Skip Queen and Sister CD made a clean sweep last night with a 224-point win in the Ford NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Classic. Last year the duo won the Non-Pro Super Stakes with 222 points.
“Paul (Hansma) had him ready for me and my help had the three cows I cut picked out,” said Queen. “There were some great horses and great competitors tonight. We were just fortunate that it worked out for us. It just happened to be our night.”
Queen drew midway through the second bunch.
“The first set of cattle were really tough,” noted Queen. “The second set started that way, but then we had a couple of runs put together right before me. So the momentum started building and it all kind of fell together.
“Anytime you win, it’s great,” he added. “He’s been such a great horse for us. He has a big stop, a lot of eye appeal, and a big heart. He’s the whole package.”
Last year’s leading money earner with $311,596, Sister CD, by CD Olena, was bred by the Bar H Ranche, Weatherford, TX, the leading breeder of cutting horses in 2006. He was trained by Paul Hansma, and purchased at three by Queen and his wife Elizabeth, who rode two Non-Pro Classic finalists last night, including CD Hombre, by CD Olena.
Paul Hansma, the leading cutting horse trainer in 2006, ranked fifth among all-time leading NCHA riders, won the 2006 Abilene Spectacular, as well as the Breeders Invitational and the NCHA Gelding Stakes on Sister CD, who is out of Little Baby Sister, by Dual Pep.
Reserve Champion Wesley Galyean placed as reserve champion with 222.5 points on his stallion Spots Hot, the earner of more than $480,000. Galyean rode Spots Hot as champion of the 2004 NCHA Open Futurity and as reserve champion of last year’s Super Stakes Non-Pro Classic.
Last night, Galyean drew the unenviable last hole to work in the 27-horse finals.
“We felt we got some good cows for where we were,” said Galyean. “He was trying his heart out and I was trying my heart out. We just went down there and did as good as we could do.”
Spots Hot, by Chula Dual, drew double duty yesterday, performing breeding duties at EE Ranches Stallion Station, Whitesboro, TX, in the morning.
“He knows the program and he’s a cowhorse,” said Galyean. “He knows his job both places. It’s just a privilege to be on his back and ride him.”