Denise Seiz, pictured with Cat Black I at the West Texas Futurity. Seiz is hauling the mare for the NCHA Non-Pro World title. They took first in the $25,000-added Non-Pro at the West Texas Futurity, where Seiz and Time For A Smoothie were Reserve in the Derby Unlimited Amateur. • Photo by S. Sylvester Photography.

Seiz and Time For A Smoothie Roll to Cotton Stakes Unlimited Amateur Championship

After settling for second place in a few recent big events, Denise Seiz and Time For A Smoothie broke through in a big way on Sunday, Sept. 10, with the Cotton Stakes Derby Unlimited Amateur Championship.

Seiz, of Cedartown, Georgia, and the 2013 roan mare (Smooth As A Cat x One Secret Desire x One Time Pepto) took the win with a 221. Their nearest competitors, Reserve Champions Barney Smith and Catillac Smooth, were 8 points behind at 213.

Earlier this year, Seiz and the mare bred by J. Luxford and Pacific Research earned second-place honors in the Derby Unlimited Amateur classes at the Augusta Futurity and West Texas Futurity. The $8,000 win check from the Cotton Stakes pushed Time For A Smoothie’s National Cutting Horse Association earnings to more than $56,000. Reserve Champion Catillac Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x CDs Masterpiece x CD Olena) now has earnings of approximately $45,000.

Derby Amateur

The Derby Amateur Championship went to Katherine Goodfried, of Flint, Texas, who rode Metallic Fox to the title with a 219.5. Champions were determined by the go-round score. There was no finals.

The $1,500 winner’s share of the purse pushed Metallic Fox’s NCHA earnings to just over $4,000. The 2013 mare (Metallic Cat x Dainty Playgirl x Freckles Playboy) was bred by her owner, Gary Goodfried, also of Flint.

The Reserve Championship went to Rick French and Hissy Boon, whose score of 216.5 also took the Derby Senior Amateur Championship. French and the 2013 stallion (Boon Too Suen x Hissy Cat x High Brow Cat) earned a total of $1,888 for owner French Trucking, Inc., of Lexington, Tennessee.

Classic Unlimited Amateur

Cameron Thompson and This Isa Third walked into the pen at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center second to last in the draw, but the duo walked out with the high score of 222.5 and the Cotton Stakes Classic Unlimited Amateur Championship. Thompson, of Crossville, Tennessee, and the 2012 gelding (Third Cutting x Cat Fancy This x High Brow Cat) earned $4,000 for owners Maben and Julie Thompson.

The win pushed This Isa Third’s lifetime NCHA earnings to more than $135,000. The gelding was bred by Carl and Shawnea Smith, of Jacksboro, Texas.

The Reserve Championship went to Gary Barker and Smooth Nu Cat. Barker, of Madill, Oklahoma, also rode the 2012 gelding (Smooth As A Cat x Special Nu Baby x Dual Rey) to the 2017 Cotton Stakes Classic Non-Pro Championship.

Classic Amateur

Missouri cutter Laura Wilson took the final title of the 2017 Cotton Stakes when she won the Classic Amateur Championship with Little Swiss Desire.

Wilson, of Union, Missouri, and the 2011 mare (Desires Little Rex x Swiss Cat x High Brow Cat) marked a 219. The win earned $2,100 for Wilson, who owns the mare bred by Jerry Durant, of Weatherford, Texas.

Reserve Champions Ryan Smith and Reys CD 11 (Dual Rey x Sweet Little CD x CD Olena) marked a 217.5. They earned $1,800.

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