Matt Gaines, catch riding for Jeremy Barwick, marked 231 on CD April Fool to win the Mercuria Energy NCHA World Series Open finals at the All American Quarter Horse Congress this evening. A packed house of more than 3,500 cutting fans watched the performance.

 

CD April Fool went over the $100,000 mark with the win. The 10-year-old CD Olena gelding is owned by Andy and Doogie Wilson of Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Sitting 11th in the NCHA World Standings before the show, CD April Fool’s $9,023 payday will take him will move him up to fourth place in the 2010 rankings. The top five horses in the standings are now World Series veterans.

Gaines is no stranger to big scores: he also marked 231 back in 2001, winning the NCHA Super Stakes on Sunettes Dually, a long-time record in Will Rogers Coliseum.

Gaines wife, Tara, placed third in the Non-Pro finals of the World Series, riding Patrick La Dual.

As the last rider in the Open, Austin Shepard lost a cow on MH San Tules Dually, so he slipped the mare’s bridle off and completed his run to the cheers of the crowd.

In the Non-Pro finals, Lauren Middleton of Flora, Mississippi and Cees Little Poo marked 227 for a six-point win over Ken Sitton on RCC Skeet N Scooter. It was her third major win of the year on the SR Instant Choice gelding, following Non-Pro and Novice Non-Pro victories at the NCHA Eastern National Championships.

Buster Quirk and Playin At The Mall won the 4-Star Trailer Shoot-Out.