After two great runs that went off track in their final moments, Lindy Burch and Play Peek A Boon (pictured) kept the excitement cranked up until the buzzer on the third night of the Mercuria Energy NCHA World Finals in the Watt Arena. They marked 229 to win the round over Thomas E Hughes (225.5) and Dual Rey Me (225) who are going down to the wire for both the World Finals show championship, and the 2009 World Champion’s title.

Play Peek A Boon is the poster child of the 2009’s new 6666 Ranch World Series and the new format of the Mercuria Energy World Finals which
have greatly enhanced the star power, earning ability and value of older cutting horses. Mercuria will also sponsor an expanded World Series program in 2010 which will add big money to eight championship shows across North America.

Burch placed fifth in the 2002 NCHA Futurity on Play Peek A Boon and won more than $170,000 on the mare in aged events. But a suspensory injury at seven apparently ended the mare’s show career.

When the World Series program came together, Burch, who had sold her best open horse, says, “I happened to look out in the pasture and Play Peek A Boon ran by and she looked sound and I went, ‘I wonder . . .'”

She brought the mare back into condition after three years, won the Houston Livestock Show, and went to enough carefully chosen shows to qualify for the Word Finals.

“When the horses get to this age, it’s more like a partnership between the rider and horse,” Burch said, “like with Jeremy and Dual Rey Me. It’s wonderful to see that teamwork.”
Dual Rey Me and Thomas E Hughes are tied for the show championship going into the final round. Dual Rey Me has an $8,199 lead for the World Champion’s title, with a winner’s share of $6,410 on the line for both Round 4, and the non-working finals that determines the show championship.

Here’s a look at the third round of the Mercuria Energy NCHA Open World Finals: