NCHA News

 

Mark Messenger, Woodward, Okla., scored 219 points riding Cowgirl Blues 17, to win the 4-Year-Old Limited Amateur championship and $1,942. Trey Bullinger, Kentwood, La., scored 215 points on Blazer Lena Rey to claim the reserve championship and $1,839, while Rylan Walters, Colorado City, Texas posted 213 points on Carmalitas Cat for third place and $1,736,

Messenger, the NCHA earner of $9,119, showed Cowgirl Blues 17 earlier this year to place fifth in the Abilene Spectacular Intermediate Amateur. In 2020, he rode Smooth Hottie LTE $11,146, by Hottish, in his first limited age event, the NCHA Classic Challenge, where he qualified for both the Intermediate Amateur and Limited Amateur Finals.

Cowgirl Blues 17 LTE $16,242 was shown by Jaco Messenger as a 2020 NCHA Futurity Unlimited Amateur and Limited Amateur finalist. Earlier this year, Jaco also showed her to place sixth in the Ike Hamilton Intermediate Amateur and eleventh in the Cattlemen’s Amateur.

Bred by Wade Rust, Once In A Blu Boon daughter Cowgirl Blues 17 is a half-sister to Smooth Lil Cowtown LTE $127,517, by Smooth As A Cat, and out of Sweet Lil Cowtown LTE $74,422, by Sweet Lil Pepto.

Trey Bullinger, the NCHA earner of $19,442, showed Blazer Lena Rey LTE $20,135 to win the 2021 Ike Hamilton Derby Intermediate Amateur and Limited Amateur. He also rode the Halreycious daughter, bred by Marvin Marmande, to claim reserve in the 2020 Cotton Stakes Non-Pro and Intermediate Non-Pro Futurity, and to place third in the 2021 NCHA Eastern Nationals $15,000 Amateur Finals. Bullinger and his mare placed in the Super Stakes Intermediate Amateur on Wednesday, as well.

This is the Rylan Walters’ first time competeing in a limited age event finals. The NCHA earner of $22,674, Walters had previously shown Ms April Cat LTE $39,359, by Cat N A Hat, to place eighth in the 2018 NCHA World Finals $50,000 Amateur.

Carmalitas Cat LTE $3,345, by High Brow Cat, was shown earlier this year by Mackie Hursh to place fourth in the Abilene Spectacular Intermediate Open Finals and twelfth in the Cattlemen’s Intermediate Open. Hursh had also shown Smart An Sweet LTE $61,138, Carmalitas Cat’s dam, by Sweet Lil Pepto, as a 2012 NCHA Super Stakes Open finalist and to place fourth in the 2014 Super Stakes Open Classic.

To read more from Sally Harrison, visit sallyharrison.com.