Fresh from a Non-Pro win in the Ike Hamilton Classic, Christy Hughes marked 221 to lead the first round of the $25,000 Novice at the 6666 Ranch NCHA Eastern National Championships in Jackson, Mississippi, Monday. Twenty-seven horses marked 213.5 or better to advance to the finals.
Christy Hughes, bred and shown by Austin Shepard of Summerdale, Alabama, is a 6-year-old mare by Thomas E Hughes out of MH San Tules Dually. Shepard won the NCHA Classic Challenge and was Reserve World Champion with Thomas E Hughes. He and his wife, Stacy, earned more than $330,000 with MH San Tules Dually. That mare has produced earners of $706,0o0 including Bamacat, World Champion Stallion of 2015.
The Shepards’ teen-age son, Cade, won Non-Pro championships with Christy Hughes at Augusta and The Ike this year, as well as a Mercuria World Series win at Congress last fall, and the Southern Derby in 2016.
Christy Hughes has earned more than $124,000 so far. She’s also entered in the Open division at the NCHA Eastern Nationals, with the go-round scheduled for Wednesday.
The second high score in the $25,000 Novice go-round was a 219 posted by Ettafied, shown by Gabe Reynolds for Lisa and Jamie Johnson of Asheville, North Carolina. Ettafied is a 6-year-old gelding by High Brow CD, bred by Glenn and Debbie Drake out of Travs Foxetta, by Travalena. Ettafied was a finalist with Reynolds in the Open and with Lisa Johnson in the Unlimited Amateur at the Augusta Classic in January. The gelding has earned more than $17,000.
Reynolds also posted the third high score of 218 riding Dualcious for Shaun O’Hearn of Asheville, North Carolina. Dualcious is a 7-year-old by Halreycious out of Hannahs Choice Star, by Grays Starlight, bred by Randall Bass. He has earned $37,000.
Casey Crouch and Zeke Entz both marked 217.5 in the go-round. Crouch rode Louis The Cat, the $25,000 Novice and Novice Non-Pro World Champion of 2017, owned by Amy and Mike Delange and Rick Dubay. Entz rode Pipes Lucy Lee, an earner of $42,000 owned by Wilson and Wilson of Cordova, Alabama.
The $25,000 Novice finals will be held Tuesday, and the show continues through Friday, March 16.