When Sanctus wins, he wins big. And the West Texas Open Derby, on August 10 in Amarillo, Tex., was no exception. Shown by Rodrigo Taboga, for Scott Durham, Fort Worth, Tex., Sanctus gave a 228-point performance that topped the 226 points he scored in each of three previous championship wins. The West Texas Derby win also represents his fifth this year and makes him a six-figure earner, as well as the leading 2020 earner. Including his $10,000 West Texas Open winner’s share, as well as $6,500 as reserve champion of the Open Intermediate, Sanctus is the current earner of $110,361.

Sired by High Brow Cat and bred by Isidro Sigala, Weatherford, Tex., Sanctus is a full brother to Sofies Choice Cat LTE $59,735, out of Sofie Rey LTE $148,557.

Twice In Santiago, with Adan Banuelos for Double Dove Ranch, Fort Worth, scored 223 points for the West Texas Derby reserve championship. The Once In A Blu Boon daughter was also reserve champion to winner Sanctus in the NCHA Derby, as well as in the Cattlemen’s Derby, and was reserve champion to Metallic Rey Mink in the 2019 NCHA Futurity.

Bred by Double Dove Ranch, Twice In Santiago LTE $240,337 (including $9,000 from the West Texas Derby) is the top money earner among cutting horse foals of 2016. Her dam, Twice As Reycy LTE $194,141, by Dual Rey, has produced seven NCHA earners of $966,323, including Pedel To The Metall LTE $263,494 and Reycy Moon LTE $209,363.

Kat Play scored 222.5 points under Hayden Upton to place third and earn $8,400, in the West Texas Open Derby. The pair also won the Open Gelding Finals with 222.5 points, and placed third in the Open Intermediate Finals with 222 points. Sired by Kit Kat Sugar, Kat Play came to Amarillo with $9,534 earned primarily by Upton and owner Hal Harvey Keene, Weatherford, Tex., in the NCHA Derby, and earned a total of $16,005 for his West Texas Derby Open performances.