thewarleoslegend taunastratton

The Wins Continue at the NCHA Western Nationals

thewarleoslegend taunastrattonTauna Stratton & The War Leos LegendSaturday, May 2, was another exciting day at the Four Sixes/National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Western National Championships, held in Reno, Nevada. The last class of the day was the $50,000 Amateur, and from the 10th draw, Tauna Stratton and her horse The War Leos Legend (PF Son Ofa War Leo x Docs Steel Mark x Docs Benchmark) scored a 220.5, which held through the rest of the finals for the win.

The 10-year-old gelding was bred by William and Patsy Marcy, of Forks of Salmon, California. Stratton and The War Leos Legend won a $5,269 paycheck, which boosts the gelding’s Equi-Stat record to more than $33,000. Stratton, who is from Palo Cedro, California, boasts a slightly higher record, with $34,137 in earnings after her win. The duo’s score is their highest yet.

There was a tie for the $50,000 Amateur Reserve Championship. Michelle Barnes and her 8-year-old gelding Catman (Smooth As A Cat x Little And Smart x Smart Little Lena) came from the first draw to score a 217. Catman was bred by E.A. Schutts, of Lipan, Texas. Matching Barnes’ and Catman’s score was Jerry Erwin, of Ridgefield, Washington, and his Tommy Manion Inc.-bred mare Iced Out (Smooth As A Cat x Absolutely Stunning x Smart Little Lena). The tie paid $3,704 to each duo.

Senior Youth

In the Senior Youth, it was 16-year-old Riley Bishop and 16-year-old Real Peppy Jewel who came out of the second-to-last draw to take the Championship with a 218. The mare is owned by Bishop’s grandfather, Robert Branco, and Bishop’s father, John Bishop. “Jewel” (Lenas Jewel Bars x Real Peppydera x Real Doc) was bred by Charles Jones, of Farmerville, Lousiana.

With the $220 check earned from the win, the mare now has $4,418 in earnings, according to Equi-Stat, and Bishop, who is from Paicines, California, now boasts $17,609.

The Senior Youth Reserve Champions were Kassidy Shelly, of Buellten, California, and Clarke Butte Ranch’s horse Cats Smart (Smart Little Lena x Daintys Cat x High Brow Cat), another Tommy Manion Inc.-bred horse. The duo scored a 215.5, earning them $176.

Junior Youth

It was with a big 220 that Taylor Strohl and Romeos A Cool Cat marked to win the Junior Youth Championship. The 9-year-old gelding (WR This Cats Smart x Frances Remedy x Temesun), bred by Susan Damon, of Davenport, California, belongs to Charley and Lisa McDowell, of Clayton, California, and boasts an Equi-Stat record of $49,845, including the $206 paycheck earned from this title. Strohl, who is from Clovis, California, now has more than $9,000 on her own Equi-Stat record.

Eagle, Idaho, resident Dann Allred and MK Macy won the Junior Youth Reserve Championship after earning a 214.5, which garnered them a paycheck worth $165. The 7-year-old mare (Smooth As A Cat x Jessies Starlight MS x Grays Starlight) is owned by Keith and Christine Allred and was bred by The Gene McKown Living Trust, of Norman, Oklahoma.

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