The third time was the charm for NCHA Eastern Nationals $15,000 Amateur champion Heidi Denis, Geneva, Fla. Denis, the NCHA earner of $27,821, and her 11-year-old mare, Dualin Pepto Rio, had been Eastern Nationals $15,000 Amateur finalists in 2017 and 2018, but staked their claim to the 2019 title with a 221 point win on Friday, in Jackson, Miss.
Denis and Dualin Pepto Rio made their first mark together at Jackson in 2016, when they placed fifth in the $35,000 Non-Pro finals; and the following year, they were third in the same division. On Monday, March 11, they will compete in the $35,000 Non-Pro go-round, with an eye toward the finals, later the same day.
Sired by Pepto Rio Playboy, Dualin Pepto Rio LTE $33,774 was bred by Tim Brewer, who showed her dam, DPS Lenas Lucinda LTE $70,987, successfully as an amateur, non-pro and open limited age event finalist. DPS Lenas Lucinda is the dam of 13 NCHA earners of $352,966, including Dualin Pepto Rio’s full brother, CR Lucys Playboy LTE $95,802.
Chase Lackey, Burlington, N.C., scored 219 points on 13-year-old Stellas Lil Scoot LTE $103,572, to earn the $15,000 Amateur reserve championship. Lackey, the NCHA earner of $18,172, had been a 2017 Eastern National $15,000 Amateur finalist riding Gun Metal Blue LTE $31,200, by Metallic Cat, and last year, placed third in the $2,000 Rider finals aboard Bright Little Boon LTE $27,822, by Bet On Me 498. He also placed ninth in the 2018 NCHA $15,000 Amateur World Finals and ranked 14thh in the $15,000 Amateur World standings, riding Stellas Lil Scoot; and showed Carnevale Cat LTE $12,884, by Smooth As A Cat, to place in the finals of the 2018 NCHA Super Stakes Classic.
Stellas Lil Scoot, by Smart Lil Scoot, was bred by Lach Perks out of his 2000 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro champion Stella Starlight LTE $292,408. Stellas Lil Scoot was a successful non-pro limited age event competitor at four with Dustin Adams, and as a 5- and 6-year-old with Sherry Graham.
Grant Martin, Hensley, Ark., scored 216 points for third place riding 10-year-old Cats Playtime LTE $12,298, by Smooth As A Cat. Martin, the NCHA earner of $32,019, won last year’s Eastern Nationals $15,000 Amateur riding TR Reyn Dancer LTE $15,333, by TR Dual Rey, and also placed sixth in the NCHA Futurity Amateur finals on CD Stylish Catt, by Sophisticated Catt. Earlier this year, Martin and CD Stylish Catt LTE $11,316, placed seventh in both the Ike Hamilton Futurity and Arbuckle Mountain 4-Year-Old finals.