Kathryn Phillips 2018 gelding, Von Cali (Stevie Rey Von x Hotel Cali x Smart Aristocrat) earned his first premier event title as the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes Open Champion. With EquiStat $1 million rider Clayton Edsall aboard, Von Cali marked a composite of 662 (223 herd, 218.5 rein, 220.5 cow).
The son of $1 million sire Stevie Rey Von ended 2022 with a LTE of $29,737 with a limited show career. Their win at the Stallion Stakes garnered a $50,000 check.
EquiStat $1 million rider Todd Bergen took home reserve champion honors on Metallic Daisy Dukes (Metallic Cat x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey) for owner Bit of Heaven Ranch. Justin Wright, an EquiStat $2 million rider, piloted 2021 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion Zak 34 (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda x High Brow Cat) to 3rd place honors.
Hott Take
Up and coming reined cow horse professional Abby Mixon finished the 2022 season with just $109,447 in EquiStat earnings. On April 1, she and Lookin For Hottstuff (Hottish x Hotstuff an then Sum x Peptoboonsmal) added $16,000 to that when they won the NRCHA Stallion Stakes Intermediate Open.
The pair put the crowd in Las Vegas, Nevada on their feet when they marked the high cow work score of the open finals, a 227. That score, paired with their 211 in the herd and 218 in the reining, was enough to propel them to a sixth-place tie and a $13,500 check in the Open with a composite of 656.
