Countin Hot Checks, shown by Jaime Snider, and Dual Clay, under Grant Setnicka, tied with 228 points for the championship of the Brazos Bash Open Derby on September 21, in Weatherford, Tex. Sanctus and Rodrigo Taboga was next with 225.5, and Twice In Santiago, shown by Adan Banuelos, placed fourth with 222.5 points, the third-highest score.

Dual Clay  and Countin Hot Checks each earned a payout of $19,000; Sanctus received $16,000; and Twice In Santiago claimed $14,000.

Owned and bred by Jamie Hill, Bastrop, Tex., Countin Hot Checks LTE $79,425, by Hottish, is the first money earner out of Cat Countin Checks LTE $168,987, who Hill showed to win the 2014 NCHA Super Stakes Classic Non-Pro Limited. Last month, Countin Hot Checks and Jaime Snider won the West Texas Derby Open Intermediate, and earlier in the year also claimed first in the Arbuckle Mountain Open Novice.

Jaime Snider, the NCHA earner of $1,044,493, also won the 2013 Brazos Bash Classic on Sly Playgirl LTE $332,135, by That Sly Cat.

Dual Clay LTE $69,792, sired by Dual Rey and owned by J Five Horse Ranch, Weatherford, Tex., was bred by Rick Beck, Hemet, Calif., out of the Freckles Playboy daughter Play Like Clay LTE $78,884, an NCHA Futurity and Super Stakes finalist under Lindy Burch. Play Like Clay is the dam of seven earners of $188,466, including Metallic Player LTE $75,901, by Metallic Cat.

Since her debut with Setnicka as a 2019 NCHA Futurity semi-finalist, Dual Clay has placed fourth in the NCHA Derby and been a finalist in the Bonanza, the Arbuckle Mountain Derby, and the Idaho 4-Year-Old Futurity.

Grant Setnicka, the NCHA Hall of Fame earner of $3,142,688, was also a finalist in this year’s Brazos Bash Classic on Lady Metallic LTE $65,209, by Metallic Cat, and Brazos Bash Futurity on Smoother Lookin Cat LTE $5,941, by Smooth As A Cat.

Sanctus LTE $126,361, the top money earner of 2020 with wins in the NCHA Derby, the Cattlemen’s Derby, The Non-Pro and Open, and the West Texas Derby, is owned by Scott Durham, Fort Worth, Tex. Sired by High Brow Cat and bred by Isidro Sigala, Weatherford, Tex., Sanctus is out of the Dual Rey daughter Sofie Rey $148,557, who has produced nine earners of $301,330, including Sofies Choice Cat $60,025.

Rodrigo Taboga is the NCHA earner of $469,139, who also won the 2020 Brazos Bash Classic Open Limited, claimed the reserve championship, and placed fourth on Rocky Mountain Blues LTE $65,838, Metallics MVP LTE $145,936, and Hottshot LTE $33,274, respectively. Taboga also placed ninth in the 3-Year-Old Open on Generator LTE $26,263.

Reserve champion under Adan Banuelos in the 2019 NCHA Futurity, Twice In Santiago LTE $256,587 was bred and is owned by Double Dove Ranch, Fort Worth, Tex. The Once In A Blu Boon daughter, half-sister to seven earners of $996,445, including Pedel To The Metall LTE $270,033, also shown by Banuelos, has claimed four major 2020 Open reserve championships: NCHA Derby, Arbuckle Mountain, Cattlemens Derby, and West Texas Derby.

Adan Banuelos is the NCHA Hall of Fame earner of $3,352,216.

The Brazos Bash continues through Sept. 27.