Smart-Like-Juice JB

Smart Like Juice Becomes NRHA $3 Million Sire

Smart-Like-Juice JBSmart Like Juice • Photo by John BrasseauxThe National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) recognizes and honors Million Dollar Earners in the Sire, Rider and Owner categories, and there is a group that has achieved the much sought after honor in all three divisions. It includes Smart Like Juice, Jose Vazquez and Smart Like Juice Inc, and its most recent honor occurred when stallion Smart Like Juice ascended to NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire status.

The 1994 son of Smart Little Lena out of Jessies Oak (by Doc’s Oak) was bred by National Cutting Horse Association icon Lindy Burch, of Weatherford, Texas. It was good fortune for the sport of reining when “Juice” was purchased by Justin Zimmerman in 1997 and pointed in the direction of the reining pen. He was shown in the 1997 NRHA Futurity by NRHA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Ken Eppers, finishing seventh. When ownership passed to Vazquez/Smart Like Juice Inc., the late Ed Fear took the reins and competed very successfully with the new acquisition. Vazquez also put earnings on the stallion, who then went on to the breeding shed having banked $56,096 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings.

With offspring earnings of more than $3 million, it’s quite evident that Smart Like Juice is a prolific sire. He passes on his athletic abilities and presence in the show pen, as well as a disposition that endears his progeny to non-pro riders around the world. His offspring have earned World championships, major event championships, gold medals, Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships and more. Smart Like Juice’s highest money-earners include Juiced Up Doc (LTE $183,494), Moonshine Juice ($122,365), Wound By Juice (LTE $112,368), Moonshine N Juice (LTE $95,144) and SLJ Sweet N Juicy (LTE $88,821). Wind Her Up Shiner, by Shining Spark, is the dam of Moonshine Juice, Wound By Juice and Moonshine N Juice, so one would have to deem Smart Like Juice and Wind Her Up Shiner a “magic cross.” But it seems that all involved with Smart Like Juice have been touched by a bit of “magic.”

Smart Like Juice will spend the 2016 breeding season at Hannagan Farms in Gifford, Illinois. The NRHA is extremely gratified and honored to congratulate Smart Like Juice on reaching NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire status.