IchisMyChoice GSetnicka

Ichis My Choice Earns Mercuria Open Title

IchisMyChoice GSetnickaIchis My Choice & Equi-Stat Elite $2 Million Rider Grant SetnickaIchis My Choice has been wildly successful in her career so far, and she added another title to her résumé while at the El Rancho Futurity. She and Equi-Stat Elite $2 Million Rider Grant Setnicka were the final draw in the Mercuria/National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) World Series of Cutting Open finals and they did not disappoint. They marked a 229 and claimed the Championship.

The title came with a check for $13,676, which brings the 4-year-old mare’s lifetime record to more than $245,000. Ichis My Choice (Cat Ichi x My Little Abra x Abrakadabracre), who was bred by EE Ranches of Texas and is owned by J Five Horse Ranch, is the only money-earner out of My Little Abra and she is now the second-highest earner on Cat Ichi’s offspring record.

“I drew up last in a set of steers, which usually isn’t the most desirable spot to be,” Setnicka said. “I try to work that mare and keep her accurate. She’s really cowy and quick, so I just tried to keep her calm and smooth.”

Metalic Al (Metallic Al x Amandas Little Star x Smart Little Lena) and Tom Shelly marked a 228 for the Reserve title and $9,657.

Non-Pro

CheckersLiveOak SBozemanStuart Bozeman & Checkers Live OakStuart Bozeman and Checkers Live Oak have had several successful runs this year and they continued their success in California. They were the first draw in the field of 8 horses during the Mercuria Non-Pro finals and their score of 225 held up until the end, and they claimed the title and a check for $11,146.

Back in July, the duo claimed the NCHA Summer Spectacular Classic Non-Pro Championship and they were the 5/6-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Champions at the West Texas Futurity in August. This win brings Checkers Live Oak’s (Im Countin Checks x Cats Live Oak x High Brow Cat) Equi-Stat record to more than $120,000, and Bozeman pushed his lifetime earnings past the $200,000 milestone.

“She’s been great here,” Bozeman said of Checkers Live Oak. “Every time we show her, she’s as good as she can be. She’s just gotten better and better.”

Janet Westfall piloted Just As Reckless (CD Royal x Trouble Lynn 495 x Smart And Trouble) to the Reserve title, which was worth $8,765.

For complete coverage of the Mercuria/NCHA World Series of Cutting and the El Rancho Futurity, subscribe to Quarter Horse News.