The first rounds of four classes of the Mercuria NCHA World Finals were held in Fort Worth’s Watt Arena Friday.
In the $5,000 Novice, Pinkolena Boon, ridden by Bill Pierce for Wiggins Quarter Horses of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, marked 221 for a two-point win over Hes Gotta Be Good.
Pinkolena Boon was bred by Jackson Land & Cattle by Peptoboonsmal out of Miss Cee Olena. The 7-year-old mare has earnings of more than $60,000. She moved up from seventh to sixth in the standings with her go-round win.
Hes Gotta Be Good moved up from second to first in the standings with his second-place finish. The Cats Gotta Diamond gelding, ridden by Tom Long, is now just $47 ahead of CR Kittys Gotta Gun, ridden by Gavin Jordan.
Ed Wold of Murrieta, California, won the $50,000 Amateur go-round by half a point with a 221.5 on Big Bow Pepto. Leann Wilson was second on Bada Boo.
Bred by Alexa Stent, Big Bow Pepto is by Peptoboonsmal out of Bowmans Little Jewel, a mare that won the Pacific Coast Cutting Stakes and earned $76,000. She has produced earners of $898,000.
Big Bow Pepto has earned more than $147,000 and was champion of the 6666 Ranch NCHA Eastern Nationals in the Open in 2014.
Love The Reys, ridden by Cassie Mitchell of Weatherford, Texas, marked 222 to win the first round of the $25,000 Novice Non-Pro over Lil Luigi Long Legs and Sherry Graham with a 219.
Love The Reys was bred by Jeff and Wendy Oswood by Dual Rey out of Lovies Lass, by Grays Starlight. Mitchell made the 2014 Non-Pro and Limited Non-Pro finals at the NCHA Futurity on the mare, and went on to be a Limited Non-Pro finalist at the Super Stakes and NCHA Derby. Love The Reys has earned more than $53,000.
The go-round win moved Love The Reys from 10th to seventh in the year-end standings.
Lil Luigi Long Legs has a $548 lead over Bea Pure Cat and Jill Roth in the World Champion’s race.
Eric Schmoyer of Macungie, Pennsylvania, marked 222 on Ms Nita to lead the first round of the $15,000 Amateur. Brian Pearse was next with a 220.5 on Reyd.
Ms Nita was bred by Kathleen Moore by Nitas Wood out of Teninas Tango, by Freckles Fancy Twist. The 8-year-old mare was a Limited Non-Pro and Limited Open NCHA Futurity finalist with Moore, and Rowdy Larson, respectively. She has earned more than $60,000.
Schmoyer, who made the $15,000 Amateur World Finals on Shesa Pepto Teaspoon in 2014, was also a finalist in two classes at the 6666 Ranch NCHA Eastern National Championships that year.
His go-round win also sealed his lead for the 2016 World Championship.