Moms Stylish Player continued to add to his illustrious career when he and Kenny Platt teamed up to win the NCHA Western National Championship Open title. • Photo by Ted Petit.

Moms Stylish Player Carries Kenny Platt to NCHA Western National Championship

Equi-Stat Elite $1 Million Rider Kenny Platt won his second consecutive Open championship at the 2018 National Cutting Horse Association’s (NCHA) Western Nationals.

Riding Robert Tregemba’s Moms Stylish Player, aka “Sprout,” the trainer from Ft. Lupton, Colorado, marked a huge 226 in the finals to win by a four points. The $4,544 win increased the horse’s career earnings to nearly $334,000, according to Equi-Stat.

The cows in the finals were tough, but Sprout (Lizzys Gotta Player x Moms Stylish Babe x Docs Stylish Oak) was accurate and controlled throughout the run, said Kenny’s wife, Becca Platt. Even watching from a live feed, Tregemba could tell it warranted a big score.

“I knew it would be a really good score. Sprout has proved to be exceptional in controlling the cow,” Tregemba said. “Obviously, you can never be sure you didn’t miss something until the scores are final. Kenny and this horse have had a great deal of success and adding a Western Nationals Open title was another real special win.”

The horse has accumulated more than $300,000 in lifetime earnings, but Sprout first caught Platt’s eye as a long yearling at a sale. At the time the Platts were looking for a yearling to invest in for themselves.

“I wouldn’t let Kenny buy him because he was so little,” Becca said. “If he never grew we wouldn’t be able to sell him and we couldn’t take that risk.”

Denise Cox purchased the colt for $8,500 at the 2013 Western Bloodstock Preferred Breeders Sale. Tregemba bought the horse about a year later, and Sprout has been in training with Platt ever since.

The Drummond Land and Cattle-bred gelding won the Lucas Oil NCHA Super Stakes and NCHA Summer Spectacular as a 4-year-old in 2016.

“He is like all the great ones, he is very consistent,” Tregemba said. “No matter what the event or what the competition I know we have a chance. You can’t ask a horse or a jockey for more.”

Jon Burgess, of Victoria, Texas, rode Littlemak (Starlights Gypsy x Justa Swinging Gal x Justa Swingin Pepto) to a 220 to win reserve. It paid $3,722, pushing the horse’s lifetime earnings to roughly $155,000.

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