Hall of Famer Paul Hansma and Chex My Cat marked 221 to lead the semi-finals of the Open Classic Challenge at the NCHA Summer Spectacular presented by Great American Insurance on July 14.

Wesley Galyean on Steven Feiner’s Little Rattler, by Dual Rey, was second with 220.5, while Beau Galyean was third with a 220 on Alvin and Becky Fults’ Sannman, by Metallic Cat.

Twenty-six horses marked 216 or better to advance to Friday’s finals.

Bred by Sunrise Ranch, Chex My Cat is by Smooth As A Cat, out of Bueno Chex Dually, a mare that earned $153,000. Hansma rode Bueno Chex Dually to the reserve championship of the 2000 NCHA Derby, and posted major wins at Steamboat Springs, the Bonanza, and the SunCoast Classic.

Bueno Chex Dually has produced earners of $698,000, including Cherry Chex Dually, winner of the Abilene Spectacular and Brazos Bash with Eddie Flynn, and the Amateur NCHA Classic Challenge with Jon Winkelried.

Chex My Cat, owned by Hansma and his wife, Julie, was third in the Cattlemen’s Classic this spring. The Hansmas’ daughter, McCall, was a Limited Non-Pro finalist on him at last year’s Summer Spectacular.