Qualifiers for the semi-finals of the Borden NCHA Super Stakes were determined last night after the second round of Open competition. Not suprisingly, big-name stallions were well represented among the 60 advancing horses. High Brow Cat had 13 offspring make the semis, Dual Rey had 11, and Peptoboonsmal had 6.

As cutting horse breeders look for the next big thing, it’s interesting to note that no fewer than 9 freshman sires (Athena Puddy Cat, Boon A Little,  CD Lights, Its Just About Me, Light N Lena, Smart Lena Boon, That Sly Cat, TR Dual Rey and WR This Cats Smart) have a baby qualified for Saturday night’s Open semi-finals.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s Rips Sport Model, sire of Augusta Futurity finalist Your Call Smarty. With his semi-finals paycheck, Your Call Smarty will become his sire’s leading NCHA money earner, but Rips Sport Model is no freshman sire. He’s a 1984 son of Rip Rip (by Leo – yes, that Leo).  Rips Sport Model earned just $76 as a 4-year-old, although he did go on to become Rip Rip’s top NCHA money earner with $7,146.

Here’s a look at the 2009 Super Stakes Open semi-finalsts, sorted by sires: