Maggic Mike and Crey Zee took control on Thursday, in the first set of the Cattlemen’s Open Derby with matching scores of 221 points But late in the same bunch of cattle, High Brow Lady Boon marked 222.5 points, the score, with another set yet to work, that ultimately won the cutting.
The win, worth $16,000, was the first for the High Brow Cat daughter, who had earned her first check two weeks previously, as a finalist (20thh) in the Arbuckle Mountain Futurity. Shown by Matt Miller, High Brow Lady Boon is owned by her breeder, Texas Holy Cow Performance Horses, Santa Ynez, Calif.
Co-reserve champion Crey Zee $231,478, winner of the 2018 NCHA Futurity, and shown by Tatum Rice, came into the Cattlemen’s Derby as the current leading 4-year-old, with wins in the Bonanza and the Ike Hamilton Derby, as well. The Dual Rey daughter’s Cattlemen’s Derby payout was worth $13,250 for her owners and breeders, Kevin and Sydney Knight, Weatherford, Tex.
Matt Miller also placed sixth in the Cattlemen’s Derby with 217.5 points on Catty Duals, by Catty Hawk, owned by Janice Eaton, Peachland, BC.
Co-reserve champion Maggic Mike $60,971, sired by Metallic Cat and shown by his owner, Salvador Cabral, Jacksboro, Tex., placed ninth in the NCHA Futurity, and was a 2019 finalist in the Abilene Spectacular and the Ike Hamilton Futurity. Maggic Mike is a full brother to Metallic Rebel $411,837, the 2017 NCHA Open Horse of the Year.
DMAC Kodiak, shown by Clint Allen for David and Stacie McDavid, Fort Worth, Tex., placed fourth and earned $12,000 with 220 points, the third-highest score of the Finals. The Metallic Cat gelding had previously earned money as a semi-finalist in the NCHA Futurity.
Clint Allen was also a Cattlemen’s Derby finalist riding the Kit Kat Sugar gelding DMAC Doggfather $37,663, owned by the McDavids, and NCHA Futurity Open Semi-Finalist Boons Metallic, by Metallic Cat, owned by Brian Elliot, Nandaly, Victoria.