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Nineteen 42 and Wes Galyean were victorious at the West Texas Futurity. • Photo by Emily Coffeen Photography.

Nineteen 42 Kicks Off Career With Big Win at West Texas

Newly minted EquiStat Elite $5 Million Rider Wesley Galyean doesn’t usually frequent the early circuit, but since he was taking accomplished stallion Third Edge to the West Texas Futurity, half-brother Nineteen 42 got to come along. 

Nineteen 42 made it worth Galyean’s time, marking a 224 on some quick cattle and nabbing the Open Futurity Championship Wednesday, Aug. 17, for owner and breeder SMF Cutting Horses at the show held in Amarillo, Texas. The win came with a $16,000 payday. 

“The cows were quick, fast and tough, but he really allowed me ask him to go left and right, and go control these cows. He never got frazzled about it,” Galyean said of the gelding. 

Royal Family

A son of the late EquiStat Elite $9 Million Sire Hottish, Nineteen 42 is out of accomplished producer Lil Rattler. The daughter of Dual Rey and out of National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity Open Champion Highbrow Supercat has so far produced earners in excess of $370,000 including Nineteen 42’s big brother, Third Edge (by Metallic Rebel).

Nineteen 42 has a lot to live up to, because Third Edge has been on a tear this year. Recently sold to Teton Ridge, Third Edge won the NCHA Summer Spectacular Derby Open, tied for the NCHA Super Stakes Derby Open and this week added the West Texas Derby Open title to his collection. 

“One of the best things about [Nineteen 42] – he’s not a big horse, he’s shorter – but he’s got that Hottish move on him. He can rip it left and right, it’s a really cool feeling,” said Galyean, who rode Lil Rattler and has campaigned many of her offspring. “I’m blessed to have him and have the opportunity to go ride him. With [owner Steven Feiner, of SMF Cutting Horses], I got to pick him out as a yearling and not only that, I got to say ‘I think Hottish would be good on sire to breed to this mare.’ And now here is the product.”

“Brain Surgery”

Nineteen 42 may be a star now, but according to Galyean required what the trainer jokingly referred to as “brain surgery” – meaning, the horse was gelded – during his 2-year-old year to get him on track. 

“When he was a 2-year-old he was a stud and he didn’t need to be. Like we always say, probably eight or nine horses out of 10 are all supposed to be geldings. Once we gelded him, he started really coming along and it helped him so much. He started to become really willing to get trained and allowed me to do the process with him,” Galyean said. 

Next on the calendar for Nineteen 42 and the trainer is the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association (PCCHA) Futurity and Stakes, the Brazos Bash and perhaps the Ike Derby and Classic

Reserve Champion in the West Texas Open Futurity was Rebellicious (Metallic Rebel x Style My Lizzy x Lizzys Gotta Player) and James Payne, who marked a 220.5 for owner Kathleen Moore. The pair earned $14,000 for the Reserve Championship.