austinblake stuffinmypockets 16kbp

Austin Blake Tops NCHA Futurity Non-Pro

austinblake stuffinmypockets 16kbpAustin Blake and Stuffin My Pockets won the NCHA Futurity Non-Pro with their score of 224. • Photo by Kristin PitzerThe National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Non-Pro finals, held the night of Dec. 8, were packed with 23 talented horses and riders. While there were great runs throughout both sets, two homebred horses posted the highest scores.

Austin Blake, of Canyon, Texas, rode Stuffin My Pockets, who is out of his Sweet Lil Pepto mare Smartys Gonna Pass, to a 224 from the first draw. The score held throughout the rest of the finals to secure their place at the top, and the duo landed the Championship title, along with a $53,089 paycheck. Though they were the first pair during the class to face a set of cattle made boisterous by freezing temperatures in Fort Worth, Texas, Blake was not worried.

“I was just wanting to have clean run and do as good as those cattle would let me do,” he said.

Blake also showed Lookin Sneaky, a full sister to Stuffin My Pockets, at the Futurity, but missed the semifinals by 1.5 points. Both mares are by Dual Smart Rey.

This was not Blake’s first Futurity title; in 2010, he rode One Rockin Pepto to the Championship and garnered $36,561. He currently boasts a lifetime record of $556,462.

While three riders scored a 220 or more, it was Greg Coalson and his homebred stallion Catywompus (High Brow Cat x Dualinisalena x Quejanaisalena) who took home the Reserve Championship with their 221.5. They sent home $46,407 to Weatherford, Texas.

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