Elseware, owned by Richard Carney, and Circle S, bred by the Shepards, and are both from the second crop of High Brow CD, who Austin rode to win the 2007 NCHA Futurity and as 2008 NCHA Horse of the Year.
Elseware, also champion of the Cotton Stakes Open Futurity and third-placed in the West Texas Futurity, has unofficial show earnings of $30,500, which places him third, behind Brazos Bash Open champion Dara TR Cocoas Preview, by TR Dual Rey, with $35,966, and Brazos Bash Open reserve champion VR Cowgirl Kakie, by Cowboy Cattylac, with $32,167, among 3-year-old earners of 2013.
Shepard also showed Elseware’s 3/4 brother, Bamacat, by High Brow Cat, to score 224 points as the Southern Derby reserve champion, and was co-champion of the Southern Classic with 221 points on Divas On Time, by One Time Pepto and owned by Amanda Standish.
2012 NCHA Futurity co-champion He Bea Cat was the star of the Southern Derby with 225.5 points under Tarin Rice for owner and breeder Jim Crawford. The $9,000 win increased the sorrel stallion’s earnings to $254,265.
Tapt Out, shown by Steve Oehlhof for Robert Ballard, shared the Open Classic win with Divas On Time, while Reycy Moon and Rose Rey, ridden by Sean Flynn and Jesse Lennox, respectively, tied with 217.5 points, the second-highest score from the Open Classic Finals. Divas On Time is owned by Barker Ranch, while Rose Rey is owned and bred by Walton’s Rocking W Ranch.
Jerry Roper, Gillsville, Ga., showed C Y Ima Tesoro, by Bets Smart Lena, as reserve champion, with a 419 composite score, to Stacy Shepard (428) in the Non-Pro Futurity. David Puryear placed third with Cats Replay, by High Brow Cat.
Missy Oehlhof, Grandview, Tex., claimed the Non-Pro Derby championship with 219 points aboard Light Of Grace, by CD Lights. Sasha Thompson, Buffalo, Tex. scored 216 points for reserve on One Time Player, by One Time Pepto.
Light Of Grace, who carried Missy Oehlhof as reserve champion of the NCHA Derby Non-Pro Ltd. in July, was also a Southern Derby Open finalist with Missy’s husband, Steve.
The Southern Non-Pro Classic championship was claimed by Robert Fullwood, Como, Miss., with 221 points aboard Catmerize, by High Brow Cat. Kaitlyn Wimberly and Light N Lily, leading contenders for 2013 NCHA Non-Pro Horse of the Year, scored 220 points for reserve. Light N Lily, by Light N Lena, was raised by Kaitlyn’s father, Billy Martin.