As one of the biggest shows of the summer drew to a close, two fierce competitors couldn’t be separated atop the leaderboard. Fernando Loza and Reyly Plendl both marked a 219 to win the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Summer Spectacular Amateur Classic Challenge on Friday August 5, each winning $9,137.
Reyly Plendl & Nitreyious
For Reyly Plendl, a win at the historic Will Rogers Coliseum was the sign that her 2021 slump was coming to an end. The rider from Kingsley, Iowa and partner Nitreyious (Metallic Cat x Cherrey x Dual Rey) started their journey together when Plendl started the stallion as a 2-year-old.
“This is probably the most special horse I’ve ever had,” said Plendl, who previously rode the horse to a second-place finish in the 2020 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro. “He was the first [one] that I started.”
According to Plendl, the plan for Nitreyious was to “get showed.” The son for EquiStat Elite $54 Million Sire Metallic Cat had a confidence-building semifinal that set their finals run up for success.
“I wanted to make the finals but I didn’t expect to win or anything like that,” Plendl said.
Nitreyious is owned by a partnership between Plendl and her sister, Regan. He was bred by Rodney Wrinkle Cutting Horses of Lebanon, Missouri.
Plendl thanked her help Michael Cooper, Sean Flynn, Lloyd Cox as well as Regan Plendl, family and Kelle Earnheart.
Fernando Loza & Gotachangeurevilways
With the Summer Spectacular win, Floridian Fernando Loza and special mare Gotachangeurevilways or “Tiny” are nearing the $100,000 mark in career earnings.
“This mare is incredible, she always gives you her best. She’s so smart with the cow,” Loza said. “She’s little in size, but has a big heart. She’s a show horse, she knows how to show and she likes to win.”
Sired by Kit Kat Sugar and out of Dual Rey mare Wicked Wanda Rey, Loza said that Tiny gets better each time she shows her. Tiny was bred by the Rose Valley Ranch in Weatherford, Texas.
“Thank you to Jose Cruz, he did an amazing job on her. And my help Casey Green, Clay Johnson and Lloyd Cox. Without this help [nothing] would be possible. You need good help,” Loza said.
