Kenny Platt, who won the $15,000 Novice earlier in the show, topped the qualifying round in the Open division Friday at the 6666 Ranch NCHA Western National Championships in Denver.

In the Open, he marked 222 on Bea Pure Cat, owned by Jill and William Roth of Lockwood, California. Twenty-one horses scored 215.5 or better to advance to Sunday’s Open finals.

Bred by Jim Crawford, Bea Pure Cat is by High Brow Cat out of Mae Bea Marie. The 7-year-old gelding is a full brother to NCHA Futurity champion He Bea Cat. Bea Pure Cat has won more than $77,000, including the 5/6-year-old Unlimited Amateur with Jill Roth at last year’s Pacific Coast Futurity.

Two horses tied at 219 for the second high score of the Open qualifying round.

They were Huntin Time, by One Time Pepto, ridden by Scott Martin for Sandra Figge of Ketchum, Idaho; and Ichi Sangria, by Cat Ichi ridden by Guy Woods for EE Ranches of Whitesboro, Texas.

Also on Friday, Dalton Laekea Vicar led the first round of the $2,000 Limited Rider class, riding Gerald Dorros’ Cat In White Nikes.

Bred by Robert Ballard, Cat In White Nikes is by High Brow Cat out of $95,000 earner Smart Little Nike. The 11-year-old mare was a three-time Western Nationals finalist with previous owners  Theresa and Gerald Gillock, and was a $2,000 Limited Rider finalist last year with Gerald Dorros.

There were 18 contestants who scored 210 or better to move on to Monday’s finals.