The second go-round of 2017 NCHA Futurity Open competition concluded on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, and owners and riders of the 69 horses were especially thankful. A cumulative score of 432 points from the first and second go-rounds whittled a field of 252 second go-round contenders down to 69 Open Semi-Finalists; 612 horses competed in the first go-round.
Dual Reyish, ridden by Austin Shepard, topped the qualifying field with 442.5 points. The Hottish son, owned by Billy Wolf, Whitesboro, Tex., won the first go-round with 222.5 points. Im Quintan Checks, shown by John Sanislow for Center Ranch, Millsap, Tex., was second with 441.5. The Im Countin Checks son and Dual Reyish were the only horses to score 220 points or higher in both go-rounds.
Eight other horses scored at least 220 points in either the first or second go-round, including the Hottish daughter Reyzmehot, shown by Wes Ashlock for John and Jana Thacker, Abilene, Tex., who scored 222 points in the first go-round and earned 217 points on Thursday, the second-highest score of the day.
Taliate, ridden by Casey Green, and Rey Some Sugar On Me, with Kade Smith, tied with 217.5, Thursday’s high score. Taliate, a Metallic Cat son owned by Bobby and Mary Jo Hawkins, Seguin, Tex., scored 220 points in the first go-round and qualified for the Semi-Finals with 437.5 points. Rey Some Sugar On Me, sired by Kit Kat Sugar and owned and bred by Greg Smith, Mineral Wells, Tex., qualified on the bubble with 432 points.
Austin Shepard also qualified for the Semi-Finals with 433.5 points on CR Dualin, sired by Woody Be Tuff and owned by Center Ranch. And Wes Ashlock qualified a second mount, Ketamine Kat, by Metallic Cat, with 432.5 points. Other riders with two high-scoring qualifiers include Kenny Platt with 436.5 on Bordeauxx, by Bet Hesa Cat, and 436.5 on CR Reyly Tuff, by Woody Be Tuff, owned by Jose Sigala and Center Ranch, respectively; Michael Cooper with 436.5 on Judgement Day, by High Brow Cat, and 434.5 with Special No Boon, by Boon Too Suen, both owned by Rose Valley Ranch.
NCHA Futurity action continues on Friday, November 24 with the first day of Non-Pro go-round competition.