Elizabeth Quirk of Denham Springs, Louisiana, put together scores of 222 and 219 to lead the qualifiers for the Non-Pro Classic Challenge at the NCHA Metallic Cat Summer Cutting Spectacular in Fort Worth on Sunday.
Her 441 on Catillac Reys put her in front of Langston Pattillo with 439 on Miss Lacey, followed by Chad Bushaw (Bittersweet), Kylie Rice (Crey Zee) and Missy Jean Etheridge (Metallic Royal Mate), all at 437.5.
Quirk, who was inducted into the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame in 2017, won the Breeders Invitational Non-Pro Classic last year with Catillac Reys. The Metallic Cat gelding was bred by Michelle Cannon out of Tootsie Rey. Catillac Reys has earned more than $220,000 including Open reserve champions with Adan Banuelos in the 2018 NCHA Derby, and in the NCHA Classic Challenge at this show.
Twenty-two horses marked 434 or better to advance to Wednesday’s Non-Pro Classic Challenge finals.
Langston Pattillo of St. Elmo, Illinois, is an NCHA earner of $419,000. He is heading to the finals with a 439 on Miss Lacey, a six-year-old mare by Kit Kat Sugar out of Smart Gemolena that he rode to win the Unlimited Amateur at the Bonanza earlier this year.
Pattillo is also advancing on Shesa Tuff Teaspoon (436), a Woody Be Tuff mare he rode for the reserve championship in last year’s NCHA Derby. He also showed her in the Amateur Classic Challenge finals last week.