Little Jo Cat, ridden by Pedro Ornelas for Anderson Cattle Co. carved his niche in history Wednesday night, November 29, by winning the Limited Open division of the NCHA Futurity. The gelding by High Brow Cat out of Jojo Boon, is the first Limited Open Futurity winner produced by a Limited Open Futurity winner.
Little Jo Cat marked 224 as the #22 horse in the 24-horse finals to top the 221 lead established by Nate Lansford on Cat About Houston as the second horse in the first set.
Little Jo Cat was bred by Anderson Cattle Co. by High Brow Cat out of Jojo Boon, by Peptoboonsmal. Jojo Boon was bred by John and Hope Mitchell, and earned more than $100,000, including a win the NCHA Non-Pro Classic Challenge with Hope Mitchell.
Jojo Boon won the 2009 NCHA Futurity Limited Open for Steve and Michelle Anderson, ridden by Geoffrey Sheehan. Steve Anderson won the West Texas Non-Pro Derby on the mare, placed fourth in the NCHA Derby and made multiple major limited age finals.
Jojo Boon’s previous money earner, Gloria Boon, by Cats Quixote Jack, made $15,000 and was a Pacific Coast Futurity finalist.
Ornelas burst on the scene in 2012-2013, winning $2,000 Limit Rider championships at the NCHA Western Nationals, The Non-Pro Cutting, and Limited Open championships at the Breeders Invitational, Tunica, and the Western States Fall Classic.
The Andersons have been big supports of the Limited Open contestants, winning major championships in that division in recent years with Dustan Horne, Tate Bennett, Jon Burgess, and now Pedro Ornelas.
NCHA Futurity Limited Open reserve champion Cat About Houston is bred and owned by the Rose Valley Ranch of Weatherford, Texas. He’s by Metallic Cat out of Bet On Houston, making him a full brother to Bet On A Cat ($370,000) and Cats Ninjago ($63,000).
Rider Nate Lansford was previously reserve champion in the NCHA Super Stakes Limited Open in 2013 on Wicked Wanda Rey. He placed 11th in last year’s NCHA Futuriyt on Rey Too Suen.
Champion Little Jo Cat and reserve champion Cat About Houston have both qualified for the Open semi-finals, to be held Saturday, December 9.