Smooth Mitch, with John Mitchell, and Playin Fancy Lights, ridden by Winston Hansma, marked back-to-back scores of 218 points to prevail as co-champions of Tuesday’s Open Gelding Finals.
“We took a risk on a little bit quicker cow tonight and it paid off,” said Mitchell, who trained Smooth Mitch for Tom and JoAnn Tudor, Granbury, Tex.
This was the first limited age event for the gelding since the NCHA Futurity, where he scored 217.5 points in the first go-round.
Smooth Mitch is out of a full sister to the Dual Pep daughter Doc Alley, started by Mitchell in 2000, as a 2-year-old for Slate River Ranch, and finished and shown by Paul Hansma as an NCHA Futurity and Super Stakes finalist, for then owner Mary Bradford.
In 2008, the Tudors asked Mitchell to recommend a breeding cross for newly acquired Wahine Dually. He suggested Smooth As A Cat, on the strength of his confidence in a gelding named Smooth Asa Zee, who he was training for Slate River Ranch owner Glade Knight.
Smooth Asa Zee would go on to earn over $375,000 under both Mitchell and Knight. Coincidentally, Knight is also the owner of Playin Fancy Lights.
Smooth Mitch’s full sister, Maliblu, owned by Tatum and Kylie Rice, placed eighth last weekend in the John Deere Ltd Open finals with Josh Drake.
Slate River Ranch also owns Open Gelding finalist Autumn Boonsmal, shown by the ranch’s resident trainer, Darren Simpkins.
Playin Fancy Lights represents special ties for both Glade Knight and Winston Hansma.
The gelding’s sire, CD Lights, was bred and is owned by Winston Hansma and Danny Motes, and was shown by Hansma as 2006 NCHA World Champion Stallion.
Hansma trained and showed CD Lights’ sire, CD Olena, as champion of the 1994 NCHA Futurity and the 1995 NCHA Derby, and to place fifth in the 1995 Super Stakes. He also trained and showed CD Lights’ dam, Delight Of My Life, as champion of the 1997 NCHA Derby and to third-place in the 1997 Super Stakes.
Playin Fancy Lights is out of Playin N Fancy Peppy, trained by John Mitchell and shown by Mitchell and Knight to earn nearly $200,000.
Playin Fancy Lights is also a half-sister to Playin N Fancy Smart, earner of over $340,000, shown by Knight and Kory Pounds.
“Glade knew that Danny and I had a vested interest in (Playin Fancy Lights)and I appreciate his confidence in sending him to me,” said Hansma.
“He has always been a good horse. “I’ve never had one that needed fewer cows to get trained.
“Glade and I had been doubling up on him, but he decided it was best for me to show him here and let the horse get his confidence up. I’ve been pleased with him the whole show.”