Jennifer Rector of Rogersville, Missouri marked 218 on Smooth Reyn to lead after the first round of the Rios of Mercedes Unlimited Amateur Derby, presented by Bar RR Ranches at the NCHA Summer Spectacular presented by Great American Insurance.

Twenty-eight horses marked 214 or better to advance to the finals.

Smooth Reyn was bred by Kathy Knost by Smooth As A Cat out of Ruby Reyn, a daughter of $1.7 million producer Playboys Ruby.

Rector and Smooth Reyn were Unlimited Amateur finalists at the NCHA Futurity and the Super Stakes, and also in the $50,000 Amateur division of the NCHA Futurity. They also took the reserve championship in the Unlimited Amateur at the Breeders Invitational this spring.

In the Amateur division, Bear Davis of Sacramento, California, on Red Solo Catt and Vick Pannell of Alexander, Arkansas, on Metallic Sister both marked 217 to lead 23 contestants advancing to the finals. It took a score of 212.5 or better to advance.

Bred by Rod and Mary Jane Kelley, Red Solo Catt is a son of Metallic Cat out of Non-Pro Super Stakes and Super Stakes Classic champion Amanda Starlight. Davis has won championships at the NCHA Super Stakes, Breeders Invitational, Pacific Coast Derby and Pacific Coast Winter Roundup on the gelding this year.

Bar H Ranche bred Metallic Sister by Metallic Cat out of $1.2 million producer Little Baby Sister. Pannell rode the mare to the Amateur reserve championship at The Ike this year.