Quintan Blue, at six already the youngest horse to gain the ranks of cutting’s all-time Top 15 money-earners, moved into the Top 10 with a record-breaking 229-point win in the National Cutting Horse Association’s Open Classic Challenge on Monday, July 16 in Fort Worth, TX. The win was worth $50,000 to owner Marvine Ranch, Meeker, CO, and increased Quintan Blue’s lifetime total to more than $560,000.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen,” said rider Roger Wagner of his chance for a win on Quintan Blue in her last Triple Crown event. “The odds seemed too much against it with me being last and with the cows being pretty tough. It was something that was hanging over my head – not to win on her in this arena.”
Wagner, who has ridden the Mecom Blue daughter in open competition since her debut as reserve champion of the 2004 NCHA Futurity, drew last to work in the 25-horse NCHA Classic Challenge. At that point, Lynx Of Style held the lead with 226 points under John Mitchell for Slate River Ranch.
“Quintan Blue was meant to win,” said Mitchell (pictured, on right, with Wagner), who held herd for Wagner. “She’s just that calibre. She’s going to go out as one of the best ever.”
Quintan Blue is fluid yet quick, graceful yet gritty, flashy yet elegant, and thoroughly professional. You can see her sizing the cattle up as Wagner rides through the herd. In a fair face off with a cow, she is seldom tricked.
“She stayed everywhere she had to be, thought all the way through the turns and never missed a beat,” said Wagner, who cut three cows for the winning run. “The eye appeal on that mare is outstanding. She can dazzle them.”
Quintan Blue’s score is a record for the Classic Challenge. Alice Walton’s Boon San Kittywon last year’s event with a 228.
Quintan Blue was owned by Jim Vangilder, Jackson, MO, when she was reserve champion of the 2000 NCHA Futurity. Wagner and Vangilder doubled up on the mare placing in 20 limited age events with five championships through early 2006, when Quintan Blue was purchased by Marvine Ranch owned by Goldman Sachs’ president and co-CEO Jon Winkelried.
The Classic Challenge marks Quintan Blue’s 12th major championship win — her sixth consecutive win in 2007.