The NCHA Eastern Nationals presented by 6666 Ranch began its 10-day schedule on Thursday, March 4, in Jackson, Miss., with the $25,000 Novice go-round, where a score of 215.5 points or higher qualified 27 of the 69 entrants for the finals.
Bet Shesa Martini 15 LTE $35,949, owned by Rogillio Farms, Ethel, La., posted the high score of 221.5 points. Shown by Brett Davis, the NCHA Hall of Fame earner of over $2.2 million, the 6-Year-Old Bet Hesa Cat daughter was reserve champion of the 2019 AQHA Congress Open Futurity and placed in this year’s Ike Hamilton 5/6 Open Novice. She was also shown by Trey Rogillio to place seventh in the 2021 Ike Hamilton 5/6 Amateur and was Amateur 5/6 champion of the 2020 Southern Futurity, as well as Amateur Intermediate reserve champion of the 2019 Southern 4-Year-Old Futurity.
Bred by James Eakin, Bet Shesa Martini 15 is out of the Dual Rey daughter Dual Martini, an unshown sibling to earners of over $1.2 million, including Copaspepto LTE $417,440, by Peptoboonsmal, and Stylish Martini LTE $361,920, by Docs Stylish Oak.
Brett Davis has won four NCHA Eastern National championships and three reserves. He won the Open championship in 2010 on A Track Runs Thru It LTE $108,312, by DJ Tracker, and in 2001 on Son Of Olena LTE $39,091. He also won the Novice in 2006 and 2003, and was reserve champion of the $25,000 Novice in 2019 with High Brow Playmaker LTE $36,254, as well as reserve champion the 2016 Open on Divas On Time LTE $179,620 and of the 1995 Open on San Jo Lisa.
Gettin Hott In Here LTE $40,149, a 7-year-old Hottish son shown by owner Ryan Moore, Birch Tree, Mo., earned 221 points, Thursday’s second-highest score. Gettin Hott In Here has earned money in five previous NCHA Eastern National finals, including last year as an Open, $25,000 Novice and $5,000 Novice finalist with Moore, who is the NCHA earner of $391,620.
Hott Cat LTE $33,893 scored 220.5 points to place third. The 8-year Spots Hot daughter, shown by Ben Roberson for Larry and Renee Sullivan, Poolville, Tex., was a 2019 NCHA Western Nationals finalist with Roberson in the $25,000 Novice and $5,000 Novice, as well as a $15,000 Amateur finalist with Larry Sullivan. Ben Roberson is the NCHA earner of $569,221,
The NCHA Eastern National Championships continue through March 13, 2021.