Fresh from a spot in yesterday’s Senior Youth finals, McKenzie McBride of Fort Lupton, Colorado, marked 221 to win her first major title in the $2,000 Limited Rider finals at the NCHA Denver Nationals on June 25.

Jaime Lynn Lucas, who won the Senior Youth championship, was reserve in the $2,000 Rider with a 219, followed by Samantha Cajka and Meghan Walters, both marking 216.

McBride rode RM Lightning Merada, a 5-year-old Cats Merada x Choice Jewels gelding bred and owned by Reed McClymont. The gelding was a $5,000 Novice finalist with Kenny Platt earlier in the show, and has earned more than $37,000.

McBride’s win continued a string of success for Team Platt. Kenny won the $5,000 Novice with Dualin Smooth Legacy, the Open with Little Lenas Cat, and placed second in the $25,000 Novice with Cats Out Of The Bag.

Last year, McBride was a $2,000 Limited Rider and Junior Youth finalist at the NCHA Western National Championships, as well as placing in the finals of the NYCHA Senior Youth Scholarship Cutting in Fort Worth.

Reserve champion Jaime Lynn Lucas of Crockett, Texas, rode Doc Holirey in the $2,000 Limited Rider finals. The 5-year-old gelding is by Dual Rey out of Hissy Cat.

In third place, Samantha Cajka of Lincoln, Nebraska, rode CR Spoonful Of Lucy, a 6-year-old mare by Hes A Peptospoonful out of Lucindas Catolena. Meghan Walters of Dorchester, Nebraska, rode Down And Twisted, a 14-year-old gelding by Freckles Fancy Twist out of Royal Sunetta, owned by Ralph & Brenda Lipsey Partners.