Elizabeth Queen, Lipan, Tex., and Sasha Thompson, Buffalo, Tex., claimed center stage on Wednesday, October 25, during the $175,000-added Southern Cutting Futurity in Jackson, Miss. Riding Nighttiming, Queen scored 223 points to win the Derby Non-Pro Finals, while Thompson and Sho Nuff Hot topped the Classic Non-Pro Finals with 221 points.
On Saturday, October 28, Nadine Payne, Overbrook, Okla., and Peaceful EZ Feelin, by Lizzys Gotta Player, prevailed in the two go-round average to claim the Finals win with 432.5 points. Barnwell Ramsey, Huntersville, N.C., riding Sanjo Playn Jacks, by Cats Quixote Jack, placed second with 430 points, and Lauren Middleton, Weatherford, Tex., and Priscilla Wilson, Unadilla, Ga., tied for third with 428 points riding Light Em Upp, by Light N Lena, and Springtime Catt, by Sophisticated Catt, respectively.
As an NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Rider, Elizabeth Queen has earned $1.5 million and won more than 20 major non-pro championships, as well as three NCHA Super Stakes reserve titles. Sister CD LTE $833,214, shown in open competition by Paul Hansma and in non-pro and open by Elizabeth’s husband, Skip, carried Elizabeth for seven non-pro championship wins. The One Time Pepto son Nighttiming LTE $34,191, Queen’s 2017 Southern Derby champion, also placed fourth with her in the Brazos Bash Non-Pro Derby.
Reserve champion Jody McGlothlin, Perrin, Tex., scored 220.5 points in the Non-Pro Derby Finals aboard Somethingtobelievein LTE $105,459, who also gave Jody the Derby Non-Pro Ltd. win, and placed in the Open Finals with Jody’s husband, Brett McGlothlin. This was the fifth championship for Jody and her Hydrive Cat daughter, who also claimed Non-Pro Ltd. wins in the NCHA Futurity, the Brazos Bash and the Cotton Stakes.
Madalyn Colgrove, Boligee, Ala., placed third in the Derby with 219 points on Sparklin Dual Shorty LTE $12,215, by Dual R Smokin. Colgrove, the NCHA earner of $488,870, also claimed fifth in the Derby Finals aboard Tank Tallic LTE $34,507, and won the 2017 Cotton Stakes Non-Pro Derby on Sweet Baby Marie LTE $129,965.
Sasha Thompson and her Spots Hot gelding Sho Nuff Hot LTE $24,482, swept all three Southern Futurity Non-Pro divisions with wins in the Classic Non-Pro Finals, the Non-Pro Ltd. Finals, and the Gelding Finals. Thompson came into the Southern Futurity Classic after placing first in the 2017 Cotton Stakes Non-Pro Litd. aboard Thommo. Thompson was also 2014 reserve champion of the Southern Futurity Non-Pro Derby riding One Time Player.
Kade Smith, Mineral Wells, Tex., and his Third Cutting daughter Hay U LTE $184,390 scored 220 points for reserve in the Southern Classic Non-Pro. Smith, the NCHA earner of $522,988, won the 2011 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro championship on Lean This Rey and this year placed reserve in the PCCHA Derby Classic on Hay U.
Missy Jean Etheridge, Bush, La., the NCHA earner of $297,530, scored 218 points for third on Tommies Playgirl , who she recently rode to place fourth in the Brazos Bash Classic Non-Pro. Tommies Playgirl LTE $92,003, by Thomas E Hughes, was also a 2017 Southern Futurity Open Classic finalist with Steve Oehlhof.