Judy Rogers and Spoonfulla Cat followed their opening night 229 with a 227 to win Saturday’s second round of the Mercuria NCHA World Finals Non-Pro division in Fort Worth’s Watt Arena.
April Widman placed second with a 222 on Woodys Baby, while World-Champion-to-be Kaitlyn Wimberly marked 221 for third on Light N Lily.
Spoonfulla Cat was bred by Rob and Carrie Tiemann by Hes A Peptospoonful out of Cats Barmaid Chick. The 8-year-old gelding was an NCHA Futurity finalist and NCHA Derby reserve champion with Judy’s husband, Jonathan Rogers, and has now earned more than $214,000.
It’s been a banner year for Judy Rogers who won the Limited Non-Pro championship at the NCHA Classic Challenge last summer on Dualin Cat Lena. She also won the Limited Non-Pro at the Cotton Classic with him.
She’s moved from tenth to a solid fourth in the NCHA Non-Pro World Standings for 2016.
Wimberly’s third-place finish on Saturday boosted her earnings for the year to $120,573. Only Dan Hansen, with $134,396 in 2011, has earned more as a Non-Pro World Champion.
In Saturday night’s Open division, brothers R.L. and Cullen Chartier tied for the win with 224 points. Kobie Wood placed third with a 221.5 on Donas Suen Boon.
R.L. Chartier rode A Little Bossy for Gary and Karen Fields, increasing his lead in the standings to nearly $12,000 over NRR Cat King Cole, ridden by Tracy Barton for North Ridge Ranch.
A Little Bossy is an 11-year-old son of CD Lights. He’ll be inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame in June. His career earnings are now over $402,000.
Cullen Chartier rode Little Pepto Cat for Jim and Mary Jo Milner. The High Brow Cat gelding is out of Horse of the Year Little Pepto Gal. Mary Jo Milner is also riding the 10-year-old in the Non-Pro World Finals.
Lindy Burch and Stylish Bet tied for fourth Saturday, and are currently leading the World Finals with earnings at the show of $8,087.
The Open and Non-Pro World Finals continue on Thursday. The Mercuria World Finals for other classes will begin Wednesday in the Watt Arena.