jacob-taurel vvhellcat

Amateur Riders Take Over the Bonanza Cutting

jacob-taurel vvhellcatJacob Taurel & VV HellcatAmateur cutters flocked to Glen Rose, Texas, Feb. 18-20 to attend the Bonanza Cutting. The finals were held on Saturday, Feb. 20, and after a day of intense competition, four new champions were crowned.

In the 4-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur, Jacob Taurel rode VV Hellcat out of the fourth draw to a 218. His score topped the eight other horse and rider duos, and he and “Hellcat” went home to Whitesboro, Texas, with the Championship and a $5,035 paycheck.

VV Hellcat (Smoother Than A Cat x Let It Squall x Rum Squall) was bred by Jerry Bailey and is owned by David Taurel. She and Taurel made the Unlimited Amateur semifinals at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity last year.

“I was the first one to ride this mare when we started her, so it feels good, the whole connection,” Taurel said.

The TCU student is originally from Venezuela. He will graduate this year with a degree in entrepreneurial management and hopes to own his own business one day, but in the meantime, he will continue to cut and hopefully add titles to his résumé such as the Breeder’s Invitational Derby Unlimited Amateur Championship.

Erin Russell, of Fort Worth, Texas, piloted CR Boon To Be Tuff (Woody Be Tuff x CR April Boon x Duals Blue Boon) to a 213 for the Reserve Championship. She owns the Center Ranch-bred mare, who added $4,009 to her bankroll.

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