slate finals on Saturday, October 3. The high cow work score thus far, a 224, belongs to Cats Picasso (Metallic Cat x Playboys Vixen x Hickoryote), shown by Canadian professional John Swales for owner Robbie McKay. Swales and the stallion are also tied for the current lead in the composite on three events, with a 659.5.
The other 659.5 belongs to Shiney Sparklette (Shining Spark x Docs Sulena x Doc O’Lena), shown by Chris Dawson for co-owners Carol Rose and Dickson Varner.
The Futurity Open cow work prelims conclude Wednesday, Sept. 30, with the top 25 plus ties advancing to Saturday’s clean-slate finals.
Futurity Intermediate Open
In the Futurity Intermediate Open, the high cow work score of the day, a 221.5 belongs to Dare To Sioux (A Shiner Named Sioux x Tari Darlin x Taris Catalyst), shown by Brush Prairie, Washington, professional Trent Pedersen for owner Hope Miller. Pedersen and Dare To Sioux also co-own the top spot in the Intermediate composite with NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Ted Robinson, Oak View, California, riding Montoya Circlette (Nu Circle N Cash x Pastels Pretty Peppy x Pastels Smart Lena). Both have a 652 on three events.
Futurity Limited Open
The composite leader in the Futurity Limited Open, with a 646, is Coasting The Stars (Shady Lil Starlight x She Is Inwhizable x West Coast Whiz), shown by Cody McArthur and owned by Farrah Roberts McArthur.
The high score in the Limited Open and Level 1 Limited Open cow work thus far, a 219, belongs to BLT Smart Little Rey (ARC Little Rey x Haidas Addition x Haidas Little Pep).
Level 1 Limited Open
The top three spots in the Level 1 Limited Open composite currently belong to horses shown by husband-and-wife team Lee and Ashley Deacon, Burneyville, Oklahoma. Lee is currently first in that division with a 635.5 aboard Roosters Pistolena (Gallo Del Cielo x Mss Boomerchex x Mr Boomerjac), owned by CDJ Equine; and second with a 633.5 riding Siouxs Lady Blue (A Shiner Named Sioux x Jills A Little Blue x Mecom Blue), owned by Eleise Blake.
Ashley Deacon is tied for third in the Level 1 with a 632.5, riding Sioux Me Mama (A Shiner Named Sioux x Miss Hickory Tari x Taris Catalyst), owned by Deacon Equine. The other 632.5 belongs to BLT Smart Little Rey (ARC Little Rey x Haidas Addition x Haidas Little Pep), shown by Stephen Hutchins and owned by Kenneth Schueller.
