Rollz Royce LTE $201,485 and Beau Galyean, last to work in the 99-horse second go-round of the NCHA Kit Kat Sugar Stakes Open Classic, matched the top combined score of 441.5 points earned by Cinca Im Hot LTE $192,409, by Spots Hot, and CR WRS Royal Tee LTE $98,878, by WR This Cats Smart, both shown by Jesse Lennox in the fourth set of the memorable day.
In the end, 6-year-old Dual Rey gelding Reysin Kittens LTE $182,226 and Grant Setnicka, who immediately preceded the 5-year-old Dual Smart Rey son Rollz Royce and Galyean, tipped the balance with a 219-point run and a combined score of 437.5, and raised the Classic Open Finals qualifying bubble to 437 points. Among the on-the-bubble qualifiers was 5-year-old Reystylin Smooth LTE $63,828, by Smooth As A Cat, shown by Adan Banuelos for Ten/27 Ranch, who scored 221 points to tie for the second go-round win with 6-year-old High Brow Cat gelding HR Cats Starlight LTE $211,847 and Tarin Rice, who fell just short of the bubble.
Jesse Lennox, showing 6-year-old Cinca Im Hot and and 6-year-old CR WRS Royal Tee for Rocking P Ranch, Fort Worth, Tex., came into the fourth set of the second go-round off of first round scores of 222 and 223 points, respectively. In the second round, Lennox claimed 219.5 and 218.5 points on Cinca Im Hot and CR WRS Royal Tee for matching combined scores of 441.5 points.
R.L. Chartier, riding 6-year-old Crafty With Cows LTE $340,795, by High Brow CD, for Carol Ward, Rancho, Murieta, Calif., marked 220.5 points to earn a combined score of 440 points, the second-highest qualifying score. Matt Miller, aboard 6-year-old Metallic Smart Cat LTE $143,542, sired by Metallic Cat and owned by Cynthia Villa, Chico, Calif., scored 219.5 to qualify with 439.5 combined points, as did Lloyd Cox with 219 points on Jimmie Miller Smith–owned Copperish LTE $217,178, a 6-year-old Metallic Cat daughter, who scored 220.5 in the first go-round.
In addition to Cinca Im Hot and CR WRS Royal Tee, Jesse Lennox also qualified for the Classic finals with 438 (219 and 219) aboard 5-year-old Little Redd Corvette LTE $30,816, by top 10 leading sire Metallic Cat, also owned by Rocking P Ranch.
The NCHA Kit Kat Sugar Stakes continues on Sunday with the first go-round of the Open Super Stakes. The Super Stakes Classic Open Limited Finals, with eleven finalists, including Classic Open Finals qualifier One Sneaky Bluegrass, will be held on Thursday, April 4, following the Super Stakes Open second go-round. The Super Stakes Open Semi-Finals is scheduled for Friday, April 5 at 10:00 am, and the Super Stakes Classic Open Finals will be held on Saturday, April 6, at 1:00 p.m., followed by the Super Stakes Open Finals.