Stallion Kit Kat Sugar and trainer Pete Branch, 58, Farwell, Texas, who made finals at their first two shows in Fort Worth and Abilene, Texas, marked a 223 in Thursday’s 4-Year-Old Open finals at the Bonanza Cutting in Glen Rose, Texas, to earn $27,991.
Gelding Jewel Bars Cat and Ronnie Rice, 59, Centerville, Texas, Reserve Champions during the Open finals at December’s National Cutting Horse Futurity with a 225 to earn $121,334, concluded their second show with a final-go 222.5. They finished second by a narrow margin for the second straight time to earn another $22,393 this time.
Kit Kat Sugar (High Brow Cat x Sugar N Dulce x Smart Lil Ricochet), bred and owned by Lonnie and Barbara Allsup, Clovis, N.M., is the first foal out of a mare Branch liked, but never got to compete with much due to her early health issues. Her first foal has now earned a combined $65,772 by making the finals at his first three limited-age shows.
“I’m really, really pleased,” Branch said. “He’s a good horse and a lot of fun to ride.”
Jewel Bars Cat owner Finis Welch joked that he might have to start calling his standout stallion (High Brow Cat x Sprats Dualin Jewel x Lenas Jewel Bars) “Bridesmaid” after his second consecutive strong but second-place finish. The horse’s veteran trainer, Rice, said he doesn’t think the proposed new barn name would stick.
“If I don’t screw up, he’ll get his win,” Rice said. “He’s a really nice horse. He’s a unique horse. He has a real easy way of moving and he’s a cow horse.”
Rice, who will turn 60 next Tuesday, said he and Branch certainly have an appreciation for being armed with two more great horses, following many years as trainers and riders.
“You don’t ever know when you are going to get your last good horse,” Rice said. “He (Jewel Bars Cat) is a good one.”
The Bonanza Cutting, celebrating its 30th Anniversary with this event, attracted 603 entries. That’s an increase of 19 entries from last year. It continues through Saturday.
Sly Playgirl, Special Nu Baby 5/6 Co-Champions
Sly Playgirl, a 5-year-old mare who had previously earned less than $70,000, and Burleson, Texas, trainer Jaime Snider marked a final-round 221 to tie 6-year-old standout Special Nu Baby and her trainer, Matt Gaines, Weatherford, Texas, as 5/6-Year-Old Open Co-Champions as the Bonanza Cutting.
Special Nu Baby (Dual Rey x Nu I Wood x Zack T Wood), owned by Gary and Shannon Barker, Madill, Okla., and trained and ridden by Gaines throughout her career, had previously earned more than $260,000. She added about $22,213 while completing a comeback from an injury that limited her activity last year.
Sly Playgirl (That Sly Cat x Taquitas Playgirl x Freckles Playboy) and Snider tied for the title to pick up a about $22,213 for horse owner Luis De Armas, Weatherford, Texas. De Armas and the horse that he purchased in mid-summer also will compete in Saturday’s Non-Pro finals. Snider, 32, a a frequent finalist, picked up his first high-profile limited age win.
One Time Royalty (One Time Pepto x Royal Serena Belle x Shorty Lena), the 2007 stallion who won the 2010 NCHA Futurity Open with a record-breaking 230, posted his best finals showing since by finishing a close third with a 220.5. Lloyd Cox, Fort Morgan, Colo.
One Time Royalty’s career-long trainer, piloted him to that finish for SDM Quarter Horses, Goodiwindi, Queensland, Australia. SDM Quarter Horses, owned by Sue Merchant, purchased One Time Royalty from his original owners Jeffrey and Sheri Matthews, Weatherford, Texas, last August. Jeffrey Matthews bought the horse as an embryo from breeder Double Dove Ranch, Benbrook, Texas.
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