SmoothNCash JGorrell 14SD

Smooth N Cash & Jake Gorrell Win NRCHA Stakes Open Bridle Spectacular

SmoothNCash JGorrell 14SDSmooth N Cash with Jake Gorrell and owners Don & Bonnie RoloffThe National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA’s) most impressive equine athletes, the bridle horses, shined brighter than the lights of the Las Vegas strip at the South Point Equestrian Center, as the competition wrapped up in the $25,000-added Holy Cow Performance Horses Open Bridle Spectacular at the South Point Equestrian Center.

Hanford, Calif., horseman Jake Gorrell and Smooth N Cash won the $15,375 Championship paycheck by a wide 10-point margin. They scored a total 666 on three events (221 herd/217 rein/228 cow), and had the high score in both the herd and the rein work.

Gorrell also won a Gist buckle and a C.R. Morrison Trophy from the NRCHA and a $50 gift certificate and cooler tote bag sponsored by San Juan Ranch, a division of Santa Cruz Animal Health.

“I knew he would do well, but when he got a 228 down the fence – that was incredible,” Bonnie Roloff, Smooth N Cash’s owner, said. “He’s quite special. We’ve had him since he was a 2-year-old, and we’ve been with Jake that long.”

Grinning from ear to ear, Gorrell described the considerable talents of the 2005 gelding, known around the barn as “Gadget,” who he has trained from the beginning.

“He’s so much fun in the herd work, and fence works like that – you just can’t beat ’em. That’s what this is all about – these great horses, and this one is as good as they get,” Gorrell said. “We made the finals at the Snaffle Bit Futurity and every other major event, and he’s been a World’s Greatest Horseman finalist three times. He’s just awesome.”

Gorrell thanked the Roloffs and Holy Cow Performance Horses for their generous sponsorship.

“To be able to pick up a check like this makes it all worthwhile, and it keeps good people like the Roloffs in the game,” he said. “I have the greatest clients in the world, by far!”

Some of the Holy Cow Performance Horses added money returned to them in the form of the Reserve Championship check, won by the Holy Cow-owned entry, Hes Shinettes CD (CD Olena x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark). Jake Telford piloted the 2007 stallion to a 656 combined score (208 herd/221 rein/227 cow), earning $12,813.