NCHA News

Countess Catrina, by Im Countin Checks, scored 228 points under Austin Shepard on Tuesday, to win the Ike Open Derby and a $21,000 paycheck. Buonvino, by Metallic Cat, claimed the reserve championship and $19,000, with 224 points under Beau Galyean, while Boondexterous, sired by Once In A Blu Boon and shown by Cullen Chartier, placed third with 223 points

Countess Catrina LTE $131,750, owned and bred by Rhein and Amanda Standish, Baton Rouge, La., placed fifth with Shepard in the NCHA Futurity and was also a finalist in the Augusta Futurity. A full sister to Deluxe Chekcs LTE $283,156, Countess Catrina is out of the High Brow Cat daughter Catrina Starlight LTE $99,456, whose dam, Stella Starlight LTE $292,408, won the 2000 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro championship with her breeder, Lach Perks, and also placed fifth in the Open Futurity under Bruce Morine. Catrina Starlight is one among 22 NCHA earners of over $1.2 million out of Stella Starlight. 

Buonvino LTE $27,559, owned by Billy Wolf, Whitesboro, Tex., came to The Ike as a finalist (13th) under Beau Galyean, in the Abilene Spectacular. In addition to his $19,000 payout as reserve champion of the Ike Derby, Buonvino, a half-brother to Catoker LTE $42,541, also earned $5,485 as the high-scoring horse in the Open Novice and Gelding divisions. 

Boondexterous LTE $44,563, owned by Belle Terre Ranch, Corinth, Miss., was an NCHA Futurity Non-Pro semi-finalist with Missy Jean Etheridge, and placed in finals of the Abilene Spectacular Open under Cullen Chartier. In addition to $15,733 for third place in the Open, the red roan gelding also earned the second-place payout of $2,328 in the Ike Derby Open Novice division.

In the 5/6 Classic Limited Finals, Redhead From Denver and Bradey Davis claimed the win with 225 points. Sofies Choice Cat and Brad Mitchell were second with 220, while Most Stylish Player and Nate Gribble took third with 219 points.

Sired by Metallic Cat, 5-year-old Redhead From Denver LTE $46,351 is owned by Lindy Wells, Madisonville, Tex. Last year, Redhead From Denver and Bradey Davis won the AQHA Congress Open Derby.

Five-year-old Sofies Choice Cat LTE $57,165, is owned by Tom Williams, Haleyville, Ala., who placed second on the Metallic Cat gelding in the 2018 NCHA Futurity Amateur finals, and also won the NCHA Futurity Amateur Senior division.

In addition to placing third in the Ike Limited Open finals, Most Stylish Player LTE $8,868 also won the 5/6 Limited Novice division. Owned by Cowan Ranch, Ardmore, Okla., and sired by Lizzys Gotta Player, 6-year-old Most Stylish Player is a full sister to Moms Stylish Player $403,762, among the earners of over $1.3 million out of Moms Stylish Babe, by Docs Stylish Oak.

The 2020 Ike Derby and Classic continues through Saturday, February 8. To read more from Sally Harrison, visit her blog at sallyharrison.com