Ichi Sangria LTE $140,630, shown by Guy Woods for EE Ranches, Whitesboro, Tex., scored 226 points on Wednesday, in Jackson, Miss., to claim the NCHA 6666 Eastern Nationals $5,000 Novice Finals. It was the 7-year-old Cat Ichi daughter’s fourth NCHA Eastern Nationals title and third consecutive $5,000 Novice win. She previously won the 2016 and 2015 $5,000 Novice divisions, as well as the 2016 $15,000 Novice, and placed fourth on Tuesday in the $25,000 Novice.
Louis The Cat, with Casey Crouch, scored 222 points for the $5,000 Novice reserve championship, while Bermuda Cat and Walt Erwin placed third with 219 points, in the 28-horse finals’ field.
Ichi Sangria, who began her career as a 2013 NCHA Futurity Open finalist, is a fourth generation EE Ranches-bred champion. Her dam, Scratchin LTE $80,221, by Laker Doc, was shown by Woods to win the 2004 NCHA Eastern National Open championship. Scratchin’s dam, Lacy Jo Lena, was a 1994 NCHA Futurity Open finalist under Woods, and her dam, Play Satin Beauty, carried EE Ranches’ owner, Jo Ellard, to win the 1992 NCHA Eastern Nationals $20,000 Amateur.
Woods, an NCHA Hall of Fame Rider with earnings of more than $2.6 million, also showed the Play Satin Beauty gelding Raked in Satin LTE $141,019, by Laker Doc, to win the 2001 and 2002 NCHA Eastern Nationals $3,000 Novice divisions, as well as the 2001 $10,000 Novice championship; and Raked In Satin’s half-sister, Little Satin Teddie LTE $93,510, by Smart Little Lena, to win the 1991 Eastern Nationals $10,000 Novice.
Ichis My Choice LTE $299,194, the 2016 NCHA Open Horse of the Year, was also bred by EE Ranches and sired by Cat Ichi, as was 2014 NCHA Non-Pro Horse of the Year Saguaro Ichi LTE $293,796. Cat Ichi LTE $238,691, sire of earners of $4.9 million, was bred by EE Ranches out of Laney Doc LTE $221,332, an NCHA all-time leading producer.
Woods also qualified for Thursday’s Open Finals with Ichi Sangria and EE Ranches-bred and owned Miz Savanah, by Cat Ichi.
Eight-year-old Louis The Cat $64,321, by High Brow Cat, is owned by Michael and Amy Delange, Fort Gratiot, Mich. Bred by John Harrah, out of Louella Again, by Dual Pep, he is full or half-brother to earners of $1.1 million, including full siblings Louellas Cat $302,483 and Cattalou $241,786.
Casey Crouch, LTE $893,227, won both the 2009 NCHA Eastern Nationals Open Finals and the $10,000 Novice Finals riding Captains Choice, and qualified Louis The Cat, as well as GS Zans Cat for Thursday’s Open Finals.
Bermuda Cat LTE $3,941, by WR This Cats Smart, was an Unlimited Amateur finalist and placed second in the Unlimited Amateur Senior with Dick Thompson at the 2016 Waco Texas Futurity. The 5-year-old gelding is owned by Bermuda Ranch, Collinsville, Tex.
Walt Erwin, LTE $457,953, won last year’s NCHA Eastern Nationals Open championship riding his own horse, Playful Highbrow CD, by High Brow CD.