Phil Rapp

Dont Look Twice, 2011 NCHA Horse of the Year, posted an Augusta Futurity record of 231 points last night, as she captured the Mercuria World Series championship with Phil Rapp, the winning-est rider in Augusta history.

“She’s one of a kind,” said Rapp, who shows the 7-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat for Waco Bend Ranch. “A tough cow, like her second one tonight, just takes her to that next level.”

Last year, Dont Look Twice set an all-time NCHA record of 234 points at the Idaho Mercuria World Series of Cutting. With well over $600,000 in career earnings, she is on a course to become NCHA’s all-time leading mare, a record currently held by Meradas Little Sue with official earnings of $670,098.

Rapp, 42, NCHA’s all-time leading rider with more than $7.5 million, was recently cleared by doctors to resume a full schedule of riding, following surgery 15 weeks ago to repair a herniated disc in his lower back.

George C Merada, shown by John Wold for Furst Ranch, scored 225 points for the title of reserve champion of the Augusta Mercuria World Series.

Kaitlyn Larsen and Laredo Montana

Kaitlyn Larsen and Laredo Montana
Kaitlyn Larsen, 22, had an angel on her shoulder as she scored 224 points on Laredo Montana for her first major championship win in the Mercuria NCHA World Series Non-Pro finals at Augusta.

“He was with us,” said Larsen of her fiance, Reagon Walker, who died in a highway accident, while he and Kaitlyn were on the way to a cutting event in Oklahoma last April.

“I couldn’t mentally handle cutting for awhile. If it wasn’t for this horse, I don’t know if I would be back. Reagon loved this horse, too.”

Seven-year-old Laredo Montana, by Light N Lena, is a homebred raised, trained and originally shown by Kaitlyn’s father, Billy Martin, who also owns Light N Lena.

Mary Jo Milner and Smooth As A Zee scored 222 points to claim the Non-Pro reserve title.

Best of the Remuda
Wimpys Hombre, consigned by the W.T. Waggoner Estate, Electra, Tex., topped the AQHA Best of the Remuda Sale on January 14, in Fort Worth. The 4-year-old son of Wimpys Little Step was purchased by Jim and Marilyn Helzer, owners of JEH Stallion Station, famous for its champion Quarter and Thoroughbred running horses.

Greyt Big Diamonds, the high-selling mare at $11,500, was also consigned by the Waggoner Estate. The 5-year-old daughter of Greyt Whiz was purchased by Burnett Ranches, Guthrie, Tex.

Held annually in conjunction with the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, the invitational Best of the Remuda Sale features working-bred Quarter horses from some of the American Quarter Horse Association’s most influential breeders.

Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale
“Overall, we feel the 2012 Winter Mixed Sale was a success,” said general manager Jeff Tebow at the conclusion, Saturday, January 21, of the three-day Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale in Oklahoma City. “The crowds remained strong…quality horses with good pedigrees sold extremely well.”

The annual sale of Quarter race-breds grossed $9,995,350 with an average per head of $8,653; repurchases equaled 12 percent on 1,149 lots.

The high seller at $185,000 was First Fervor, a multiple stakes producer and full sister to champion 2-year-old colt First To Flash. The 8-year-old First Down Dash daughter, one of 64 head from the complete dispersal of La Feliz Montana Ranch, was purchased by Bobby Cox. Although she produced two foals in 2011, First Fervor’s 2012 breeding status was reported as “unfurnished” in the catalog.

The high-selling horse of racing age, 2-year-old Significant Heart at $130,000, was also from the La Feliz Montana Ranch dispersal. The Corona Cartel daughter, out of G1 winner Jess Significant, whose dam is champion Significant Speed, was purchased by Abigail Kawananankoa.

Be Peaceful, 17-year-old daughter of Raise A Secret and dam of world champion Be A Bono, sold for $165,000, the sale’s second-highest price. The Childers Ranch consignment, which included her 2012 ET by Walk Thru Fire, was purchased by Luis Alvarez.

Corona Cartel led all sale sires of yearlings with an average of $52,750 on four head, including Corona Firewater, the high-selling yearling at $70,000.

Augusta Futurity
The Augusta Cutting Horse Futurity, the oldest annual NCHA-sanctioned event east of the Mississippi, is in full swing for its 33rd season. The seven-day show, held in Augusta, Georgia’s James Brown Arena, is the only southeastern venue for the Mercuria NCHA World Series of Cutting, an event that has given new life to its limited age event host.

Finals of both the open and non-pro divisions of the 4-Year-Old Futurity will be held on Saturday, January 28, while finals of the Mercuria World Series will take place on Thursday, January 26, followed by the 5 and 6-Year-old division of the Futurity on Friday.

Finders Key to a movie career
The New York Times sports section featured an excellent feature on January 25 about thoroughbred race horse Finders Key, who never finished higher than fifth in five starts, but found fame as a move star in the movie “Seabiscuit,” and most recently as Joey, in the movie “War Horse.” Click here to read the article.

2011 running champions, announced by the American Quarter Horse Association on January 19, include:

World Champion
Champion 3-Year-Old
Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding
COLD CASH 123
(Oak Tree Special x Cash 123, Takin On The Cash)
Owner/Breeder: Carolyn and Walter Bay (T Bill Stables)
Trainer: Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath
Riders: Roy Balddillez, Joe Martinez and Jacky Martin
Richest win in 2011: $899,524 Rainbow Derby G1
2011 record: 6 wins in 8 starts, $818,447
Career: 9 wins in 14 starts, $979,741

Champion 2-Year-Old
Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding
OCHOA
(Tres Seis x Stolis Fortune, Stoli
Breeder: Johnny T.L. Jones
Owners: J Bar 7 Ranch, Cluck, and Benson
Trainer: Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath
Rider: Ricky Ramirez
Richest win in 2011: $2.4 million All American Futurity G1
2011 record: 3 wins in 4 starts, $1,244,200

Champion 2-Year-Old Colt
FEATURE MR BOJANGLES
(Feature Mr Jess x Catch This Dash, First Down Dash)
Breeder: Joyce Erickson
Owners: Hubbard, Helzer, S/M Cattle, and Dominguez
Trainer: Roberto Sanchez
Riders: Alonso Rivera, G.R. Carter Jr., Jacky Martin
Richest win in 2011: $700,000 Rainbow Futurity G1
2011 record: 6 wins in 7 starts, $541,612

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly
SEPARATE FIRE
(Walk Thru Fire x Septacular, Separatist)
Breeder: Dr. Steve Burns
Owner: Tremor Enterprises
Trainer: Paul Jones
Rider: Ramon Sanchez
Richest win in 2011: $1.1 million Ed Burke Futurity
2011 record: 5 wins in 8 starts, $631,250

Champion 3-Year-Old Colt
PROSPECT TO THE TOP
(Coronas Prospect x Cream To The Top, Easily Smashed)
Breeder: Sue May
Owner: Joel Tavarez
Trainer: Ralph Muniz
Riders: Jacky Martin, Roman Chapa, Oscar Rincon, Freddie Martinez
Richest finish in 2011: 2nd in the $1.3 million All American Derby
2011 record: 3 wins in 10 starts, $413,320
Career: 7 wins in 17 starts, $648,650

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly
MISS RACY JESS
(Mr Jess Perry x Miss Racy Vike, Racin Free)
Breeder: Gary and Donna Hall (Sunflower Supply Co.)
Owner: Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches
Trainers: Blane and Trey Wood
Rider: Ricky Ramirez
Richest win in 2011: $935,350 Los Alamitos Super Derby G1
2011 record: 3 wins in 6 starts, $419,628
Career: 6 wins in 11 starts, $485,628

Champion Aged Horse
Champion Aged Stallion
GOOD REASON SA – 2007
(Favorite Trick TB x Queen Of Appeals, First Down Dash)
Breeder/owner:Gianni Franco Samaja
Trainer: Paul Jones
Riders: Ramon Sanchez and Eduardo Nicasio
Richest win in 2011: $750,000 Champion of Champions G1
2011 record: 2 wins in 7 starts, $501,082
Career: 7 wins in 15 starts, $1,446,727

Champion Aged Mare
SPIT CURL DIVA – 2005
(Spit Curl Jess x Some Kinda Diva, Some Dasher)
Breeder: Little Deer Creek Quarter Horses
Owner: Lepic-Morgan Partnership
Trainers: Jody Brown and Paul Jones
Rider: David Brown
Richest win in 2011: Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge G2
2011 record: 3 wins in 7 starts, $118,415
Career: 19 wins in 37 starts, $829,353

Champion Aged Gelding
RYLEES BOY – 2005
(Heza Motor Scooter x Pipistrelle, Rocky Jones)
Breeder: Gary Nebitt
Owner/Trainer: Gerardo Ochoa
Riders: Joe Ruiz and Jacky Martin
Richest win in 2011: Remington Park Invitational G1
2011 record: 3 wins in 6 starts, $322,320
Career: 17 wins in 36 starts, $711,481

Champion Distance Horse
DE PASSEM OKEY
(Okey Dokey Dale x Impassable Gal TB, Sir Richard Lewis)
Breeder: Dr. Eddie Moore
Owner: Steve Holt
Trainers: Rodney Reed, Fred Danley and Loyd Moreland
Riders: G.R. Carter, Alejandro Medellin and Stormy Smith
Richest win in 2011: Remington Distance Handicap G3
2011 record: 5 wins in 8 starts, $127,710
Career: 15 wins in 32 starts, $290,821

Champion Trainer: Paul Jones – 10th consecutive time – 2011 earnings $4,705,577
Champion Jockey: G.R. Carter Jr. – 171 winners from 885 starts, $4,311,455
Champion Owner: Double Bar S Ranch, Morena, Cal. – 17 winners from 98 starters
Champion Breeder: Dr. Ed Allred – 212 wins from 1,155 starts, $3,067,621

Texas leads the nation in cattle with 14 million head, and also in horses, with over 1,000,000, according to the Texas A & M Department of Animals Sciences and the American Horse Council. In fact, cattle and horses are more numerous than people in the wide, open spaces between Amarillo, Texas, home of the American Quarter Horse Association, and Fort Worth, home of the National Cutting Horse Association.

But in the early 1900s, an enterprising Swedish investor and his sons who owned 298,000 acres of cattle range in the Texas Panhandle decided to market 673 square miles of it as farm land, after persuading Burlington’s Texas Central Railroad to run a route through the site. The first train arrived in the fledgling town of Spur, 60 miles east of Lubbock, in 1909.

“The farmers’ opportunity to secure a home in the richest valleys and uplands of Texas,” promised a 1912 advertisement for S.M. Swenson & Sons.

“To the first comers we are willing to sell one-half of our holdings of 673 square miles on easy terms and reasonable prices. We reserve the other half for the big increase to come with development. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the homeseeker.”

Advertised prices ranged from $12.00 to $17.50 per acres, with “some additions when close to town. The Swensons were part of a syndicate that had purchased the land for one dollar an acre from Spur Ranch (formerly) Espuela Land & Cattle Company) in 1906.

“The great extent and variety of land insures the homeseeker such range of selection that the man early on the ground can find exactly what he wants,” the ad further promised. “Spur is in Dickens County; beautiful location, surrounded in all directions by miles upon miles of fertile farming country and is fast becoming a city.”

According to the Handbook of Texas, 600 lots were sold, although it is not clear how many were farm lots. At its height, in 1940, Spur supported a population of 3,000; today the population is just over 900.

The famous Pitchfork Ranch still maintains part of its extensive range in Dickens, County.

Stamford, founded by the Swensons in 1899 and home of the Swenson Ranch headquarters, has fared better than Spur. The famous Texas Cowboy Reunion, held annually since 1930, draws over 10,000 rodeo participants and fans to the little town of just over 3,600 residents.

Havre de Grace ran away with Horse of the Year honors last night during the 2011 Eclipse Awards in Los Angeles, where it was announced that she had garnered 166 votes over runner-up Acclamation with 26.

Havre de Grace is the third consecutive mare to be so honored in a sport dominated by males. Zenyatta, winner of the Breeders Cup Classic against males in 2009, was voted Horse of the Year in 2010; Rachel Alexandra earned her title in 2009, the year that she won the Preakness.

Owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms, Newark, Delaware; trained by Larry Jones; and ridden by Ramon Dominguez for five wins from all 7 of her starts in 2011, Havre de Grace also earned a 2011 Eclipse Award as champion older female. She is currently based at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, as Jones prepares her for her first start of 2012, in the New Orleans Ladies on March 17, or possibly, according to Jones, the $400,000 New Orleans Handicap against males on April 1.

Several other Horse of the Year winners and contenders have spent part of the winter at Fair Grounds in recent seasons, including Curlin (2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year), Rachel Alexandra (2009 Horse of the Year) and Blame (2010 Champion Older Male and runner-up in Horse of the Year voting).

Havre de Grave, whose greatest victory came against males in the Woodward Stakes, is from the first and only foal crop of of Saint Liam, 2005 Horse of the Year who died in August 2006, as the result of a freak accident that happened while he was being led from his paddock at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky.

Porter and Jones also teamed with the ill-fated filly Eight Belles, who broke down after finishing second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby and is buried at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Ramon Dominguez, 35, Havre de Grace’s regular rider, received the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey. It was the second Eclipse for Dominguez, who also rode 2011 champion two-year-old Hansen, tallied 348 wins, and earned over $20.2 million, more than any other jockey in 2011.

Other 2011 Eclipse Award winners include:
Two-Year-Old Male: Hansen
Two-Year-Old Filly: My Miss Aurelia
Three-Year-Old Male: Animal Kingdom
Three-Year-Old Filly: Royal Delta
Older Male: Acclamation (5)
Older Female: Havre de Grace (4)
Male Sprinter: Amazombie (5)
Female Sprinter: Musical Romance (4)
Male Turf Horse: Cape Blanco (IRE) (4)
Female Turf Horse: Stacelita (FR) (5)
Steeplechase Horse: Black Jack Blues (IRE) (8)
Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Breeder: Adena Springs
Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
Apprentice Jockey: Kyle Frey
Trainer: Bill Mott

The Eclipse Awards are named after 18th century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at five and was undefeated in 18 starts.

Complete results just made available for the 2011 NCHA Futurity Sales, held December 6 through 10 in Fort Worth, show an increase of 14% in average price over the 2010 Futurity Sales.

Confidence in the cutting horse market was further borne out by an increase of 23.5% in average for the 10 highest sellers – $160,000, compared to $129,500 in 2010.

The sale topper, at $280,000, was a yearling High Brow Cat daughter, Tapt Cat, consigned by her breeder, Waco Bend Ranch. The full sister to 2011 NCHA Horse of the Year $639,000 earner Dont Look Twice was purchased by the Tapt Cat Syndicate.

Yearling filly Autumn Kitty, by High Brow Cat, and 7-year-old ARC Catty Dual, by Dual Pep, each sold for $220,000, the second-highest price from the sales. Arc Catty Dual, consigned by AK Cutting Horses and purchased by Center Ranch, was the high-selling broodmare with ETs by High Brow Cat, Smooth As A Cat, and One Time Pepto.

Autumn Boon, dam of Autumn Kitty, set a record with three offspring ranked among the top 12 (25%) high-selling horses. Autumn Kitty was consigned by Manion Ranch; Catzanova, a yearling colt by Smooth As A Cat, brought $69,000 for consignor Karen Freeman; and Awesome Autumn, a 7-year-old daughter of Smart Little Lena, consigned by Autumn Partners, sold to Lori and Bobby Gale for $90,000; while Diva N Denim, a 6-year-old full sister to Awesome Autumn, brought $41,000.

The top price of $70,000 for 2-year-olds was attained by Wicked Lil Reys, by Dual Rey; Sweet Mr Katz, by High Brow Cat; and ARC Lunar Pepto, by One Time Pepto. Sweet Mr Katz is a full brother to High Brow CD, 2008 NCHA Horse of the Year and a leading sire of 2011 Futurity Sale yearlings.

A strong demand for show geldings saw seven of them sold among the top 50 lots. Four of them for $50,000 or more, including 4-year-old Mate So Smooth at $74,000. The Smooth As A Cat son, in training with Paul Hansma, was sold to Donald Gilbert by Darren Blanton.

2011 NCHA Futurity Sales at a glance
Gross sales: 872 head with $17,730 average
RNA: 181 head with $23,130 average
Net sales: 691 head with $16,320 average
Withdrawn: 54 head
Completed sales: 79%

For complete results go to westernbloodstock.com

Cooper and Jae Bar One Time

Jae Bar One Time and Michael Cooper, third-placed in the NCHA Futurity for owner James Hooper, claimed the brass ring Saturday with a 222-point win in the Abilene Spectacular Futurity.

The $20,000 winner’s payout, plus a $10,000 stallion incentive bonus through the the gelding’s sire, One Time Pepto, raised Jae Bar One Time’s earnings to $151,334 – second only among 4-year-old cutting performers of 2012 to NCHA Futurity champion Oh Miss Caroline, with $200,000.

Jae Bar One Time was bred by Crystal Creek Ranch and purchased from Wrigley Ranches by Darol Rodrock, Bucyrus, Kansas, at the 2010 NCHA Futurity Sale under 2-year-old trainer Gerald Alexander. Cooper, who was training for Rodrock at the time, took over Jae Bar One Time’s reins following the Futurity, but in the spring of 2011, because of poor health, Rodrock decided to sell all of his performance horses.

“James Hooper rode the horse in April and just fell in love with him,” said Cooper. “He’s not the prettiest horse in the world, but that doesn’t bother us because he’s been a really good horse the whole time.”

Jae Bar One Time is out of the High Brow Cat daughter Jae Bars Fancy Cat, who placed second in the 2005 Abilene Spectacular Futurity with Clint Allen. Jae Bars Fancy Cat, the dam of 5-year-old full siblings – One Fancy Time, $25,630, and Purrfect Timin, $21,944 – to Jae Bar One Time, is out of Jae Bar Maise, 1987 NCHA Non-Pro World Champion for Debbie Patterson, and full sister to Jae Bar Fletch, 1989 NCHA Open World Champion under Kenny Patterson for Ernest Cannon.

Cinca De Maya and Wes Galyean, who earned the high average of 436.5 points going into the Abilene Spectacular, placed second in the finals with 219.5 points; Short N Smooth, shown by Paul Hansma, was third with 219.

Cinca De Maya, owned and bred by Paul Dean out of 2005 NCHA Open Futurity champion Highbrow Supercat, placed 12th with Galyean in the NCHA Futurity. Galyean also showed Cinca De Maya’s half-brother, Peptos Supercat, by Peptoboonsmal, as a finalist in the Abilene Spectacular and the NCHA Futurity.

Click here for full results with pedigrees.