Ryder CarpenterThe Ike Derby and Classic, held Jan. 31-Feb. 7 in West Monroe, Louisiana, crowned the second round of its champions on the evening of Friday, Feb. 6. Tough cattle did not stop these competitors; everyone continued to give it their best in hopes of taking home a paycheck.

Ryder Carpenter and Smooth Miss Trona (Smooth As A Cat x MK Little Miss Trona x Little Trona) have done it again! After bringing home the Limited Non-Pro Championship at the 2014 National Cutting Horse Association Futurity, the duo successfully won their first limited-age class of the year. Carpenter piloted Smooth Miss Trona in the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro finals and marked a 219, earning the Championship and a $12,594 paycheck.

“She’s been good all week here,” said Carpenter of Silverton, Texas. “Matt [Miller] showed her in the Open, but in the second go-round he had a bad cow and missed it by half a point.

“All three go-rounds on her I’ve drawn up well,” Carpenter continued. “First go round I was first in the set and yesterday in the second go-round I was fourth, and today I drew first. Most generally I like being toward the end of the finals, but these cows get a little wild at the end so I was plenty happy being first today.”

Cade Shepard rode his parents, Austin and Stacy’s, Twistful Thinking (One Time Pepto x Some Kinda Twister x Freckles Fancy Twist) to the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Reserve Championship when they marked a 216, and the Limited Non-Pro Championship. The duo took home a total of $12,750.

5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro

Kelle EarnheartKelle Earnheart, of Weatherford, Texas, made quite a splash in the 5/6-Year-Old finals when she piloted Flash About (Purdy Boy Flash x Play Miss x Play Gun) to the winner’s circle with a 6-point lead on her competitors.

In the first go-round, the duo was near the end of the 69-horse-and-rider teams and marked a 213.5, which was enough to advance the next day. In the second go-round, they were the ninth draw out of the 41-horse class, which seemed to work better for them. They marked a 219, which gave them a composite 432.5, and they were going to the finals.

Having an early draw seemed to be working well for Earnheart and Flash About, and it continued to be in their favor. They were the second draw and set the bar so high, no one came close to touching it. The duo marked a whopping 225, leaving everyone in their dust. They received a $14,500 paycheck as well as the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro Championship.

The Reserve Championship went to Vespaa (CD Olena x My Scooters Smokin x Smart Lil Scoot) and Blakley Colgrove, who also won a title at the Augusta Futurity a few weeks before coming to West Monroe. The duo drew third in the finals and marked a 219 to earn a $12,500 paycheck

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