Twenty-four hours after marking a 233 in the first round of the Mercuria NCHA Open World Finals, Austin Shepard and Deluxe Checks repeated that score in round 2 on November 25 to wrap up the 2017 NCHA World Championship. The $6,035 first-place check gives them a running total for the year of $134,666, out of reach of second-placed Eazee E and Tatum Rice, with two working rounds and a pencil finals remaining.

Deluxe Checks, by Im Countin Checks out of Catrina Starlight, is a 6-year-old mare bred by Kyle Manion and owned by Amanda and Rhien Standish of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who purchased her for $34,500 at the 2012 Western Bloodstock Futurity Sales.

The mare has now won more than $266,000, with wins in the West Texas Championship, the Augusta Classic, the Mercuria NCHA World Series at Congress, and the Open and $25,000 Novice at the NCHA Eastern Nationals. Amanda Standish has also won an Unlimited Amateur championship with her at the Pacific Coast Derby.

Horse of the Year Metallic Rebel, who tied with Deluxe Checks at 233 on Friday, scored 224 Saturday for second in the second round. The Metallic Cat stallion is shown by Beau Galyean for Thomas Guinn.

In the Non-Pro, Lauren Middleton of Weatherford, Texas, marked 225.5 on Sweet Reyvenge to win the round over Joe Howard Williamson who posted a 224 on Lil Metallic Cat.

Sweet Reyvenge is a 9-year-old gelding bred by Bobby and Francie Butler by Reys Dual Badger out of Sweet Camille. Middleton rode him to win Mercuria NCHA World Series events at Houston and El Rancho Futurity this year, after winning both Novice Non-Pro divisions at last year’s NCHA Eastern Nationals.

They came into Saturday’s round of the World Finals in fifth place with cumulative earnings of $46,260.

Joe Howard Williamson, a four-time Non-Pro World Champion, came into the second round in 13th with earnings of $32,928.