Jade Mitchell and 2014 NCHA Horse of the Year Junie Wood marked 224 to win the second round of the High Brow CD Junior Youth World Finals in Fort Worth Wednesday, July 26.
Jade, whose parents, John and Hope, are in the NCHA Open and Non-Pro Hall of Fame, respectively, is following in their footsteps with her win in historic Will Rogers Coliseum. John won the NCHA Super Stakes and Super Stakes Classic double on Junie Wood in 2014/2015, while Hope won the 2001 NCHA Classic Challenge on Bambi Freckles and the 2002 NCHA Super Stakes on Freckles Lena Boon.
Jade came into the World Finals tied for 13th place in the standings, and she placed fourth in Tuesday’s first round with a 217.5.
Junie Wood is owned by Glade Knight’s Slate River Ranch. The 7-year-old mare is by Nitas Wood out of Tuffs Junie, and she has earned more than $524,000.
The third and final round of the High Brow CD Youth World Finals is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Friday, following the finals of the NYCHA Youth Scholarship Cutting.
In the go-round for the Senior division of the Scholarship Cutting on Wednesday, Lane Cooper led the field with a 226 on Holly Is Smooth.
Lauren Oehlhof was second on Suen You Will See with a 223, while Case Robertson on Little Rey Whirlacat and Cade Shepard on Deluxe Checks, both marked 221.5. Twenty-six riders marked 216 or better to advance to Friday’s finals.
Lane Cooper, whose brother Lance won the first and second rounds of the Senior World Finals with 227 and 223 points, respectively, on Light N Lily, won last year’s Scholarship Cutting on Holly Is Smooth. The 11-year-old mare, sired by Smooth As A Cat out of Holly N Zack has earned more than $225,000. She is owned by Rose Valley Ranch.
Christina Huntley scored 222 points in the second round of the Senior Youth World Finals on her own horse, Smart Frosty Cat. The 12-year-old gelding, by Smooth As A Cat out of Evalita has earned more than $185,000 and carried Christina to win the 2016 NYCHA Senior Youth World Finals.
Ryan Rapp earned 221 points in the second round of the Senior Youth World Finals on 7-year-old Im Reydioactive, the gelding he showed this year as reserve champion of the NCHA Eastern Nationals Senior Youth and a finalist in the NCHA Scottsdale Nationals. In 2016, Ryan won the NYCHA Junior Youth World Finals on Spookystimetoshine, the same horse he showed the previous year as NCHA Junior Youth Scholarship champion.