Glenn Barlow, a fourth generation rancher from Gillette, Wyo., claimed an eleventh hour victory yesterday on homebred Mr Connerey with a 223-point performance, as the last rider in the NCHA Derby Non-Pro Gelding Finals.
Hope Mitchell held reserve with 222 points on Smooth Mitch, who she had shown earlier in the day to win the NCHA Derby Non-Pro Semi-Finals with 220 points.
“We kind of cut what was left and it worked,” said Barlow. “I’ve never really gotten him shown in the finals until today, but he’s been a really good horse for me.”
Barlow bred and trained the gelded son of Dual Rey and showed him in the NCHA Futurity as a Non-Pro, Non-Pro Limited, and Amateur finalist.
At the same time, he placed in the Futurity Non-Pro Limited and the Amateur Finals on Mr Connerey’s twin from the same flush, Nurserey Rhyme, who he has since sold.
“I always dreamed about coming down here and I was getting older and thought I’d better come here before I die,” said Barlow. “And that dream came true.”
Smooth Mitch turned out to be a dream come true, as well, for Hope Mitchell, who purchased the gelding named for and trained by her husband John Mitchell, less than a week ago.
“The running joke in our family is that one day I’ll actually get to own and ride a John Mitchell-trained horse because until now, I’d never been to the herd on one,” said Hope, an NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame Rider with over $1.5 million in earnings.
Smooth Mitch was bred by Lois Hastings, who owned him in partnership with her parents, Tom and JoAnn Tudor, Granbury, Tex.
John Mitchell and Smooth Mitch claimed both the NCHA Super Stakes Open Gelding and the Super Stakes Novice championships for the Tudors.
“He’s very similar to Smooth Asa Zee (earner of over $400,000 sired by Smooth As A Cat), who I was riding as a two-year-old, when the Tudor’s asked me what I thought would make a good cross for their daughter’s Dual Pep mare,” said John. “So I recommended Smooth As A Cat.
“(Smooth Asa Zee) and this horse are very similar. This horse is quick, reads a cow good, and stops great just like Smooth Asa Zee. And he has the same balance and brains.”