Play Miss, who placed third to Copaspepto and Hydrive Cat in last year’s Memphis Futurity, defeated both horses in the 2008 Tunica (formerly Memphis) 5/6 Classic tonight. Ridden by John Mitchell for Slate River Ranch, the 5-year-old Playgun daughter scored 223.5 points for a $20,000 share of the purse. Pet Squirrel, ridden by Roger Wagner, placed second with 220.5 points.
Pet Squirrel had won the first go-round with 219.5 points, but Sophisticated Catt, with Phil Hanson, claimed the second round with 221 and tallied 440 points for high cumulative. Play Miss and Pet Squirrel ranked among the top 10 (from 28 finals qualifiers) with 434.5 and 433.5.
Play Miss entered the Tunica Classic with $102,499 in earnings, $41,000 of which came as the reserve champion to Wood I Never in the 2007 NCHA Derby.
Roger Wagner, who rides Pet Squirrel for Jim Vangilder, also scored 219 on Justa Lil Freck to split 3/4 with Faith In My Cat, and 218 on Dont Hick Up to split 5/7 with Shes Icing Onthecat and Taylor Maid Cat.
Tunica winnings increased Pet Squirrel’s earnings to just under the $300,000 mark. The 6-year-old Playdox daughter, out of Squirrel Tooth Alice, by CD Olena, has won seven major open and non-pro events. She was bred by Glade Knight, owner of Slate River Ranch and Play Miss, as well as Playdox and Bobs Freckles, sire of Justa Lil Freck and Dont Hick Up.
Copaspepto, recent winner of the Augusta 5/6 Classic, scored 212 as the seventh horse to work in the 14-horse first set; Play Miss worked sixth in the second set; Pet Squirrel drew 13th in the first.
Here’s a look at the finalists in the Tunica Open Classic:
| 223.5 | Play Miss, R: Mitchell, John; O: Slate River Ranch m (Playgun x Missuma, by Smart Little Lena) Earned: $20,000; Prior LTE: $102,499 |
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| 220.5 | Pet Squirrel, R: Wagner, Roger; O: Vangilder, Jim m (Playdox x Squirrel Tooth Alice, by CD Olena) Earned: $15,914; Prior LTE: $271,339 |
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| 219.0 | Faith In My Cat, R: Allen, Clint; O: Wrigley Ranches s (High Brow Cat x Faith In Your Mate, by Smart Mate) Earned: $11,540; Prior LTE: $70,093 |
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| 219.0 | Justa Lil Freck, R: Gann, Todd; O: Aldridge Farm m (Bobs Freckle x Justa Lil Tomboy, by Freckles Playboy) Earned: $11,540; Prior LTE: $17,883 |
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| 218.0 | A Taylor Maid Cat, R: Clark, Jason; O: Blanton, Darren G (High Brow Cat x Taylor Maid Wood, by Zack T Wood) Earned: $8,734; Prior LTE: $3,260 |
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| 218.0 | Dont Hick Up, R: Wagner, Roger; O: Vangilder, Jim m (Bobs Freckle x Play Up Hickory, by Freckles Playboy) Earned: $8,734; Prior LTE: $116,259 |
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| 218.0 | Shes Icing Onthe Cat, R: Galyean, Wesley; O: Jackson, Kenneth m (High Brow Cat x Smart Lucinda Lena, by Smart Little Lena) Earned: $8,734; Prior LTE: $235,449 |
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| 217.5 | Boogie Boon, R: Gaines, Matt; O: Manion, Gaines, Manion s (Smart Little Lena x Autumn Boon, by Dual Pep) Earned: $7,388; Prior LTE: $31,275 |
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| 217.0 | Rey Jay Play, R: Hanson, Phil; O: Lazy H Ranch m (Dual Rey x Play Who, by Freckles Playboy) Earned: $6,714; Prior LTE: $154,793 |
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| 216.5 | Chic Ka Ching Chic, R: Galyean, Jody; O: Bergquist, Richard m (A Chic In Time x Lucky Little Jewel, by Smart Little Lena) Earned: $6,041; Prior LTE: $14,251 |
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| 216.0 | San Tule Uno, R: Shepard, Austin; O: Bowman, Mike & Libby s (San Tule Freckles x Smart Little Thunder, by Smart Little Uno) Earned: $4,694; Prior LTE: $357,851 |
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| 216.0 | Hydrive Cat, R: Allen, Clint; O: Buffalo Ranch s (High Brow Cat x Ruby Tuesday DNA, by Peppy San Badger) Earned: $4,694; Prior LTE: $333,913 |
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| 216.0 | Miss Rey Hickory, R: Chartier, Randy; O: Wrobbel, Kenneth m (Dual Rey x Miss Dry Hickory, by Doc’s Hickory) Earned: $4,694; Prior LTE: $20,279 |
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| 214.5 | Lil Liza Mecom Blue, R: Johnson, Ben; O: Quirk, Todd m (Mecom Blue x Precious Liza Lena, by Smart Little Lena) Earned: $3,347; Prior LTE: $12,377 |
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| 214.0 | Ruby Tuesdays Color, R: Budge, Matt; O: Jackpot Ranch m (Color Me Smart x Ruby Tuesday DNA, by Peppy San Badger) Earned: $2,673; Prior LTE: $106,337 |
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| 213.5 | Putiton My Visa Mate, R: Clark, Jason; O: DMI Land & Cattle g (Smart Mate x Visa Lena, by Shorty Lena) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $4,953 |
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| 213.0 | Herb Merada, R: Cooper, Michael; O: Davis, Joe Wes Jr. G (Meradas Money Talks x Herbs Lady, by Grays Starlight) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $52,611 |
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| 212.0 | Bodee Jazz, R: Morris, Casey; O: Butler, Bobby & Francie m (Bodee Boonsmal x Royal Jazzy 195, by Eatin Out) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $56,770 |
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| 212.0 | Cats Live Oak, R: Blakesley, Dirk; O: Stallkamp, Dale m (High Brow Cat x Peppys Live Oak, by Doc’s Oak) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $28,643 |
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| 212.0 | Copaspepto, R: Rice, Tag; O: Marvine Ranch g (Peptoboonsmal x Miss Martini Play, by Freckles Playboy) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $300,455 |
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| 211.0 | Ginas Cat, R: Shepard, Austin; O: Davis, Lynn s (High Brow Cat x Gina Badger, by Peppy San Badger) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $55,235 |
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| 211.0 | Sophisticated Catt, R: Hanson, Phil; O: Feister, Keith s (High Brow Cat x Shania Cee, by Peppy Boy 895) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $48,528 |
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| 210.0 | SDP Buffalo Bill, R: Smith, Greg; O: Plummer, David s (High Brow Cat x Ruby Tuesday DNA, by Peppy San Badger) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $82,111 |
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| 208.0 | Chiquita Boon, R: Johnson, Ben; O: Noble, Arthur G (Blue Bayou Boon x Smart Lil Chiquita, by Smart Little Lena) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $32,297 |
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| 0.0 | MH San Tules Dually, R: Shepar, Austin; O: Shepard, Austin & Stacy m (San Tule Freckles x Joses Dually, by Dual Pep) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $97,198 |
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| 0.0 | Wild Haired Cat, R: Allen, Clint; O: Fitzgerald, Pat s (High Brow Cat x Miss Echo Wood, by Doctor Wood) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $124,316 |
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| 0.0 | Mates Locked In, R: Clark, Jason; O: Blanton, Darren g (Smart Mate x Lock The Door, by Doc’s Hickory) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $72,307 |
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| 0.0 | Little Pepto Patti, R: Gaines, Matt; O: Banawien Ranch m (Peptoboonsmal x Just Lena, by Genuine Peppy) Earned: $2,000; Prior LTE: $80,663 |
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