At the inaugural Dom Conicelli Memorial Eastern Derby in 2020, Debbie Crafton rode away with the Derby Non-Pro win, and this year, she defended that title with a horse she called the “ultimate teammate.”
That would be Dualin ALittle Time, a son of EquiStat Elite $18 Million Sire One Time Pepto and out of ARC Little Dualena (by Dual Pep) bred by Arcese Quarter Horses and owned by Crafton that she rode to the winning composite of 651.5 (213.5 herd/219.5 rein/218.5 cow) to earn $3,292.
“He is always so true and honest,” Crafton said of the horse, who she previously rode to the 2019 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non-Pro Championship. “He always has my back and is my team partner.”
Following the DT Horses Western Derby, Crafton gave the 2016 stallion some time off before schooling him at a Colorado Reined Cowhorse Association event in Douglas, Wyoming. Then, she hauled to Tennessee.
This year, she said the Non-Pro competition in the NRCHA Eastern Derby stepped up from the first year.
“We had more competition this year; several non-pros that were at the Western Derby were here. You felt like you had to come a-calling,” she said. “It felt like a premier event this year with tough horses and tough competition.”
Given their past success, Dualin ALittle Time and Crafton had already had a successful career. She plans to keep him and transition into the two-rein, and eventually the bridle.
“I am sad that he’s growing up on me, but I’m really excited to show him next year in the two-rein,” she said.
The winnings in Tennessee pushed Dualin Alittle Time’s lifetime EquiStat record to more than $73,000.
In Reserve was 17-year-old Catelyn Walker riding Frat Cat (WR This Cats Smart x TAMU A Dualin Reina x Aggies Twelfth Man), who was bred by TAMU Department of Animal Science and owned by Walker. She earned $2,587 for their composite of 648.5.
