The 2019 Brazos Bash, which began on September 18 in the Silverado Arena, in Weatherford, Tex., and concludes on Sunday, September 29, has already awarded nearly $450,000 to finalists in the Open Futurity, Derby and Classic, including a $20,000 winner’s share to 3-Year-Old Futurity champion A Star Is Borne, shown by Michael Cooper; $20,000 to 4-Year-Old Derby champion Hot Lookin Cat, shown by John Mitchell; and $20,000 to Reystylin Smooth, shown by Adan Banuelos in the 5/6-year-old.
A Star Is Borne marked 222 for the title, ahead of Sticky Dual (219) and CR Stylish Lil Pepto (216.5). This is the second win in two starts for A Star Is Borne, owned and bred by Rose Valley Ranch, and sired by Rose Valley Ranch-owned Boon Too Suen.
The sorrel mare already won the Cotton Stakes, and the Brazos Bash takes her career total over $30,000. She is out of Holly Is Smooth, a Smooth As A Cat mare that earned over $225,000 with Open wins at Abilene and the AQHA World Show, as well as Non-Pro championships with Kyle Manion at the Bonanza and the NCHA Classic Challenge.
This was Michael Cooper’s third Brazos Bash win in a row. He was co-champion on Gato Borracho in 2017 and outright winner on Tears From Heaven last year.
Reserve champion Sticky Dual is a Dual Rey x One Time Rey Jay mare bred and owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses and ridden by Matt Miller. Her dam was reserve champion of the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in 2010.
CR Stylish Lil Pepto is a Sweet Lil Pepto mare out of CR Stylish Cheena, ridden by Chris Johnsrud for breeder Craig Robinson.
Brazos Bash Derby winner Hot Lookin Cat marked 223 to edge Warlock (222). Badboonarising and Lets Go Crazzy tied for third with 219 points.
Bred and owned by Glade Knight’s Slate River Ranch, Hot Lookin Cat is by Hottish out of Fancy Lookin Cat. As an NCHA Futurity finalist under John Mitchell, the gelding has now earned more than $114,000.
Reserve champion Warlock is a gelding by Metallic Cat our of $1.3 million producer Sweet Abra, bred and owned by Alvin Fults and ridden by Beau Galyean. Warlock is a full brother to 2017 NCHA Horse of the Year Metallic Rebel.
In third, Badboonarising is a son of Once In A Blu Boon ridden by Adan Banuelos for Plantation Farms, while Lets Go Crazzy is son of Metallic Cat out of Miss Ella Rey, owned by Jerry and Vickie Durant and ridden by Phil Hanson. He’s a full brother to NCHA Futurity champion Stevie Rey Von.
In the Classic, Reystylin Smooth is a 5-year-old Smooth As A Cat x Rey N Style gelding shown by Adan Banuelos for Ten/27 Ranch. He marked 223.5 to win from Duramax Dually (222.5) and Reyning Cats (221).
Banuelos has been the leading trainer so far at the show, with earnings of more than $63,000, more than $20,000 ahead of the next rider. Besides his Classic win, he placed third and fifth in the Derby, seventh in the Classic and had two finalists in the 3-year-old division.
Duramax Dually is a son of Dual Rey and That Catomine bred and owned by the Glover/Galyean Partnership and ridden by Wesley Galyean.
Reyning Cats is a 6-year-old Dual Rey mare out of XY Zee owned by Jerry and Suzanne Rava and ridden by Westfall.