Carol Ward, Rancho Murieta, Calif., scored 221 points on Spooked By A Cat to win the 2017 Idaho Cutting Horse Association Mercuria World Series Finals, on Saturday, September 2 in Nampa, Idaho.  Kylie Knight Rice, Weatherford, Tex., claimed second with 219 points on Snap Crackle Cat, while Katie Fonsen Young, Cloverdale, Calif., scored 216 points on For Instance for third.

Ward’s win, worth $10,823, boosted Spooked By A Cat’s lifetime total to $305,568. The 11-year-old gelding, sired by Cat Ichi and out of $1.4 million producer San Starlight, has carried Ward as a finalist in seven Mercuria Non-Pro Finals, including a win in the 2016 Calgary World Series and second-place in the 2016 ICHA World Series. He has also placed in six Open Mercuria Finals, most recently with Darren Simpkins in the 2017 Calgary World Series.

Ward, the NCHA earner of $822,600, won the 2017 NCHA Derby Unlimited Amateur Finals, as well as the Unlimited Amateur Gelding and Unlimited Amateur Senior this summer riding Crafty With Cows.

Katie Rice and Snap Crackle Cat placed as finalists in the 2017 NCHA Mercuria World Series at the Pacific Coast Derby, as well as the Mercuria World Series Mane Event. Eight-year-old gelding Snap Crackle Cat, by High Brow Cat, earned $8,542 for his finish in the Idaho World Series and has lifetime earnings of $164,314. Rice has NCHA earnings of $381,681.

Katie Young and 10-year-old gelding For Instance, by SR Instant Choice, made their debut as Non-Pro champions of the 2010 PCCHA Futurity. Since then they have garnered 14 wins in limited age divisions. For Instance earned $6,262 in the ICHA Mercia Finals and has career earnings of $130,083; Young is the NCHA earner of $300,831.