Junie-Wood-2014

Top Talent Featured in Western Bloodstock NCHA Showdown in Cowtown Slot Cutting

Junie-Wood-2014Junie Wood & John Mitchell • Hart PhotosThe draw sheet for the inaugural Western Bloodstock National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Showdown in Cowtown Slot Cutting reads like a Who’s Who in the cutting horse industry. The line-up for the first-go of the Open, to be held July 9 at the Silverado Arena in Weatherford, Texas, includes two Horses of the Year, as well as four NCHA Futurity champions and numerous aged event winners.

The July Slot Cutting is for 4-, 5- and 6-year-old horses that are entered in the Open, Non-Pro, Unlimited Amateur or Amateur at the NCHA Summer Spectacular. A total of 59 horses entered the Open, with 58 lining up for the Non-Pro and 51 scheduled in the Unlimited Amateur. The Slot Cutting, including the first go, will have a live webcast. 

Highlighting the Open draw is reigning NCHA Open Horse of Year Junie Wood (Nitas Wood x Tuffs Junie x Tuff Lena) and Equi-Stat Elite $3 Million Rider John Mitchell, of Weatherford, Texas. They’ll go to the herd fourth in the second of five sets on July 9, hoping for secure one of 12 spots in the finals, which will be held July 12 at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum during the NCHA Summer Spectacular.

Junie Wood, who is owned by Glade Knight, and Mitchell will seek to add to a 2015 record that includes wins at the Abilene Spectacular in January, Bonanza Cutting in February, The Cattlemen’s in March and the NCHA Super Stakes in April. The mare has a career Equi-Stat record of more than $373,100.

Non-pro Mary Ann Rapp rode Reyzin (High Brow CD x Miss Reycine x Dual Rey) to the 2013 NCHA Non-Pro Horse of the Year title, but it will be her husband, Equi-Stat Elite $8 Million Rider Phil Rapp who steps aboard the 2009 mare in the Slot Cutting Open. Reyzin has posted $38,219 to Equi-Stat during 2015 alone, and has a lifetime record of $298,776. Reyzin and Rapp will cut 10th in the first set.