You could say Lance Cooper was a star of the 2018 Super Stakes after winning two titles in less than a week and making a third final. Lance dominated the Ltd Non Pro Derby Championship on Zen And Tonic with an impressive 224!
The 17-year-old told CHTO’s Simone Cobb he just loves showing that mare! Reserve Champ was awarded to Alexa Dahl with a 218.5 on Playsomethingsmooth.
At just 17 years old, Lance Cooper has dominated the Limited Open Derby Final at the 2018 Super Stakes. Lance rode Zen And Tonic to mark a 223 first out in the final to win by 6 points! He told CHTO’s Simone Cobb he was thrilled to win his second major title, after the successful pair tied for first in the Limited Non Pro Futurity last December. Garrett Hampton earned Reserve Champ title on Merlott, scoring a 217.
The 2017 NCHA Futurity Final was remarkable in more ways than one. Austin Shepard won his second Futurity buckle just one week after being crowned World Champion and Dual Reyish’s owner, Billy Wolf only met both horse and trainer the night before the final.
But on top of that – Hottish, the sire of Dual Reyish, now has proven progeny from his first crop, with a Futurity winner and fifth placed finalist Just Gettin Started, ridden by Jody Galyean.
Billy’s agent, Jim Ware was there – and as always with his finger on the pulse, emphasized what a remarkable result for Hottish. Dustin Adams, the owner of Hottish told CHTO’s Simone Cobb, he excited about Hottish’s future.
What a great story! The owner of Dual Reyish, the new 2017 NCHA Futurity Champion, only laid eyes on the horse the night before he won! It was also the first time Billy Wolf met Dual Reyish’s trainer, Austin Shepard.
Billy, from Whitesboro, TX told CHTO’s Simone Cobb, he purchased the horse in May of this year on the faithful advice of his good friend and agent Don Ham.
Dual Reyish is from the first crop of Hottish foals. He’s out of Little Reylena. Austin Shepard and Dual Reyish won more than $192,000 for the win.
In the cutting world, 2017 will go down as the year of Austin Shepard.
The newly crowned Open World Champion made history when just a week later, he took out the sport’s Holy Grail, the NCHA Futurity Championship.
Austin rode Dual Reyish, from the first crop of Hottish foals, to score an unmatchable 228.
He told CHTO’s Simone Cobb he had a good feeling about his chances of winning on one of the best horses he’s ever ridden.
Dual Reyish is owned by Billy Wolf, who had only seen the horse and met Austin for the first time the night before his historic win!
Austin took home more than $192,000 in earnings for first place.
Reserve Champion went to Lee Francois who rode The Animal and marked 225.5. He won $169,000.
It was a dream come true for Canada’s Rocky Davis who took out the 2017 NCHA Unlimited Amateur Futurity Final.
Rocky came out third last in the final and scooted past Bella Anderson to win by half a point aboard Redneck Creyzy with a 219.5.
He told CHTO’s Simone Cobb he’s going to stay in Texas for a while where it’s a little warmer to keep showing his gelding.
Chad Bushaw’s victory in the 2017 NCHA Non Pro Futurity was anything but bittersweet as the crowd roared approvingly during his exciting run.
The Texan rode a mare he trained and called Bittersweet marking a 225 for the win.
Chad told CHTO’s Simone Cobb a great story about why he chose that name, but that he wouldn’t a change a thing. He said it’s been a few years since winning in the Will Rogers, making his victory sweeter still.
Bittersweet is a Metallic Cat out of Miss Sea Rey. The paid earned more than $61,000 for the win!
Reserve Champion went to Brandon Westfall on Smooth Lil Cowtown who scored 221 and took home $52,000.
With just a few years of cutting under his belt, Brian Pearse claimed the 2017 NCHA $35,000 Non Pro World Championship in Fort Worth. Brian, who is from Alberta, Canada, rode Reyd to claim victory with $10,812 in total earnings.
Brian was Reserve World Champion last year in the $2,000 Limited Rider.
He told CHTO’s Simone Cobb, his trainer Mike Wood has been a great coach.
At just 16 years old, Lance Cooper has joined an elite group of Will Rogers Futurity Champions! Lance shares first place in the 2017 NCHA Ltd Non Pro Futurity with Ali Good, when they topped the final with a 222.
Lance rode Zen and Tonic, a horse he found himself just a month before the Futurity He told CHTO’s Simone Cobb part of skill is not getting nervous in the final.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP0xHPinLrk
Meanwhile, last rider of the final, 18-year-old Ali Good put in the ride of her life to match Lance’s 222. She rode Sneakish, he first major aged horse.
Ali told CHTO’s Simone Cobb she’s excited to continue showing the horse and credits her grandfather Bill Riddle with her success.
Robert Masterson honored the memory of his father after he shared first place in the 2017 NCHA Amateur Futurity Championship.
Robert, from Guthrie, TX marked a 215 aboard Little Guy Cat, a score matched by David Taurel.
He told CHTO’s Simone Cobb Little Guy Cat was his Father’s horse which made the win extremely special.
Meanwhile, seven horses later in the first set tough cows and the pressure of a Futurity final failed to get the better of David Taurel.
David, from Whitesboro, TX, rode Playboy Is Smooth to meet Robert Masterson’s score of 215.
The Co-Champion told CHTO’s Simone Cobb he was looking forward to a run off to decide first, but was happy to win a coin toss that saw him take home a horse trailer.
The two winners both took home more than $17,500 in prize money. Third place went to Bella Anderson who rode Bobby Jack Cat and marked a 212.5.
April Widman was on top of the world when she took out the 2017 NCHA Non Pro World Championship!
April and Woodys Baby came into the finals with an $11,000 lead, but was still within reach of Kylie Rice. However, from the first go round where April scored a 228, she proved she was going to be too tough to beat.
It’s April’s second world title, and she told CHTO’s Simone Cobb, she’s hit her peak and plans on hauling again next year. April will be inducted into the Non Pro Hall Of Fame this year and hopes to get Woodys Baby awarded as well.
In his first year hauling, Tyler Delange has won the 2017 NCHA $25,000 Novice Non Pro World Championship in Fort Worth.
Tyler took Louis The Cat on the road and to the Finals to win the title. Remarkably, the Stud claimed both the Non Pro and Open Championships this year.
Tyler told CHTO’s Simone Cobb Louis The Cat put in some 300 shows throughout the year and never missed a beat!
It was a dream come true for Jason Reed from Faith, South Dakota when he clinched the 2017 NCHA $50,000 Amateur World Championship in Fort Worth.
Jason rode Chitas Cat Merada throughout the year and in the finals, totaling $67,070 in earnings.
Jason told CHTO’s Simone Cobb, while he loves the bright lights and big crowds at the Finals, some of his most enjoyable moments of the year was simply heading down the road to a small show with his wife.
It was a satisfied Steven Steve Schlesinger who took out the 2017 NCHA $5,000 Novice World Championship aboard Check Counter in Fort Worth. Steve held off Mike Wood in the finals to win the title on the horse he took to the Futurity final four years ago. Steven told CHTO’s Simone Cobb he was very grateful to his family for supporting his bid for the Worlds over the past year.
Ron Davis from Morgan Mill, TX was thrilled to be named the 2017 NCHA $5,000 Novice Non Pro World Champion in Fort Worth.
Ron earned the buckle on Kits Little Headlinr, a horse he bred by Cats Headliner.
Ron finished the year with $45,481 in earnings, some $8,000 ahead of Reserve Champion Dana Azevedo.
