Matthew Dedden and Amanda Morris led the first round of the Grace Ranch NCHA Junior and Senior World Finals, respectively, Monday in the Watt Arena at the NCHA Summer Spectacular in Fort Worth, Texas.
Dedden, the 2011 Junior World Champion who is sitting number two in the standings behind Jake Baca this year, marked 221.5 on A Cat Named Sue, to lead his division.
Bred and trained by Larry Bylo, A Cat Named Sue has carried Dedden to two Youth titles at the NCHA Eastern National Championships, and this spring the horse won a record three titles at the Eastern Nationals: the Junior Youth and $50,000 Amateur with Dedden, and the Senior Youth with Jackie Funk.
A Cat Named Sue is a 12-year-old gelding by High Brow Cat out of Merada Hickory Sue, with earnings of more than $90,000.
Kutter Johnson, riding CD April Fool, marked 221, while Kenli Marvin was third in the go-round with a 220.5 on MK Vivian.
The Youth World Finals, sponsored by Grace Ranch, the home of High Brow CD, marks the beginning of a new point year for NYCHA contestants, more closely aligned with the school year. The top 15 finalists in the 2012 standings received a spotlight introduction prior to the start, and Craig Morris and Tom Holt teamed up for color commentary throughout the show, which was enjoyed by a vocal crowd.
Amanda Morris led the Senior division by a three-point margin with her 224 on Quejanaisabella. It was her second 224 of the day, after topping the Senior Youth go-round in the Scholarship Cutting aboard Ralph Gray’s Just Playin Smart.
Morris, who finished 11th in the 2011 World Standings, moved up from a tie for 8th this year with her go-round win.
Bred by Greg Coalson, Quejanaisabella is a 7-year-old mare by Queanaisalena out of Nipandplay. She was a Super Stakes Classic Open finalist last year.
McCall Hansma marked 221 on Wood Ya Wanna, and Kolby Don Moore posted a 218 on Smart Little Cranbar.
The Grace Ranch NCHA Youth World Finals continue Tuesday and Wednesday in the Watt Arena.
In Will Rogers Coliseum, Brad Mitchell marked 222 on Painted Spring Farm’s homebred Cat A Rey to lead the first round of the Open Classic Challenge. Cat A Rey is a 6-year-old by Dual Rey out of $100,000-earner Sheza Smart Cat. He won the Augusta Futurity in 2010.