When the second round of the Open Classic Challenge wrapped up Tuesday at the NCHA Metallic Cat Summer Spectacular, Badboonarising, shown by Adan Banuelos for Plantation Farms, Denham Springs, La., remained in the lead with his cumulative score of 443 points.
Twenty-four horses marked 437 or better to advance to Wednesday’s Open finals. They bring along combined earnings of more than $3.5 million. Metallic Cat is represented by six of the finalists, while his sire, High Brow Cat, has four in the finals.
Sired by Once In A Blu Boon, 5-year-old Badboonarising LTE $289,845 currently ranks fifth in earnings among 5 & 6-year-old limited age event competitors. He was reserve champion of the 2018 NCHA Futurity with Banuelos, and has never placed less than tenth in ten other working finals, including the 2019 NCHA Super Stakes, where he was fourth.
Adan Banuelos, the NCHA Hall of Fame earner of over $3.2 million, was also reserve champion of the 2019 NCHA Futurity on Twice In Santiago LTE $208,853, owned by Double Dove Ranch, Fort Worth, Tex., who he qualified for Thursday’s second go-round of the NCHA Derby. In addition to Twice In Santiago, by Once In A Blu Boon, Banuelos also qualified Ireydescent LTE $50,597, owned by Brumbaugh Ranches, Aledo, Tex., and Bohemiann Rhapsody LTE $12,758, owned by Ten/27 Ranch, Denham Springs, La., for the second go-round of NCHA Derby competition, which concludes on Friday.
Summer Time Fun, ridden by Hall of Famer James Payne for Ty Moore, posted a cumulative score of 442.5, the second highest qualifying mark. The 5-year-old mare is by Metallic Cat out of Hey Georgy Girl, whose offspring are closing in on $500,000 in earnings. Payne was co-champion of last year’s NCHA Derby on Summer Time Fun.
Metallic Royal Mate $105,160, ridden by Rodrigo Taboga for Belle Terre Ranch, marked 220.5 to lead 16 qualifiers for the Open Intermediate finals to be held Thursday. The 6-year-old son of Metallic Cat and Royal Red Rinpoche also qualified for the Open finals. Taboga has ridden him to four Open Intermediate or Limited titles in aged events so far.
In addition, showing Metallics MVP $133,892, by Metallic Cat, for Billy Wolf, Whitesboro, Tex., Taboga scored 219 points to tie Justin White on Metallic Stardust, by Highbrow Cat, with the second-highest score, and also marked 218.5 points on The Dewd $110,930, by Metallic Cat, also owned by Belle Terre Ranch.
