Peptos Stylish Miss and John Mitchell seized the day. With 222 points midway through yesterday’s first set of cattle, they tied Playin At The Mall and Austin Shepard for the Classic Challenge Open first go-round win.

Lil Bit Reckless and owner Russ Westfall marked 221 points in the second set to tie MC Chiquita Catolena and Lee Francois (who worked on Sunday) with the second-highest score of the go-round.

“She’s six and it’s her last shot in the building here,” said Mitchell, who trained Peptos Stylish Miss for Slate River Ranch of Weatherford, TX. “I always feel the pressure a little bit on a special one like that. I think she’s the best horse that I ever rode.

“No matter what you’re doing with her, in the arena or at home every day, she’s all about trying.”

Peptos Stylish Miss has earned over $260,000 under Mitchell and has been an open finalist in five NCHA Triple Crown events at Will Rogers Coliseum, as well as reserve champion three times in other major limited age venues.

The Peptoboonsmal daughter, out of Stylish And Foxie, is a full sister to 5-year-old Eyez On Me, a $100,000-plus money earner, who will be ridden in today’s second go-round by Bill Riddle. Riddle also trained full sister Miss Stylish Pepto, the earner of over $215,000. Mitchell shows Slate River geldings Smooth Asa Zee and Aristo Twister in today’s go-round, as well.

Lil Bit Reckless

Russ Westfall qualified three mounts for the second go-round, but Lil Bit Reckless was his star in the first round with 221 points.

“It all fit,” said Westfall of yesterday’s ride on the 6-year-old CD Royal daughter, who he shares with his wife, Janet.

Last April, Lil Bit Reckless, who has career earnings of over $130,000, carried Janet for sixth place in the NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Classic, as well as Russ as an open division finalist.

“She’s really strong and physical and a pretty mover,” said Russ. “She’s a lot like her mother and her father, both.”
The Westfalls bred Lil Bit Reckless and also own her sire.

Dees Mr Charles

Dees Mr Charles and Sam Shepard had the pick of the herd in yesterday’s fifth set, where they drew up second to work.

“The first two cows were great,” said Shepard, who cut for shape on a third cow and marked 220.5 points.

“He’s been a very consistent, dependable horse his whole show career,” said Shepard of the 5-year-old gelding sired by Its Just About Me and owned by Sue and Edley Hixson.

Shepard showed Dees Mr Charles as 2009 NCHA Super Stakes Open Gelding champion and open finalist, when the horse was owned Louis Noto of Back Fence Videos

This year at the NCHA Eastern National Championships, Dees Mr Charles and Shepard won the $10,000 Novice division; placed second in the $3,000 Novice; and claimed third in the Open.

Cats Little Tank

The cat yesterday’s “Tank” must have been a tiger.

“It was almost more horse than I could ride,” said Paul Hansma, half in jest, following his 220-point performance on Dub and Christy Leeth’s 6-year-old High Brow Cat son.

“That was a little wilder than I like, but it was all right.”

Cats Little Tank and Hansma won the 2009 Music City Futurity Classic; the 2009 Bonanza Classic; and took reserve in the 2009 Brazos Bash Classic.
Christy Leeth also claimed third with him in the 2008 Brazos Bash Non-Pro and the 2008 Texas Futurity.

A three-quarter sister, Cat N Gail,  to Cats Little Tank ($124,149) and Catspurrs ($87,879) sells in the NCHA Summer Spectacular Sale here on Saturday, July 31, along with her yearling Boonlight Dancer filly and weanling Dual Rey colt

Rey Down Sally

Rey Down Sally began her career as third-placed finalist in the 2007 NCHA Futurity under Gary Gonsalves, who showed her yesterday to earn 219.5 points in the first go-round

“It would be nice to get show her one more time here (in the finals),” said Gonsalves, who has earned over $350,000 on the Dual Rey daughter owned by  Iron Rose Ranch.

Rey Down Sally won the Breeders Invitational under Gonsalves at four and five and claimed reserve in the same event this past spring, shortly after she was an open finalist in the NCHA Super Stakes Classic.

Rey Down Sally was bred by Sue Hearst, mother of Gonsalves’ wife, Jessica, who showed the mare’s dam in non-pro competition.
Carly Charelli showed Kit Rock Star, owned by the Gonsalves’, to place second in yesterday’s Senior Youth go-round won by Kendall Lee on Spoonful Of Lena.