Kevin Murray, 21, a University of Denver finance major, made his  trip to the Summer Spectacular count. Riding Travelin Smooth, Murray won Friday night’s NCHA Derby Non-Pro Limited with 220 points.

Murray also qualified with his Smooth As A Cat-sired gelding in four additional Derby finals:  the Non-Pro Gelding; the Amateur; and the Amateur Unlimited; as well as today’s Non-Pro Finals, with a purse of $381,164.

Reserve champion Missy Oehlhof, with 215 points aboard Light Of Grace, by CD Lights, also qualified for the Non-Pro Finals.

“This is the first I’ve been able to come here and do well on,” said Murray, who showed as a youth and won the 2010 Todd Drummond Award.

Travelin Smooth was purchased during the NCHA Futurity Sales by Kevin’s parents, Karen and Brian Murray, Mission Hills, Kan., and was trained by Michael Cooper.

“We knew he was going to be good from day-one,” said Kevin. “He was supposed to be my horse when we bought him, but he did so well it delayed my getting to ride him. This is the first time I’ve shown him.”

Travelin Smooth, with earnings of over $110,000, was an NCHA Futurity Open and Open Limited finalist under Nate Lansford; won the Tunica Futurity with Michael Cooper, in addition to qualifying for four other major finals.

Missy Oehlhof has been a non-pro  finalist in other major events, including  as Non-Pro champion of the 2012 Southern Futurity on Shes My Other Pistol, but Light Of Grace, who she purchased this past May, is the first one to give her a title in Will Rogers Coliseum and the first to carry her to the non-pro finals of an NCHA Triple Crown event.

“She’s so easy compared to my other horses,” said Oehlhof, whose husband Steve Oehlhof trained Light Of Grace. “She’s super smart and tries wherever you show her.”

Missy placed sixth on Light Of Grace, bred by Winston Hansma out of Graciela Dual, in the Non-Pro Limited of The Non Pro Cutting, where Steve also placed sixth, in the Open.

“I thank my husband that he got her for me,” said Missy. “I think she’s going to be the best one I’ve ever had.

“I also thank my awesome help, including R.L. Chartier, who showed her here for us in the Open. It helped her a lot because she is still pretty green.”