A Star Is Borne, lived up to her name on September 5, when she claimed the championship of the Cotton Stakes Open Futurity, in West Monroe, La. Shown by Michael Cooper for Belle Terre Ranch, Corinth, Miss., the Boon Too Suen daughter scored 222 points for her first official paycheck. Bred by Rose Valley Ranch, A Star Is Borne is out of the Smooth As A Cat daughter Holly Is Smooth LTE $225,782, dam of three NCHA money earners, including Yall Count Me In LTE $85,768 and Hesa Money Maker LTE $83,948, by Im Countin Checks.

Metallic Sweetness was awarded the reserve championship and $8,200, her first career check, for a 221.5-point performance under Russ Westfall. Owned by Jerry Rava, Paso Robles, Calif., Metallic Sweetness is out of the Peptoboonsmal daughter A Spoonful O Sugar, an NRCHA earner of $78,414.

Third-placed Sweet Lil Aristo came into the Cotton Stakes with $14,852 earned as West Texas Futurity Open reserve champion and Open Gelding winner. Shown by Beau Galyean and bred and owned by Jerry and Vickie Durant, Weatherford, Tex., the Sweet Lil Pepto-sired gelding is out of the Smart Aristocrat daughter Aristo Katz LTE $260,144, dam of 15 NCHA earners of $641,914.

The Cotton Stakes continues through Sunday, September 8.