“He’s a fun horse and he’s starting to mature and turn into a horse that would have a shot of winning some of these events,” said Gaines, who showed Little Pepto Cat’s dam, Little Pepto Gal, also owned by Kingsley, to earn nearly $500,000 and claim the title of 2002 Horse of the Year.
“He has developed a lot of the intensity that (Little Pepto Gal) had on a cow,” said Gaines. “He’s not quite as quick as she was, but he’s stronger in the stops.”
Sired by High Brow Cat, 5-year-old gelding Little Pepto Cat, with career earnings of $63,289, has been an open finalist in 10 major events. His single biggest payout was for third place in the 2010 Music City Futurity.
“He’s always been talented and done pretty things,” said Gaines. “But it took him a little while to feel confident and comfortable about knowing his job. Now, he feels confident and relaxed and smooth, and he gets a lot lower to the ground, where everything he does is prettier and softer.”
Gaines, the sport’s all-time leading open money earner, with more than $6 million, won the 2001 NCHA Derby on Nu I Wood, owned by Crystal Creek Ranch.
Sofie Rey
Five-year-old Sofie Rey and Lee Francois posted 220 points yesterday to tie Intention Del Rey and Lloyd Cox; Spookys Smarty Rey and Gary Gonsalves; and Whiskeynadirtyglass and Brett McGlothlin with the first go-round’s second highest score.
Francois also qualified for today’s second go-round, where scores of 213 advanced, with 215.5 points on both Reys Desire, owned by Woody Bartlett, and RPL Pepto Max, owned by Freeman and Fife.
“The first part of the bunches had been pretty good, so I felt comfortable.” said Francois, who shows Sofie Rey for Isidro Sigala. Sigala showed the Dual Rey daughter as reserve champion of the 2011 NCHA Super Stakes Classic Amateur division.
“I was a little worried with Reys Desires going a little deeper with just a few cows to cut and she was off a tick, maybe. I’ve got a lot of ground to make up, but she and (RPL Pepto Max) are capable, I think.”
Francois showed Reys Desires as champion of the 2010 NCHA Super Stakes and the 2011 NCHA Super Stakes Classic. The Dual Rey daughter has NCHA earnings of nearly $300,000.
Lean On Rey
Tag Rice and Lean On Rey parlayed the unenviable number one draw of the day into a premium second go-round ticket, yesterday, with 219 points.
“It was just a nice clean, stress-free run,” said Rice, who won the 2003 NCHA Derby on Chiquita Pistol. “It’s nice to have a decent score like that in the first go.”
Rice trained the 6-year-old gelded son of Dual Rey and rides him for non-pro competitor Sam Good. Both Rice and Good were finalists aboard Lean On Rey, NCHA earner of over $125,000, in the 2011 NCHA Super Stakes Classic.
My Stylish Lizzy
For the past year, Steve Oehlhof has been working My Stylish Lizzy toward a moment in Will Rogers Coliseum like yesterday’s 219-point performance.
“She was in a lot of different programs and never really had any consistency,” said Oehlhof, who shows the 6-year-old daughter of Lizzys Gotta Player for Ken Sitton. “I’ve had her almost a year and have been the only one riding her, and she’s comfortable with me.
“She’s tried to be good for me pretty much all year. She can get in any position and get turned around. I love her and I’m really pleased that I’ve finally gotten her shown.”
In 2011, Oehlhof has shown My Stylish Lizzy as a finalist in three limited age events.
He also qualified for today’s second go-round with 217 points aboard Dualin Puddy Tap, a 5-year-old Dual Pep son, who he showed to win the 2011 open division championship of The Non-Pro.
“He’s very intent on a cow and will just gut up and go hold one,” said Oehlhof, who shows Dualin Puddy Tap for Gordon Sevig.
Today will be a busy one for Oehlohf, whose daughter, Lauren, 12, and stepdaughter, Millie Jo, 8, are competing in the Junior Youth go-round in Watt Arena. Millie Jo showed her first cutting horse just two months ago,
“I hope,” said Oehlhof, “that we draw where it works out and I can help the kids.
Read the complete Daily Chatter for July 14 here.