John Kratzer, Weatherford, Tex., scored 225 points on Babes Smart Cat, by WR This Cats Smart, to win $40,851 as the 2021 NCHA Kit Kat Sugar Super Stakes 5-Year-Old Non-Pro champion. Sheridan Clark, Weatherford, Tex., posted 223 points on Shorty Katz, by High Brow Cat, for $36,467 and the reserve championship, while Missy Etheridge, Corinth, Miss., scored 220.5 points aboard Boondexterous, by Once In A Blu Boon, to place third and earn $32,083.
In addition to their Non-Pro championship win on Friday, April 16, John Kratzer and Babes Smart Cat also claimed the Amateur 5-Year-Old Classic reserve championship on Thursday, April 15.
Prior to the 2021 NCHA Super Stakes, Kratzer, the NCHA earner of $334,139, realized his biggest wins west of Texas, including the 2017 PCCHA Futurity Non-Pro Classic on Smooth Play Kit LTE $100,537, by Smooth As A Cat; the 2012 South Point Non-Pro Classic with My Lizzy Babe LTE $163,653, by Lizzys Gotta Player; and the 2007 PCCHA Limited Non-Pro Classic with Frecklesareinstyle LTE $184,444, by Docs Stylish Oak.
Bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock and owned by Cows & Horses Etc, Weatherford, Tex., Babes Smart Cat LTE $90,224 has been shown in Open competition by Tatum Rice, who rode her as reserve champion of the Cattlemen’s Open Classic earlier this year, and as an NCHA Derby Open finalist in 2020. Babes Smart Cat’s dam, Just U Babe, by Lizzys Gotta Player, is a full sister to Moms Stylish Player LTE $411,889, among 12 money earners out of Moms Stylish Babe LTE $37,565.
Sheridan Clark, the NCHA earner of $276,189, won the 2015 NCHA Super Stakes Classic Limited Non-Pro on Meradas Puddy Cat LTE $115,631, by Athena Puddy Cat, and was 4-Year-Old Limited Super Stakes Non-Pro reserve champion and placed fourth in the Non-Pro that same year on DB Little Cat LTE $72,506, by Metallic Cat. Clark, when she was 14 years old, also showed Meradas Puddy Cat as 2013 NCHA Futurity Limited Non-Pro champion and 2014 NCHA Derby Limited Non-Pro champion,.
Shorty Katz, bred by Glenn and Debbie Drake, Napa, Calif., is a full brother to Cat Atat Cat LTE $276,155, out of the Peptoboonsmal daughter Miss Stylish Pepto LTE $216,005. In addition to her 2021 NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro championship earnings, Sheridan Clark also claimed a first-place payout of $2,673 with Shorty Katz in the Non-Pro Gelding division.
Missy Etheridge, in addition to her third-place finish on Boondexterous in the 5-Year-Old Non-Pro, also collected $16,466 as a 2021 NCHA Super Stakes 4-Year-Old Non-Pro finalist aboard Deputy Droopy LTE $105,211, who earned $2,941 second-place money for her in the Non-Pro Gelding division, as well.
Boondexterous LTE $126,360 has carried Missy Etheridge, the NCHA earner of $534,095, as a finalist in seven limited age event finals, including as reserve champion of the of the Cotton Stakes Non-Pro and champion of the Intermediate Non-Pro division.
Deputy Droppy, by Once In A Blu Boon, also carried Vick Etheridge, Missy’s husband, to place fifth and earn $11,344 in the 4-Year-Old Amateur Finals, as well as to earn additional money as an Intermediate Amateur finalist, and in Amateur Senior, Amateur Gelding, and Intermediate Amateur Gelding 4-Year-Old divisions.
Altogether, Deputy Droopy earned $53,258 under both Missy and Vick Etheridge during the 2021 NCHA Super Stakes, and together the Etheridges earned $88,795 riding Boondexterous, Deputy Droopy, and Spoonin N Backseat.
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