Fort Worth, Texas realtor Von Sutten woke up the judges on a Sunday afternoon when he and his gelding, Superey, controlled a rowdy set of cattle to score a 220 and take the win in the 5/6-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur finals at the Arbuckle Mountain Futurity on Feb. 25.
“I had watched the guy before me go in and it just looked like the cattle were pushing him off center, so I knew if I went in there and really took hold as soon as I got in, we might be okay,” Sutten said. “We got to the left once there a little bit, but he’s really a good, honest horse, and I just wanted to make sure we gave ourselves a chance to get some work done.”
Sutten acquired the horse during the 2017 NCHA Futurity Cutting Horse Sale for $51,000 from the Glover/Gaylean Partnership.
“Wesley and Kristen Galyean had shown him quite a bit and I knew he had the kind of talent to be a strong contender in unlimited amateur competition,” Sutten said. “Casey Green, my trainer, told me he felt like the horse would fit me pretty well, and he sure does.”
For Sutten, a horse that fits him is one that wants to be a little more easy-going, and he said “Thor” is getting there.
“When he first got to my place, he was all business, but now that he’s not being pushed to perform like an open horse, he seems to be getting more laid-back, and that fits me pretty well,” he said. “He’s really broke. I brought him up from my place on Thursday and Casey worked him a little bit, then he was good to go.”
Superey is by Dual Rey and out of 2005 NCHA Futurity Open Champion Highbrow Supercat (by High Brow Cat). He is a full brother to Lil Rattler, an earner of $338,967, and Button Down Supercat, an earner of $289,597.
With their win, Sutten added $3,453 to the gelding’s lifetime bank of $53,162. Sutten, who said they will continue to show the horse at The Cattleman’s, the NCHA Super Stakes and the Breeder’s Invitational, recognized the help of Kody Porterfield, Green, Sean Flynn and Lloyd Cox in securing the victory.
Exackta (Boon A Little x Ms Highliner x High Brow Hickory) captured Reserve for owner Jim Short, of Dale, Texas, with a score of 217.5, earning $2,856 to bring his earnings to more than $22,000.
5/6-Year-Old Amateur
Working second in the herd seemed to be the sweet spot at the Arbuckle Mountain Futurity. Cold, wet weather was playing havoc with the temperaments of the cattle, which seemed to continually shift and stick to one side or another during the event.
Misty Greeson took it all in stride. As the number two to go in the 5/6-Year-Old Amateur finals, the Bartlesville, Oklahoma, cowgirl dropped her hand over LiL Maddy Rey and let her go to work. Handling the cattle with care, the 6-year-old daughter of Dual Smart Rey received a score of 220 from the judges – a score that would stand against the remaining 14 horses for the win.
“I was really concerned that the score wouldn’t hold up,” Greeson explained. “Langston Pattillo has a really good horse, Hillary Watson’s mare is awesome and Martha Meenan’s horse Red Oak is incredible. So, there was some tough competition there.”
Plus, she said, events leading into the finals were not so great.
“Today was great,” she said. “Yesterday was crappy, because I couldn’t stay centered and really cheated my horse. Today, though, Ashley Baxstrom and Lindy Northcutt picked me out three really good cows. They turned them great, and Tommy Marvin and Lloyd Cox held them for me.”
Greeson also competes in amateur golf with the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association, and while she won’t choose her favorite sport, she does say there are similarities in the two.
“I’m competitive in everything, and they’re both a mind game,” she said. “They both have different factors that affect how you compete. With golf, it’s the weather. With cutting, it’s the cows. It’s hit and miss, but it’s still a mind game and it takes preparation and practice.”
Greeson and Lil Maddy Rey added $2,880 to their lifetime totals, bringing the sorrel mare’s lifetime earnings to more than $55,000, while Greeson’s earnings passed the $30,000 mark.
The win marks one of the highlights of the mare’s career, as she was also the 5/6-Year-Old Limited Open Champion at the Arbuckle under the hand of Northcutt, earning $1,842 with a 218.5.
“Really all of the credit goes to Lindy and the mare,” Greeson said. “’Maddy’ is the sweetest. She’s priceless, and Lindy is the one that does such an amazing job and keeps her dialed in.”
Riding into second place was Duff Sinclair, of Lipan, Texas, who marked a 218.5 riding Goodlookinsonofaich, a bay son of Cat Ichi out of Sheza Skeeto Rey (by Red Rey King). The duo earned a check for $2,394.
Immediately following the Arbuckle, Greeson dropped Maddy off at Oswood Stallion Station where she will be flushed for an embryo and bred to Hottish, something that delights her owner.
“I’m really not into the breeding, but I kind of wanted to have a little project,” she said with a bit of a laugh. “I figured I might as well while I have the chance.”
