Quick Be A Cat and James Payne claimed reserve with 217.5 points; and CR First Tuff and Boyd Rice scored 217 points for third.

“The first cow was really good, but that second cow was unbelievable,” said Galyean, who also placed fourth (worth $46,244) on Lil Rattler, winner of the Semi-Finals with 218.5 points; and tied for fifth ($30,699) with his own horse Tattoos On This Town.

Hes A Hot Cat is owned by his breeder, Don Gilbert, Coushatta, La., and is sired by Spots Hot, the horse Galyean showed as champion of the 2004 NCHA Futurity.

Hes A Hot Cat also placed third ($7,529) with the second-highest score, behind co-champions Smooth Mitch and Playin Fancy Lights, in the Open Gelding finals.

“He’s real athletic and the cows we cut were stingy, quick and fast and let him really get across the cow and bury it in the ground,” said Galyean, who was showing Hes A Hot Cat for the first time since a suspensory injury grounded the gelding last July.

“A lot of them don’t make it back after they have missed so much (training),” Galyean added. “But he got better  and through this show. And in the finals he really read the cattle and let me ride him aggressively.”