Lil Ricky, shown by John Mitchell, scored 222 points to top Day 3 of 2020 NCHA Open first go-round competition, on Saturday, November 21. R Agent Scully, shown by Paul Hansma, posted the second-highest score, 221.5 points, while Gingersnaps, with Kate Neubert, and Versace On Da Floor, ridden by Lance Cooper, tied with 220.5 points, the day’s third-highest score. With two days remaining, Catolena Cashin In and Tarin Rice, who worked on Thursday, retain the first go-round lead with 224 points.
Lil Ricky, a Meteles Cat gelding owned by Slate River Ranch, Weatherford, Tex., and bred by Slate River owner Glade Knight, is the second foal of performance age out of Junie Wood LTE $525,774, winner of the 2013 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro championship with Craig Crumpler and 2014 NCHA Open Horse of the Year under John Mitchell, with three major 2014 wins, including the NCHA Super Stakes.
Junie Wood’s first performer, Ethell LTE $15,557, by Metallic Cat, was a 2019 NCHA Futurity and 2020 NCHA Derby semi-finalist, and a Bonanza finalist, under Mitchell, as well.
John Mitchell, the NCHA Hall of Fame earner of $4,456,550, won the 1998 NCHA Futurity Open Limited championship on Playdox LTE $52,888, and has claimed $768,147 in Futurity earnings, alone, in 16 NCHA Futurity finals, including 14 times for Glade Knight and Slate River Ranch.
R Agent Scully a mare sired by High Brow Cat, out of CD To The Max, by CD Olena, is owned and bred by Gary and Michelle Reichart, Frankton, Ind. Michelle Reichart showed CD To The Max LTE $95,509 as a finalist in multiple limited age events, including as Amateur champion in the 2013 Non-Pro Cutting Classic and the 2013 Arbuckle Mountain Classic.
Reichart also showed CD To The Max’s full brother, R Maximillion Kat LTE $15,921, to place fifth in the 2020 NCHA Derby Amateur finals and to earn first-place money in the Derby Amateur Gelding division.
Paul Hansma, the NCHA Hall of Fame earner of $6,225,059, won the 1996 NCHA Open Futurity aboard the Dual Pep gelding Playboy McCrae LTE $263,723, and has been an Open Futurity finalist a total of 16 times.
Gingersnap, a Smooth Talkin Style daughter owned by 7 R Ranch LLC, Jackson, Wyo., was bred by Flying V Ranch, Val Verde, Calif. Her dam, Catnaps LTE $79,920, by Highbrow Cat, is a full sister to Kittens LTE $270,700 and Wildcats LTE $89,696. Kittens has produced 11 earners of $753,976, including Reysin Kittens LTE $347,248.
Kate Neubert the NCHA earner of $221,926, made her debut as an NCHA Open finalist in 2016, when she showed Louellas Kitty LTE $22,340 in the Open Limited, after competing in the Open Semi-Finals. Additionally, Neubert was an Open semi-finalist in 2014 showing both Maid Of Metal LTE $205,605, and Whats In That Cat LTE $20,879.
Versace On Da Floor, a daughter of Im Countin Checks, is owned by Michael and Jennifer Cooper, Weatherford, Tex., and was bred by Rose Valley Ranch. A full sister to Hesa Money Maker LTE $104,290 and Yall Count Me In LTE $94,585, Versace On Da Floor is out of the Smooth As A Cat daughter Holly Is Smooth LTE $225,782, dam of earners of $343,413.
Nineteen-year-old Lance Cooper, who will celebrate his 20th birthday on New Years Eve 2020, is NCHA earner of $285,980. He won the 2017 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro Limited and placed in the Non-Pro Finals on his own horse, Zen And Tonic LTE $133,819, and in 2014 was a Non-Pro finalist and reserve champion of the Non-Pro Limited riding Post Card From Paris, owned by his parents, NCHA Hall of Fame trainer Michael, and Jennifer Cooper.