Kelle Earnheart (left) and Kitty Can Dual, pictured with Tegan StillAs the Non Pro Plus The Open continued in Oklahoma City, Kelle Earnheart, of Weatherford, Texas, piloted Kitty Can Dual to dominate the competition during the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro finals, held Sunday, June 14.
Drawing next to last in the set featuring eight talented horses, the duo delivered an impressive performance to mark a 222 and take the Championship. The win, which was worth $5,568, came on the heels of their Derby Non-Pro Championship at the Breeder’s Invitational (BI) in May.
“The BI was a big win for us,” the Equi-Stat Elite $1 Million Rider said. “I don’t think I prepared as hard for this show [Non Pro Plus The Open]; I wanted to give her some time to rest. It seemed to all work out that way.”
Kitty Can Dual (Dual Rey x Cancan Kitty x High Brow Cat), who was bred by Cinder Lakes Ranch LLC, of Valley View, Texas, now exceeds $80,000 in lifetime earnings, according to Equi-Stat.
The 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Reserve Championship went to Sheridan Clark, of Weatherford, Texas, and DB Little Cat (Athena Puddy Cat x Meradas Beauty Bars x Freckles Merada), who was bred by John and Sierra Ayres, of Wynnewood, Oklahoma. The mare and her owner garnered $3,757 for their score of 219. Clark is the daughter of Equi-Stat Elite $2 Million Rider Jason Clark.
4-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur
After drawing first in the set, Lee Gandy, of Frisco, Texas, and Razzberry Cat marked a 215 to win the 4-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur Championship and earn a paycheck worth $4,960.
According to Equi-Stat, Razzberry Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Chics Pretty Tari x Smart Chic Olena) is nearing a lifetime record of $20,000. They also made the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro finals, which marked the first time for the duo to compete at the non-pro level.
“I made the Non-Pro finals on her earlier and we didn’t have very good luck,” Gandy said. “So I was really happy to come back and do a lot better.”
Gandy purchased Razzberry Cat, who was bred by Wagonhound Land and Livestock, of Douglas, Wyoming, before the 2014 National Cutting Horse Association Futurity.
Drawing second, Blake Patillo, of St. Elmo, Illinois, and Mister Metallica (Metallic Cat x Remedy For Sweets x Grays Starlight), bred by Parker County Cutting Center, of Aledo, Texas, marked a 214 to take Reserve and $3,245.
4-Year-Old Amateur
Lica Pinkston, of Alice, Texas, and her homebred gelding emerged victorious Saturday, June 13. Not only did Stylish Metallic Cat carry Pinkston to the 4-Year-Old Amateur Championship, they also captured the Senior title with their run.
The duo marked a 215.5 to earn $4,750 for both titles, which pushed the gelding (Metallic Cat x Stylish Lil Player x Playin Stylish) past the $40,000 mark, according to Equi-Stat.
“There is no comparison to winning with a horse that you raised, especially when they turn out as good as this horse,” Pinkston said. “He’s just been great.”
With scores of 212 in the finals, the 4-Year-Old Amateur Reserve Championship was split between two horses by Metallic Cat: Metallic Lil Melody and Metallic Moon.
Jason Abraham, of Canadian, Texas, piloted Metallic Lil Melody (Metallic Cat x Lynx Melody Too (Clone) x Doc’s Lynx), while Sandra Patton rode Metallic Moon (Metallic Moon x Haidas Halo x Haidas Little Pep), bred by Donald and Jane Wolf, of Edmonton, Kentucky. The Co-Champions each rider garnered a paycheck worth $1,923.
5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro
Tim Drummond, of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, rode Notsharonmylizzy from the third to last hole to break a tie, which previously led the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro finals. Rising to the top of 13 horses, the duo marked a 219 to take the win, which earned a paycheck worth $6,428.
The performance by Drummond and his homebred mare also captured the 5/6-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Championship, earning an additional $1,303. Leaving the event with a check for $7,731, Notsharonmylizzy (Lizzys Gotta Player x Stylish Sharon x Docs Stylish Oak) more than tripled her lifetime earnings with the win, according to Equi-Stat.
“We have been a little late getting started with her career,” Drummond said of his 2010 mare, who posted her first check to Equi-Stat at this year’s BI. “But she has a lot more money to win in her future.”
The 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro Co-Reserve Championship was split between Ken Sitton, riding JJs Catless Merada, and Alexis Stephas, riding Once You Go Black. The riders received $4,138 for their back-to-back scores of 217.
Sitton, who rode JJs Catless Merada (Cats Merada x Madelena x Smart Little Lena) to the herd second in the set, also earned 5/6-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Championship honors for an additional $1,086. Sitton, of Freeport, Texas, owns the 6-year-old gelding, who was bred by Kenneth Hammett, of Houston, Texas.
Once You Go Black (Hydrive Cat x RG Sugar Lena x Poco San Lena) carried owner Stephas, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the Co-Reserve title. The stallion, bred by Ronald Abbott, of Sumner, Texas, is now nearing the $100,000 mark, according to Equi-Stat.
5/6-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur
During the largest class held thus far at the Non Pro Plus The Open, Wendy Degroot, of Brunner, Ontario, Canada, and TS Reys N Cats outscored 15 horse-and-rider duos that returned to the finals to earn the 5/6-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur Championship.
The win earned the duo a paycheck worth $4,964. It also represents a quarter of Degroot’s winnings, half of which were earned riding TS Reys N Cats, according to Equi-Stat. Degroot purchased the gelding, who she calls “Champ,” in December.
“We are just starting to show together this year, but Champ is very special to me,” Degroot said. “He is so steady and he just takes care of me. Not to mention, he has the biggest personality.”
TS Reys N Cats (Rey Dual x Hide A Kitty x High Brow Cat) was bred by Bob and Lynn Meyer, of Wake Forest, North Carolina.
The Reserve title went to Alexis Stephas and Once You Go Black, who garnered another $3,328. With a total of $7,466 earned at the Non Pro Plus The Open, Once You Go Black approaching the $100,000 mark in Equi-Stat.
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