High Brow CD and Austin Shepard nailed three cows for a 224-point win last night in the NCHA Futurity Open Semi-Finals. Peptos Stylish Sue was runner-up with 221.5 under Boyd Rice.
“He had it on his mind,” said Shepard of High Brow CD’s lock on the cattle. Shepard drew late in the fourth herd, after Rice had set the hurdle as the last rider in the second bunch.
“We had a few cows that we wanted and our first two were right there on the front,” said Shepard. “I got in a little bit of a hurry at the end and was probably about to cut the wrong cow. But my help told me to slow down and cut shape and that’s what I did.”
High Brow CD, owned by Arthur Noble, Madison, MS, placed second in the first go-round with 221 points and earned the second-highest go-round aggregate of 437, behind Special Nu Kitty with Clint Allen for Wrigley Ranches.
“He got a little bit defensive about three days ago,” said Shepard of the colt, who he had been working in the practice pen, following the second go-round on December 2. “The cattle were kind of sorry, so I took him to James Hooper’s place and worked him there the last two days (before the Semi-Finals). It’s really relieved a lot of pressure from him.
“He’s really smart and if you put him in a lot of bad spots, he’ll start to stay inside a cow too much rather than take a big chance. He wants to do what’s right. Tonight, I could feel him get comfortable right off the bat.”
Noble purchased the High Brow Cat son for $63,000, at the 2005 NCHA Futurity Sales, from breeder Wendel Ranches. This past Wednesday, Sweet Little Kitten, a full sister to High Brow CD, sold for $93,000 during Western Bloodstock’s Invitational Yearling Sale.
Sweet Little CD, by CD Olena, the dam of High Brow CD, is out of Sweet Lil Lena, a full sister to Smart Lil Scoot, sire of Philip Layne’s 2007 NCHA Futurity Amateur and Non-Pro Limited champion Dual Ya Scoot, as well as Open finalists Moms Stylish Scoot, with Jason Clark for Darren Blanton, and Playware, under Austin Shepard for Von Sutten.
Sweet Lil Lena is also the dam of Sweet Lil Pepto, sire of Some Kinda Sweety, a finalist in tonight’s NCHA Open Futurity under Shannon Hall for Clay McCullar, and Pepto Taz, sire of Heza Smart Taz, a finalist with Michael Copper for George Ward.
Shepard was a finalist in the 2004 NCHA Futurity aboard Cats Good Intentions, and in 2005 on CDs Nitty Gritty. He also rode Widows Intentions as 2006 Super Stakes Classic champion and NCHA Derby reserve champion.