Paradox Cat, shown by Austin Shepard, scored 224 points on Monday, to top 80 contenders in the $25,000 Novice  go-round of the 2016 NCHA 6666 Eastern Nationals, in Jackson, Miss. Shady Lil CD, with Cullen Chartier, placed second with 221 points, while Peptos Paving Way, ridden by Brandon Walden, and That Kotn Pikn Pepto, under Gabe Reynolds, tied with 220. Altogether, 28 horses with 215.5 points and higher qualified for the finals, which will be held on Tuesday, March 7.

Trained by Austin Shepard LTE $6.8 million, 6-year-old gelding Paradox Cat LTE $109,884 has carried his young owner, Blakley Colgrove, Boligee, Ala., as 2014 NCHA Futurity Amateur champion and the 2015 NCHA Derby Amateur Unlimited champion. The High Brow Cat gelding also won the 2015 Augusta Open Futurity with Shepard, who has won a total of 12 Eastern Nationals titles, including six open championships: 2014 on Cat Sheree; 2010 on Playin At The Mall; 2006 on Smart Pisolero; 2005 on Widows Intentions; 2003 on Uno Dos Seventyseven; and 2002 on Widows Freckles.

Shepard also qualified for the $25,000 Novice Finals with 219 points on Wendels Grace, also owned by Blakley Colgrove, and with 215.5 points on Deluxe Checks, owned by Amanda and Rhein Standish.

Shady Lil CD, LTE $81,722, a 6-year-old daughter  of High Brow CD, came into the NCHA 6666 Eastern Nationals following the amateur championship win in the 2017 Arbuckle Mountain Classic, for owner Hilary Watson, Westwood, Kan.

Cullen Chartier LTE $460,203 placed fourth with Shady Lil CD in the 2017 Augusta Futurity 5/6 Finals and also won the 2015 and the 2016 NCHA Western Nationals Open championship on Once You Go Black, as well as the 2015 NCHA Eastern Nationals $5,000 Novice championship on Poundcake Deluxe.

Chartier also qualified for the $25,000 Novice Finals with 219 points on Cattalou, owned by William Morris II, Atlanta, Ga.

Eight-year-old Peptos Paving Rey LTE $59,017, by Hes A Peptospoonful, competed successfully with his owner Mark Senn, Augusta, Ga., in limited age events. The pair won eight titles in 2015, including the Cotton Stakes 5/6 Unlimited Amateur championship and the Cattlemen’s Derby 5/6 Gelding Unlimited Amateur championship.

That Kotn Pikn Pepto LTE $25,985 won the 2015 Southern Futurity Open Limited and placed seventh in the 2015 NCHA Super Stakes Open Limited. The 6-year-old One Time Pepto daughter is owned by Kenneth Warner, Clover, S.C. Her rider, Gabe Reynolds, won the 2013 NCHA Eastern Nationals $5,000 Novice championship on Reyn Storm and was a finalist in three divisions of the 2016 Eastern Nationals showing Seal Team 6 and Copencougarhagen. Reynolds also qualified for Tuesday’s $25,000 Novice Finals with 215.5 points on Cat Too Boon, owned by James and Debra Bramblett, Vine Grove, Ky.