Morgan Cromer and Chickaroos Firefox take the win in the PCCHA/Holy Cow Performance Horses Futurity Open.The Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association/Holy Cow Performance Horses Futurity, held Oct. 21-Nov. 1 in Paso Robles, California, featured great hospitality, which always makes attending the event enjoyable for spectators and competitors. At the end of the day, it was Chickaroos Firefox and Morgan Cromer who took home the Futurity Open Championship.
Chickaroos Firefox (Hick Chicaroo x TF Smartlittle Linda x Smart Little Lena), owned by Latigo Canyon Ranch, of Los Olivos, California, and her Templeton, California-based trainer were seventh to go out of the 19-horse finals. The duo marked a strong 223 that held for the win, worth $30,000.
“I am a score keeper,” Cromer said. “Something I’ve learned as I’ve gotten a little older is which spot you can win in and which spot you can’t, and I knew tonight I had a good draw.”
Slithering Spoon (Hes A Peptospoonful x Sues Barn Cat x High Brow Cat), owned by David and Staci McDavid, of Fort Worth, Texas, and ridden by Weatherford, Texas, trainer Clint Allen, finished as the Futurity Open Reserve Champion, earning a $24,000 paycheck with a score of 218.
Futurity Non-Pro
The PCCHA Futurity may have been Jeff Barnes, of Wilton, California, and High Cash Gal’s first competition together, but that didn’t stop them. In the first go-round of the Futurity Non-Pro, the new team had the highest score – a 221 – earning them a spot in the second go-round.
Out of the 14 entries that advanced, the duo continued to put down high-scoring runs with a 215. It took a composite score of 413 to advance, and the duo’s composite score of 436 easily secured them a spot in the finals.
At the end out of the 8-horse finals, it was Barnes and High Cash Gal (High Brow CD x Spookys Got Cash x Miss N Cash) who took home the Futurity Non-Pro Championship. The duo received a $9,142 paycheck for their winning score of 216.
Call Me Queen B (Dual Rey x Desirable And Catty x High Brow Cat) and Chad Bushaw scored a 215 to earn the Futurity Non-Pro Reserve Championship, as well as an $8,265 paycheck for Bushaw’s Crown Ranch LP, of Weatherford, Texas.
Stakes Open
Highbrow Time (High Brow CD x One Time Soon x Smart Little Lena) and Adan Banuelos, of Granbury, Texas, topped the Stakes Open with a whopping 224 from the ninth draw of the 12-horse finals. The duo received a $20,000 paycheck for owner Jessica Banuelos.
The pair also won the Stakes Gelding Open, which was held concurrently with the Stakes Open finals, and an additional $2,056 paycheck, making their total show earnings $22,065.
“I thought he was a pretty special horse and I have really been paying attention to him. I was just very excited to get him and I am really proud of him,” said Jessica, who purchased the gelding just a few days prior to coming to this show.
A 218.5 earned Reyz The Bar (Dual Rey x Justa Lil Tomboy x Freckles Playboy) and Grant Setnicka the Stakes Open Reserve title, along with a $17,000 paycheck for owners Champagne Ranch, of Santa Monica, California.
Stakes Non-Pro
There is a reason why Meteles Cat is this year’s NCHA Non-Pro Horse of the Year (unofficially). After winning multiple championships all year, the 4-year-old stallion has done it again. Cody Hedlund is the proud owner of Meteles Cat, and this time they secured the Stakes Non-Pro Championship in Paso Robles.
Meteles Cat (Metallic Cat x Teles Lies x Lenas Telesis) and Hedlund were the last draw out of 30 in the Stakes Non-Pro first go-round, where they scored a 216 to move on to the second go-round. They drew 18th out of 19 horse-and-rider teams, but their consistency earned them a 215, moving them to the top of the leader board with a composite 431.
In the 8-horse finals, the duo drew third and had the score to beat, a 222, which held to the end and earned them the Championship and an $11,152 paycheck, bumping Meteles Cat’s total lifetime earnings to about $122,430.
Jessica Banuelos and her gelding Metallic Warrior (Metallic Cat x One Time Soon x Smart Little Lena), bred by Capps Radio Ranch LLC, of Walla Walla, Washington, scored a 218 to earn the Stakes Non-Pro Reserve Championship. The duo took home a $9,916 paycheck for their efforts.
Classic/Challenge Open
CR Sun Reys (Dual Rey x Play Peek A Boon x Freckles Playboy) and Spearman, Texas-based trainer Boyd Rice took home the Classic/Challenge Open Championship. Rice and the 6-year-old mare also remained on top during the first and second go-rounds.
Out of 62 horse-and-rider entries in the first go-round of the Classic/Challenge Open, the duo had the highest score – a 222 – and a one-half-point lead entering the 21-horse second go-round. It took a composite score of 431.5 to advance to the finals, and Rice piloted CR Sun Reys above and beyond what was needed with a 445.
In the finals, the duo drew sixth out of 13 and marked a whopping 225, earning a $12,649 paycheck for owners Center Ranch, of Centerville, Texas.
The Boon (Peptoboonsmal x Boon San Kitty x High Brow Cat) and Jesse Lennox scored a 219 to take the Classic/Challenge Open Reserve Championship. They received a $10,958 paycheck for owners Walton’s Rockin W Ranch, of Millsap, Texas.
Classic/Challenge Non-Pro
Brandon Westfall piloted Gentle Ben to the Classic/Challenge Non-Pro Championship with a score of 217, earning them an $8,164 paycheck.
Entering the Classic/Challenge Non-Pro as the first draw in the first go-round didn’t cause Westfall and Gentle Ben any stress, as the duo had the score to beat, a 218.5, which earned them a spot in the second go-round where they scored a 213. It took a composite score of 428.5 to advance to the finals, and Westfall and Gentle Ben were clear with a 431.5
The pair was second to work in the finals and once again, set the bar high. They marked a 217 that held to the end. Gentle Ben (CD Royal x PG Selena x Playgun) was bred by Mark and Eva Gardiner, of Ashland, Kansas, and is owned by Westfall’s parents, Russ and Janet.
The Classic/Challenge Non-Pro Co-Reserve Champions were Armando Costa Neto and Pow Wow Pep (Hickorys Indian Pep x Little Moria Pep x Dual Pep), owned by Barrinha LLC, of Weatherford, Texas, and Jessica Gonsalves and WR Jillaroo (WR This Cats Smart x Oaks Smart Peach x Doc’s Oak). The duos each marked a 216, receiving $5,962 paychecks.
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