JanetRussWestfall RecklessChild web

PCCHA Derby Crowns Non-Pro & Amateur Champions

JanetRussWestfall RecklessChild webJanet and Russ WestfallJanet Westfall and her mare Reckless Child didn’t even plan on entering the Derby Non-Pro at the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association/Core Balance Derby. It’s a good thing they did, as they ended up winning Sunday’s finals with a 218 finish.

“I wasn’t planning on showing her, but since Russ lost a cow in the first go, he said, ‘Why don’t you see if you can’t go buy a slot?'” Janet Westfall said, referring to her trainer husband, Russ. “There were no slots available. About two bunches before the Non-Pro started, [show secretary] Kathy Cardon called and said, ‘There’s a slot. Do you want it?’ I said OK and I went and saddled her up.”

The winner’s check of $6,997 pushed Reckless Child (CD Royal x Trouble Lynn x Smart And Trouble) over $50,000 in earnings. The mare still has some work left to catch up with full sisters Reckless Child ($230,515) and Just As Reckless, who topped $120,000 with Classic Open earnings at the same show for the Westfalls. At this point, though, little sister appears ready to give it a good try. 

Janet showed “Francine” to first-go and two-go composite leads at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity in Fort Worth, but failed to make the finals. Russ has competed with the mare primarily in Open events since then.

Flanigan, This Kats Kool Win Classic/Challenge Non-Pro With A 225

Donna Flanigan and This Kats CoolDonna Flanigan and This Kats Kool completed the biggest item on their wish list with a 225 that easily won the Classic/Challenge Non-Pro finals as the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association/Core Balance Derby limited-age cutting concluded Sunday at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas.

Flanigan, Livermore, Calif., and her 6-year-old mare (WR This Cats Smart x Smoken C Starlight x Charlies Starlight) had earned well over $100,000 together. Until Sunday, though, the standout mare had not won a limited-age title. Tears snuck out of both eyes as Flanigan talked about the horse. The mare won her first-ever cutting title and carried Flanigan to her first in several years with a career-best effort.

“It was just like riding on a cloud,” Flanigan said. “It was very special, and it was beautiful.” A $6,056 Champion’s check, combined with $2,693 the pair earned as $200,000 Limited Non-Pro Champions with a final-go 216 the previous day, pushed the horse’s career earnings past $140,000.

John Kratzer, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and My Lizzy Babe finished as Reserve Champions with a 220.5 effort. Kratzer and the horse’s trainer, Tim Smith, Temecula, Calif., had combined to guide the 2007 mare (Lizzys Gotta Player x Moms Stylish Oak x Docs Stylish Oak) to just under $100,000 in prior earnings. My Lizzy Babe easily topped that mark by earning $5,386 this time.

Eric Freitas win Derby Amateur, Marty Davis tops Classic Amateur

Eric Freitas did not make any finals with three horses during a reined cow horse event last week. He flew to Las Vegas to seek some redemption. He and his cutting gelding Cat Fishin competed well enough Sunday morning to make the Derby Amateur finals and then won the event with a 218.5. 

Morgan Cromer, Templeton, Calif., trains Cat Fishin (WR This Cats Smart x Peppy Madonna x Peppy San Badger) and she took him to the show in advance of his owner. Freitas and the horse won the Idaho Futurity Amateur title during early fall and they have qualified for several finals. 

Marty Davis, 56, Crosbyton, Texas, and his 6-year-old gelding Taris Telesis each won their first career limited-age titles with a 216.5 finish in Sunday’s Classic/Challenge Amateur finals. Davis has owned the horse (Lenas Telesis x Tari Acre x Bob Acre Doc), bred by Buffalo Ranch, Fort Worth, Texas since late in his yearling season. He headed to the show with $31,235 earned.

The PCCHA Futurity/Core Balance Derby about doubled its entries over last year’s event. Show officials attributed that to new June show dates, rather than March, plus the attractiveness of the new site – the South Point Equestrian Center, located within the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Subscribe to Quarter Horse News for full coverage of the PCCHA/Core Balance Derby.