Alexis Stephas, riding 6-year-old Once You Go Black, by Hydrive Cat, scored 221 points on Sunday, July 19, to claim the Western Bloodstock NCHA Showdown in Cowtown Unlimited Amateur championship and a $20,000 winner’s check.
Bo Buckley, Salado, Tex., and Von Sutten, Fort Worth, Tex. tied for second-place with 218 points. Buckley, who showed CD Bronze Cat, by CD Lights, and Sutten, riding Hi Ho Nabisco, by Smooth As A Cat, each earned $14,000.
“I think it is a really cool deal to show like this for that much money,” said Stephas, referring to the hefty payouts in the inaugural Showdown in Cowtown.
Stephas was especially thankful for the opportunity to make amends for her performance as the last rider in the last set of the Rios of Mercedes Classic Challenge Amateur/Unlimited Amateur go-round, immediately preceding the Showdown finals.
“I was really upset because we only marked a 212 and that was our last limited age event (in Will Rogers Coliseum),” said Stephas. “I wanted revenge, and I was really proud of my horse for being able to last for two runs. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go. There was just enough time to wrap and rewrap and go down there again.”
Stephas has owned the black stallion for his entire career and most recently won the NCHA Super Stakes Classic Amateur Unlimited on him, one of 17 major aged event finals he has obtained with her. Sunday’s win pushed Once You Go Black’s career earnings well past the $100,000 mark.
“He’s fun to show,” said Stephas. “He’s small and swoopy. I have a few babies on the ground by him. None of them are black, but they’re all built like little tanks, just like him.”
Von Sutten on Hi Ho Nabisco, who has won previous titles in Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum on Smartware (2008 Super Stakes Amateur) and Whiskers And Rumors (2013 NCHA Derby Unlimited Amtateur) collected $14,000 for sharing second with Bo Buckley on CD Bronze Cat.
Hi Ho Nabisco is by Smooth As A Cat out of Little Hickory Gal, and was bred by Ellen Reeder. Little Hickory Gal won $182,000 in Open and Non-Pro events, including the 1994 NCHA Challenge with Larry Reeder. She has produced earners of more than $610,000.
Bo Buckley’s co-reserve Champion CD Bronze Cat, by contrast, brought NCHA earnings of $53 to the Summer Spectacular. Bred by Judy Firmin, CD Bronze Cat is by CD Lights and is the first NCHA money earner out of Bronze Starlet Cat.