Russ Elrod and Double Smart Cat marked 222 to lead Sunday’s $10,000 Novice  go-round at the 6666 Ranch NCHA Western National Championships in Reno, Nevada.

Twenty-three horses marked 214.5 or better to advance to Monday’s $20,000-added finals.

Bred by Juniper Ridge Ranch and owned by Harvey and Lynette Doman of Bend, Oregon, Double Smart Cat is by WR This Cats Smart out of Dox Double Down, a Grays Starlight mare that has produced earners of more than $155,000.

Double Smart Cat was reserve champion of the 2009 Pacific Coast Futurity, and won the 4-year-old division at the 2010 Idaho Futurity. The 6-year-old mare has earned more than $51,000 on her way to Reno.

Cookie Banuelos marked the second highest go-round score of 219.5 on Rey Ja Vu, a Dual Rey mare owned by his wife, Kate Banuelos, of Las Vegas, Nevada.