Pounce, who last year at four claimed three major reserve championships, including the NCHA Derby, which was won by her stablemate and 2010 NCHA Horse of the Year LHR Smooth Jamie May, took the lead  on the first day of XTO Energy Super Stakes Classic Open competition with 222 points in Fort Worth.

“She is good in this arena and she was really good today,” said Hanson, who had lost a cow on LHR Smooth Jamie May, owned by South Lazy H Ranch, just seconds before the buzzer in the first set of the day.

Pounce, a 5-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat owned by Julie Clarke, worked midway through the third set.

Fiesta Zack marked 221 points, yesterday’s second-highest score, under Casey Morris, as the first horse in the sixth set. The 6-year-old son of Zack T Wood is owned by Bobby and Francie Butler.

“When I get it done on him, he’s really good,” said Morris. “He has a unique way of moving – it’s soft and easy, yet he’s very powerful.”

Fiesta Zack, who has been a finalist in four limited age events with Morris, was trained by Sean Flynn; the Butlers purchased him prior to the 2008 NCHA Futurity.

Play On Lizzy and Matt Budge tallied 220.5 points – yesterday’s third highest score – in the third set, just one slot after Budge’s ride on ARC Ruby Playgunia, owned, as is Play On Lizzy, by Jackpot Ranch.
“The other horse is one of my favorites, but it was a complete wreck,” said Budge of his run aboard ARC Ruby Playgunia.

“It kind of rattled me, but my buddy Jason Clark saved me. He told me to settle down and get back in the game.”

“Six-year-old Play On Lizzy, by Lizzys Gotta Player, has placed in 9 limited age events under Budge. Five-year-old ARC Ruby Playgunia, by Playgun, placed third with Budge in the 2010 Bonanza.
Budge also scored 218 points in the seventh set riding 5-year-old High Brow Cat gelding Im Catman, the NCHA earner of $175,000 for Reata Cutting Horses.