Blind Sided & Jay McLaughlin • Photo by Primo MoralesCommerce, Texas, professional Jay McLaughlin won the 2015 National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Stakes Open Championship aboard Blind Sided (Peptoboonsmal x Lil Miss Shiney Chex x Shining Spark), Saturday, April 4, at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas.

The 2010 stallion, bred by NRCHA Breeder Sponsor Carol Rose, of Gainesville, Texas, and owned by NRCHA Breeder Sponsor and Corporate Partner Aaron Ranch, also of Commerce, scored a big 668 (219 herd/220.5 rein/227.5 cow). They had the high score in the herd work and fence work finals, and tied for the high score in the rein work on their way to the championship. 

“He’s got a big heart and lots of guts. [Horses by Peptoboonsmal] are strong horses. He’s not a real big horse, but he rides big,” McLaughlin said, adding that Blind Sided started his breeding career just a few months ago, and everyone involved with the roan stallion hopes to see his offspring in the winner’s circle in the future. Aaron Ranch also owns Blind Sided’s sire, the legendary Peptoboonsmal.

The Stakes Championship came with a check for $31,047, as well as a Bob’s Custom Saddle and CR Morrison Trophy from the NRCHA; a Gist buckle sponsored by the Neal family; a pair of boots from Rios of Mercedes; and gift certificates from Santa Cruz Animal Health and Platinum Performance. The $3,500 Open Champion Sire Award check went to Jackson Land and Cattle Co., who nominated Peptoboonsmal to the NRCHA Subscribed Stallion program.

The Open Reserve Champion was Hickory Holly Time (One Time Pepto x Hickorys Holly Cee x Doc’s Hickory), shown by Kelby Phillips and owned by NRCHA Breeder Sponsors Garth and Amanda Gardiner of Gardiner Quarter Horses, in Ashland, Kansas. Hickory Holly Time, a 2010 roan stallion bred by Weatherford, Texas-based Arcese Quarter Horses, scored a 657 (217.5 herd/219.5 rein/220 cow), earning $22,656. The Reserve Championship also came with a Gist buckle, boots from Rios of Mercedes and a gift certificate from Platinum Performance. The $2,000 Reserve Champion Sire Award went to NRCHA Breeder Sponsor Matthews Quarter Horses, who nominated One Time Pepto to the Subscribed Stallion program.

Stakes Intermediate Open

In the Intermediate Open, it was California horseman Justin Wright at the top of the results sheet, riding Im Countin Chics (Im Countin Checks x Dixie Chic Please x Chic Please) to a 650.5 (218.5 herd/216.5 rein/215.5 cow), earning more than $6,600 for owner Eric Freitas, of Santa Maria, California. The 4-year-old gelding was bred by T and M Quarter Horses, of Hanford, California.

The Sire Award check for $1,000 went to Circle Y Ranch for nominating Im Countin Chics’ sire, Im Countin Checks, to the Subscribed Stallion program.

Stakes Limited Open

Justa Doin It (Smart Little Pepinic x Justa Hot Chic x Just Plain Colonel), with Santa Maria, Oregon, resident Russell Probert in the saddle, won the Stakes Limited Open Championship. Justa Doin It is a 2011 gelding owned by Jayson and Theresa Fisher, of Nipomo, California. They scored a total 645 (213.5 herd/213.5 rein/218 cow), taking home more than $5,200 and earning a $1,000 Sire Award check for NRCHA Breeder Sponsor Ward Ranch, who nominated Smart Little Pepinic to the Subscribed Stallion program.

Stakes Non-Pro

It was a busy day for Justa Doin It, who also carried owner Jayson Fisher to the Stakes Non-Pro Championship, earning more than $7,700. Fisher’s prize package included a Bob’s Custom Saddle and a Gist buckle. They scored a 644.5 (211.5 herd/212 rein/221 cow) and collected the $1,500 Non-Pro Champion Sire Award check for the Ward Ranch.

Stakes Intermediate & Novice Non-Pro

The Non-Pro Reserve Champion, Elizabeth Kania, also won the Intermediate and Novice Non-Pro divisions riding Uno What Time It Flo (Uno What Time It Is x Dew It Flo x Mr Peponita Flo) to a total 639.5 (2017 herd/213.5 rein/219 cow). Her triple payday was worth more than $11,600.

Kania also earned a total of $2,500 in sire award money for Julie Gibbons, Uno What Time It Flo’s breeder and also the nominator of her sire, Uno What Time It Is. Uno What Time It Flo is owned by Kania’s mother, Renee Dubois, of Hillsboro, Oregon.

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