Katie Young, Jim Stamper and Kimberly Thome all marked 218 to lead 25 qualifiers for the $5,000 Novice Non-Pro finals at the 6666 Ranch NCHA Western National Championships Thursday.

Young, of Sebastapol, California, rode her home-bred 5-year-old For Instance, by SR Instant Choice. She and For Instance won the Limited Non-Pro this year and last year at the Pacific Coast Derby. She also won the Non-Pro title with him at the 2010 Pacific Coast Futurity.

Stamper, from Modesto, California, rode Sly Cooper, a High Brow Cat x Nyoka Pep 9-year-old bred by Billy Martin. Stamper qualified for the $5,000 Novice Non-Pro and $50,000 Amateur finals last year with Sly Cooper, an earner of more than $78,000.

Thome, from Santa Rosa, California, rode TF Cee Dee Stars, a 6-year-old CD Olena mare bred by Travelers Farm. Thome was a Limited Non-Pro finalist on the mare at the 2009 NCHA Futurity. Tom Long made the $3,000 Novice finals on the mare this week at the Western Nationals.

It took a score of 210 or better to advance to Friday’s $5,000 Novice Non-Pro finals.