The cattle in the Breeder’s Invitational Derby Open $10,000 Novice proved to be a tough bunch, but One Bat Cat (Dualin Boon x Little Cat Lena x High Brow Cat) and Equi-Stat Elite $3 Million Rider Tag Rice were able to pull together for a solid run.
They earned a 223.5 from the judges, which held the lead in the 21-horse finals. The title was worth a hefty $20,121 paycheck, which brought Jim Bilbrey’s homebred gelding to an Equi-Stat record of nearly $25,000.
Rice was pleased with the performance he had on the gelding, and he plans on showing him throughout the rest of the 2017 season.
“He is really just kind of coming into his own now,” Rice said. “He has been really good at this show. We cut a softer cow first, and then we got a really fast one at the end. It worked out good. He likes it tough, but he is starting to get more look on a softer cow. We have been tickled with him.”
This Chics Hot (by Spots Hot) and Chris Hanson picked up the Reserve Championship and $15,517 for owner Nachos Quarter Horses after marking a 222.
Derby Senior
In the Derby Senior riders were given the choice to either keep their first run score or rerun, and that option paid off in a big way for Bonnie Martin.
Martin had some tough luck and lost a cow on Reysin Kittens (Dual Rey x Kittens x High Brow Cat) during their first attempt at the title. But Martin was confident in her homebred stallion and opted to give it another go.
When they walked to the herd the second time, everything came together and the pair wound up with a winning 224. The Championship was worth $3,859, and Martin was thrilled with the outcome.
“He has been one of the most enjoyable colts out of our mare [Kittens],” Martin said. “It is enjoyable for me to have a successful rerun, and I look forward to coming back next year.
Lachlan Perks and Hotswanna (Spots Hot x Catswanna x High Brow Cat) earned a 218 for the Reserve Championship, worth $3,497.
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