Cyndi Cat, shown by Mike Wood for Dr. Gerald Dorros, Wilson, Wyo., nailed a 227-point win in the PCCHA Derby Mercuria Open on Saturday, June 13 in Las Vegas.
Pounce, shown by Morgan Cromer for Clarke Butte Ranch, Bend, Ore., was second with 225 points; Special Nu Baby placed third with 223.5 points under Matt Gaines for Barker Ranch, Madill, Okla.
“Cyndi Cat has a really good, low style, so I try to play on that fact and cut some cows that she can keep in the middle and show off her good points,” said Wood, who also placed fourth with 222 points on Smart Stingrey, owned by Michelle LeMaster.
Eight-year-old Cyndi Cat, by WR This Cats Smart, qualified for the finals with 220.5 points in the go-round. Nine-year-old Smart Stringrey was the go-round winner with 223.5 points.
Dr. Dorros, a prominent cardiologist, among the first to perform coronary angioplasty in the U.S., purchased Cyndi Cat in October 2014 from Theresa and Gerald Gillock of Las Vegas, and qualified to ride her in the 2014 NCHA $5,000 Novice Non-Pro World Finals in Fort Worth, as well as the 2015 NCHA $5,000 Novice Non-Pro Western Nationals in Reno.
“We bought her for Dr. Dorros to show, but I show her to keep her right for him, whenever he wants to show,” said Wood, who won the PCCHA Winter Roundup Pro-Am on Cyndi Cat, career earner of over $125,000.
Jaeggi and Saguaro Ichi claim second consecutive Non-Pro title in Vegas
Back in action after a three month respite, following their winning 2014 NCHA Non-Pro World Championship campaign, Constance Jaeggi and Saguaro Ichi never missed a beat in the PCCHA Derby Mercuria Non-Pro.
“My first cow was really, really tough and kind of set the pace for the rest of the run,” said Jaeggi, who scored 227 points for the win. “He had time off, but he doesn’t need much work and he gets back in shape pretty quick.”
Jaeggi and her nine-year-old gelded son of Cat Ichi, marked 219.5 points, the second-highest score in the go-round, won by Alexa Stent with 220.5 points on Little Bow Peepto.
“This is like my favorite place to show,” said Jaeggi, who also won the 2014 PCCHA Derby Mercuria Non-Pro title on Saguaro Ichi. “He has always been consistent. It was a little tough for a few months when I first started riding him because we had to get to know each other. But I know him like the inside of my pocket now.”
Cade Shepard, Summervale, Ala., and Stacie McDavid, Fort Worth, Tex., tied for second place with 221 points riding Some Kinda Highbrow and Starz N Boon, respectively.