The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA)/Lucas Oil World Championship Show kicked off on Nov. 1 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. Amidst a tough field of competitors from across the country, Equi-Stat Elite $4 Million Rider Clint Allen, of Weatherford, Texas, piloted Pharoah And James to the Junior Cutting World Championship.
The Hickorys Indian Pep gelding, owned and bred by David and Stacie McDavid, of Fort Worth, Texas, marked a 220.5 to win the finals from the ninth draw.
Pharoah and James, who is out of Wise Little Miss (by Wise Play), had $187,652 in lifetime earnings prior to the AQHA World Show – a purse that was acquired through placings such as tying for third at the 2017 National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Summer Spectacular in the Derby Open with Allen in the saddle.
In 2017, Allen won the Junior Cutting World championship on Pharoah And James’ full brother DMAC Wise Guy.
The Junior Cutting Reserve World Champion was Eugene “Dell” Bell, of Gainsville, Texas, and the Metallic Cat stallion Metalic Knight, who is owned by Lisa Crossen, of Era, Texas. The stallion, who was bred by Gary Goodfried, of Van, Texas, is out of the Freckles Playboy mare Dainty Playgirl. He and Bell marked a 220.
Senior Cutting
In the Senior Cutting it was Wayne, Oklahoma-based Equi-Stat Elite $1 Million Rider Andy Sherrerd aboard the EBR Kitty Hawk gelding Draggin A Hawk who marked a 225 to bring home the title.
The Marilyn Franz-bred horse is out of the Tina Bars Peppy mare Tina Moria Lena. He had $86,236 in lifetime earnings prior to securing his first AQHA World Championship. Owned by Brent and Sheri Kuehny, of Elmore City, Oklahoma, the sorrel gelding rode to the pen from the fourth draw in a field of 15 horses and riders to claim the win.
The Reserve title went to the Dual Rey stallion Dont Stopp Believin, shown by owner Phill Rapp, of Weatherford, Texas. The Waco Bend Ranch-bred stallion, who is out of Dont Look Twice (by High Brow Cat), marked a 222 from the fifth draw to top the remainder of the field.
Amateur Cutting
One-by-one, 15 competitors took their turn in the cutting pen, vying for recognition in the AQHA World Show arena. In the end it was Equi-Stat Elite $1 Million Rider Brandon Dufurrena, of Gainesville, Texas, partnered with his Dual Rey gelding Ricky N Reyd Streaks, who was named the Amateur Cutting World Champion.
The Gordon Sevig-bred 5-year-old, who is out of GS Kittys Littlelena (by Smart Little Lena), marked a 220.5 from the last draw to top the finals. The gelding, who was named the Derby Gelding Non-Pro Champion at the 2017 Arbuckle Mountain Futurity, has $67,963 in lifetime earnings, according to Equi-Stat.
The Amateur Cutting Reserve World Championship went to Havey Manion, of Aubrey, Texas, aboard Dino Velvet. The Kyle Manion-owned Smooth As A Cat gelding, who is out of Ms Roamy Wood (by Doctor Wood), was bred by Anthony Burrell, of Corrigan, Texas. He and Manion scored a 218 for the title.
