Dual Smart Dee Jay, shown by Bill Pierce, scored 218.5 points on Wednesday, in Jackson, Miss., to win the 2019 NCHA Eastern Nationals $5,000 Novice championship. The Sancho, ridden by Bill Kidd, claimed the reserve title with 218 points, while Gettin Hott In Here, under Ryan Moore, placed third with 217.5 points.
Owned by Lyndi Polk, Edwards, Miss., 7-year-old Dual Smart Dee Jay $48,428 was a finalist with Pierce last year, in the NCHA Eastern Nationals $5,000 Novice finals, and placed third with Melinda Polk in the $35,000 Non-Pro finals. The Dual Smart Rey gelding launched his career at three, as Open and Non-Pro champion of the 2015 Waco Futurity under Cullen Chartier and former owner Gayle Karanges, who also showed him that year to win the Brazos Bash Non-Pro Futurity.
Bred by EE Ranches of Texas, Dual Smart Dee Jay is out of Meradas Dee Jay $147,686, who won the NCHA Eastern Nationals $5,000 Novice in
1995 under Guy Woods. A producer of 11 NCHA earners of $363,532, Meradas Dee Jay, is out of Laney Doc $221,332, an all-time leading NCHA dam of the earners of over $1.4 million, including Cat Ichi $238,691, the sire of earners of over $6.1 million.
In addition to Dual Smart Dee Jay, Bill Pierce also showed Dontt Say A Word, owned by Don McGraw, Canton, Miss., as a finalist in the $5,000 Novice finals, as well as Tite Fittin Genes $65,066 and Looks Halreycious $100,827, also owned by McGraw, in Tuesday’s finals of the $25,000 Novice.
Six-year-old The Sancho $29,180 was bred by James Eakin and is owned by Sandy Barrios, Homestead, Fla. Shown by Chris Hanson at four, the Bet Hesa Cat son was an Open finalist in three major events, including the NCHA Derby.
The Sancho’s rider, Bill Kidd, is the NCHA earner of $414,270, and was Open reserve champion of the Eastern Nationals riding Smokin Flite $30,382 in 2009. Last year, Kidd showed Dirty Cat Tini as a finalist in the NCHA Western Nationals $5,000 Novice.
Five-year-old Gettin Hott In Here, by Hottish, was bred by Beechfork Ranch and is owned by Ryan Moore. The pair also showed as finalists in Tuesday’s $25,000 Novice, where they tied (7/8) with Monroe In Mink $14,185, shown by Moore for Stan Flowers, Dexter, Mo.
Moore, the NCHA earner of $229,028, was an Open and Open Limited finalist in last year’s NCHA Futurity riding Pepsi Boon $25,597, by Once In A Blu Boon. He also showed Catareycious $49,967, by Halreycious, last year to place third in the NCHA Eastern Nationals $5,000 Novice and fourth in the $25,000 Novice.
The 2019 NCHA Eastern Nationals continue on Thursday with the $15,000 Amateur go-round, followed by the Open Finals.