One Time At Night, ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Wood for Teresa Home of Santa Ynez, California, claimed Saturday’s first championship by winning the $5,000 Novice division of the Mercuria NCHA World Finals in Fort Worth. The 7-year-old gelding put together scores of 219 / 223 / 442 to win the second round and non-working finals, earning a show-topping $3,981.
Bred by Matthews Cutting Horses, One Time At Night is by One Time Pepto out of Lenas Snow, a Docs Stylish Oak mare that has produced earners of more than $510,000. One Time At Night had won more than $100,000 prior to the World Finals, as an Amateur limited age champion for Mary Agnes Johson and as an Open aged event finalist with Phil Hanson.
This is the fourth year in a row that Mike Wood has won the $5,000 Novice at the World Finals. He scored with Scoot Justa Lil in 2014, Clays Little Kit Cat in 2015, and Buzzted last year.
Check Counter, ridden by Steve Schlesinger for Mark Nelson, is the $5,000 Novice World Champion with $37,791. One Time At Night is the Reserve World Champion with $34,109.
In the $50,000 Amateur, Rebecca Drake’s scores of 222 / 211 / 433 topped the first round and non-working finals to earn $3,797 and the World Finals championship. She rode One Red Mist.
One Red Mist was bred by Arcese Quarter Horses by One Time Pepto out of Pacific Coast Derby reserve champion Cat Mist, a producer of earners of more than $590,000. One Red Mist accounts for more than $149,000 of that total. The 8-year-old mare had placed third in the Non-Pro NCHA Classic Challenge with Barney Mac Smith, and fourth in the Breeders Invitational Non-Pro with Mary Ann Rapp.
Jason Reed of Faith, South Dakota, is the $50,000 Amateur World Champion. He rode Chitas Cats Merada at the World Finals, and also earned money on Cat Pep and Mikaela during the year. Reed wound up with $67,070.
Rebecca Drake was the Reserve World Champion with $59,020.
Traci Shehady of Poolville, Texas, won the $25,000 Novice Non-Pro World Finals with Biscuit Love. She scored 214.5 / 219 / 433.5 to win the second round and non-working round, earning $3,552.
Biscuit Love was bred by Shellbird, Inc. The 10-year-old mare is by Smart Aristocrat out of Get Her Flowing, a Pacific Coast Classic champion by Mr Peponita Flo. She has earned more than $58,000. Shehady and Biscuit Love won the $5,000 Novice Non-Pro at the 2013 World Finals.
The $25,000 Novice Non-Pro World Champion is Louis The Cat, shown by Tyler Delange. He also won the $25,000 Novice World Championship with Casey Crouch. Louis The Cat is by High Brow Cat out of Louella Again. He earned $45,258 in the $25,000 Novice Non-Pro.
The Reserve World Champion is Smooth As I Can, shown by Janice Eaton, with $26,478.
The World Finals winner in the $15,000 Amateur was Christy Hannon of Cameron Park, California, with scores of 216.5 / 221 / 437.5 to win the second and non-working rounds, earning $2,444 at the show.
She rode Hy Lights, an 8-year-old Hydrive Cat x Glo N Flo mare bred by Brinkman Ranch.
The $15,000 Amateur World Championship went to Israel Valles with $15,309. He rode Smokem Jo Lena, by Joes Midnight Son, throughout the year.
The Reserve World Championship went to Kelsey Roderique with $12,612 earned on Lizzys Lil Player, by Lizzys Gotta Player.