2013 NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular Awards $2.5 Million to Talented Competitors
The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) closed out its Triple Crown series August 3 at the Great American Insurance Group Summer Cutting Spectacular, awarding more than $2 million to champions and finalists who clawed their way to the top through nearly 1,300 entries.
A total of 14 divisions of competition were held throughout the event in Fort Worth, which ran from July 13 though August 3, including special John Deere Open Divisions, as well as Non Professional, Amateur, Unlimited Amateur and Youth. More than $2 million was offered in the Summer Spectacular, which is open to four, five and six-year old cutting horses. Prizes provided to sweeten the pot include saddles from Sean Ryon, trophy belt buckles from Gist Silversmiths, boots from Rios of Mercedes, hats from Sombrero Hat Brands and much more.
Taking the biggest check from the show was owner Tim May of Saltillo, Miss., whose horse, Buzzted, energized the crowd during the final night of competition at the Open Derby Finals August 3. Coming into the herd as the third horse to work in the second set, Buzzted and NCHA Hall of Fame rider Sean Flynn were seen as the potential favorites against Center Ranch’s CR First Tuff ridden by Boyd Rice. Buzzted and Flynn were the leaders coming into the Finals, having scored a 220, but Rice and CR First Tuff had been incredibly consistent, scoring a 219 and a 220 in the first two go rounds, respectively, and following with a 219.5 in the semi-finals.
For Rice, though, the chance for the win slipped through his fingers when he and CR First Tuff scored a 215.5 in the first set, leaving Wesley Galyean and Steve Feiner’s Lil Rattler in the lead with a 220.
Buzzted, a sorrel American Quarter Horse gelding by Light N Lena and out of the Peptotime mare, Honey Bee Time, made quick work of his first cow, then took the on the second cow with pronounced control, staying to the center of the arena, then finished off the remaining seconds with a final heifer. The pair was rewarded with a 225 for the win and a paycheck for $45,599 of the $628,415 purse, bringing Buzzted’s lifetime earnings to more than $81,000. Watch the winning ride.
Paul Hansma turned in the reserve championship ride as the last to work aboard Overdrive, owned by Dub and Christy Leeth of Cleburne, Texas, scoring a 221.5 to earn $40,960.
OPEN CLASSIC
Working third in the second set also held some special magic for top cutting horse mare Stylish Martini and her rider, Roger Wagner, who took home the win in the Summer Spectacular Classic Challenge Open Finals. Already an earner of more than $326,000 Stylish Martini was the clear favorite coming into the Finals having won the same division during the NCHA Super Stakes, presented by XTO Energy, in April.
Owned by Dottie St. Clair Hill, the bay American Quarter Horse mare by Docs Stylish Oak and out of Miss Martini Play, did not disappoint as she displayed her trademark dynamic moves throughout the two and half minutes. Scoring a 226, Stylish Martini earned a check for $35,761 of the $389,191 purse to bring her lifetime earnings, unofficially, to nearly $360,000. Watch the winning ride.
MORE RESULTS
Canadian Lauren Minshall grabbed the golden ring and took home the Great American Insurance NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular Limited Non Pro title July 21 aboard her mare, Little Sweets Spot. The Hillsburgh, Ont., native took home $6,914 for the win, after posting a score of 218 under the five judges.
The pair came into the arena hoping to top the 217 posted by Mandy Kirchner of Clarida, Iowa, riding Nitas Cat, whose early lead wasn’t challenged throughout most of the 19-horse finals. Kirchner earned $6,597 for her efforts.
Little Sweet Spot is by Spots Hot and out of Macs Little Dolly.
In the John Deere Open Classic Challenge July 22, Dean Domann scored a 222 aboard Cherrey, earning owner Rodney Wrinkle of Lebanon, Mo., a check for $5,136. By Dual Rey and out of Shesa Smart Lena, Cherry defeated a field of 11 other horses in capturing his share of the more than $36,000 pie.
2012 World Champion Nievas proved she was still in top competition form by taking the win in the Classic Challenge Non Pro July 23 with owner Brandon Dufurenna of Gainesville, Texas, in the stirrups. Scoring a 223, the daughter of Cats Merada earned Dufurrena a check for $16,417.
July 24th saw a full day of top-flight amateur competition with back-to-back finals in Rios of Mercedes Amateur division as well as the Unlimited Amateur divisions. Taking the win in the Derby Rios of Mercedes Amateur finals for four year olds were 15-year-old Matthew Dedden and his equine partner Cats Miller Time. Scoring a 217, Matthew of Burlington, Ky., earned $5,446 aboard the son of High Brow Cat and Little Smashed.
Tapt Out and Gary Rosenbach of Weatherford, Texas, followed that act with the win in the Rios of Mercedes Classic Challenge with a score of 218. Rosenbach, who rode three horses to the finals, captured a check for $6.069, defeating 166 other horses to take his share of the $105,550 purse.
In the Derby’s Unlimited Amateur division, Von Sutten of Fort Worth, Texas, rode the Athena Puddy Cat progeny to the win to earn $4,834. Scoring a 221.5 for the win aboard Whiskers and Rumors, Sutten took on 114 other horses for the $72,699 purse.
For the Classic Challenge version of the Unlimited Amateur, Carla Funk held onto an early 219 to fend off 32 other finalists who rose above 159 entries for an $87,943 purse. Funk, who also won the Senior Unlimited Amateur championships, scored a paycheck for $6,071 to take home to Elk City, Okla.
DERBY WINS
Competition for four-year-old cutting horses continued throughout the final week of the show July 30 through August 3. Capturing the John Deere Division of the Derby Open July 30 was the duo of Cullen Chartier riding Dmac Spoonbill. Scoring a 221.5 to take the win, Dmac Spoonbill, by Hes A Peptospoonful, earned a check for $5,802 for owners Stephen and Cherise Dees of Schulenberg, Texas.
The Open Gelding finals was held July 31 and was won in high energy fashion by Kyle Manion’s Smooth Strategy, ridden by Phillip Hanson. Scoring a 224, Smooth Strategy, by Smooth As A Cat, earned a check for $4,979 for Manion of Aubrey, Texas. August 1 saw the finals of the Non Pro Gelding competition, where Mr Connerey, a gelded son of Dual Rey, rode to the win under the hand of owner Glenn Barlow of Gillette, Wyo., scoring a 223 to earn $3,783 of the $40,522 purse.
August 2, the Limited Non Pro finalists took the arena after making their way through a field of 72 horses to compete for a purse of $95,523. Taking the win was Travelin Smooth and owner Kevin Murray of Mission Hills, Kan., scoring a 220 to earn $11,956. The duo would repeat the win the following afternoon in the Non Pro Finals, upping their score by one point to a 221 to earn $21,024 of the $380,420 purse.
The National Cutting Horse Association approves approximately 1,600 events each year with purses totally more than $35 million throughout the sport. Cutting events take place throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, South American and Europe and are supported by such companies as Mercuria Energy, Ram Truck, Great American Insurance Group, the American Quarter Horse Association, John Deere Tractors and XTO Energy among many others.
For more information about the Great American Insurance Group Summer Cutting Spectacular and to purchase tickets online, visit www.nchashows.com.
