Walt Erwin marked 222 on Playful Highbrow CD to win the Open finals at the 6666 Ranch NCHA Eastern National Championships on Thursday. The 6-year-old gelding is owned by Walt and Sara Erwin of Cleveland, Georgia and was bred by Jerome Bradford.

Playful Highbrow CD is by High Brow CD out of Playful Ricochet, an Augusta Futurity reserve champion that earned over $84,000. Erwin has shown the gelding to third-place finishes at the Augusta Classic and The Non-Pro & The Open Cutting, and was a $5,000 Novice finalist at Jackson. Playful Highbrow CD has now earned more than $35,000.

Divas On Time, ridden by Brett Davis for Amanda and Rhein Standish of Baton Rouge, marked 221 for the reserve title in the Open finals. The 8-year-old mare is by One Time Pepto out of Desires Cat, a daughter of million-dollar producer Desire Some Freckles. Divas On Time has earned more than $145,000.

Co-champions in $5,000 Novice

Ichi Sangria, the $15,000 Novice Champion, came back to tie with Cat Black I for the $5,000 Novice title on Thursday. Both mares marked 223.5 in the finals.

Ichi Sangria is a homebred mare by Cat Ichi out of Scratchin, owned by Jo Ellard’s EE Ranches of Whitesboro, Texas and shown by Guy Woods. She now has the rare distinction of winning three Novice titles at the NCHA Eastern Nationals. She won last year’s $5,000 Novice in addition to both classes this year. The 6-year-old mare has now earned more than $120,000.

Co-champion Cat Black I is shown by Randy Chartier for Charlie and Denise Seiz of Cedartown, Georgia. She was bred by David Jenkins by Smooth As A Cat out of Smart Little Gal, an NCHA Derby finalist that has produced earners of $165,000.

Cat Black I was the Amateur Super Stakes Classic champion in 2013 with Denise Seiz. The 9-year-old mare placed second with Randy Chartier at the Mercuria NCHA World Series at Congress last year, and she has now earned more than $75,000.