On Tuesday, June 26, in Denver, Colo., Moms Stylish Player and Kenny Platt did what they do best. They won big. Their score of 226 points claimed the NCHA Western Nationals Open championship by six points. Littlemak and Jon Burgess scored 220 points for the reserve title, while Sandman Rey and Todd Adolf placed third with 219.5 points.
Sired by Lizzys Gotta Player, bred by Drummond Land & Cattle, and owned by Robert Tregemba, Lawrence, Kan., 6-year-old Moms Stylish Play LTE $312,964 launched his 4-year-old career with a 228-point win under Platt in the 2016 NCHA Super Stakes, and followed with a 228-point win in the NCHA Derby. In 2017, he won the Bonanza 5/6 Open with 228 points, as well as the Breeders Invitational 5/6 Open with 223.5 points.
So far this year, in addition to his Western Nationals championship, Moms Stylish Player has placed in the Pacific Coast Derby (3rd), the Breeders Invitational (5th), and earned reserve checks in the 5/6 Open Gelding divisions of both events.
Kenny Platt is an NCHA Hall of Fame Rider with earnings of $1,476,751. In addition to Moms Stylish Player, he also showed Bordeauxx, owned by Jose Sigala, Weatherford, Tex., to split 7/8 in the 18-horse Open finals.
Moms Stylish Player was inducted into the NCHA Horse Hall of Fame in 2017.
As a 4-year-old, Littlemak won the 2016 NCHA Derby Limited Open and the Southern Futurity Limited Open under Jon Burgess. Owned by Anderson Cattle Co., Victoria, Tex., the Starlights Gypsy gelding also carried Steve Anderson to win this year’s NCHA Super Stakes Classic Non-Pro championship.
Littlemak has career earnings of $151,335; Jon Burgess is the NCHA earner of $878,184.
Seven-year-old Sandman Rey, by Metallic Cat, was bred by Lach Perks and owned by Penny Bailey, Morristown, Ariz., who showed him to place fourth this year in the Mane Event $100,000 Amateur division. Bailey also showed the gelding as reserve champion of last year’s NCHA Denver Nationals $50,000 Amateur and a finalist (6th) in the $5,000 Novice Non-Pro. Todd Adolf placed third in last year’s NCHA Scottsdale Nationals $5,000 Novice, as well.
Adolf, who won the 2016 NCHA Futurity Open Limited riding Pitchforks Bet 103, is the NCHA earner of $611,640. Sandman Rey has NCHA earnings of $26,754.