Holly Francois, Murchinson, Tex., and Smart Dual Kat, scored 217.5 points to win the Lucas Oil NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Limited championship on Friday, April 14, in Fort Worth, Tex. Becky Galyean, Purcell, Okla., claimed reserve with 215 points riding Smooth Little Linda, while Charles Israel, Birmingham, Ala., and Twisted Metal, took third with 213.5 points.
Francois and Smart Dual Kit also scored 214.5 points in Thursday’s Non-Pro Semi-Finals to qualify for Saturday’s NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Finals.
Smart Dual Kit, with no previous NCHA earnings, is a gelded son of Dual Smart Rey, who also sired fourth-placed finalist Cristy Erickson’s horse, Reys Karma. Smart Dual Kit was bred by Eddie and Barbara Young, San Angelo, Tex., the breeders and owners of HC Tailgate Date, by Herding Cats, 222-point winner, under Wes Ashlock, of the NCHA Super Stakes Open Semi-Finals, which preceded the Non-Pro Limited Finals on Friday. Smart Dual Kit is half-brother to Little Miss One Time LTE $183,232, owned and shown by Wes Ashlock’s wife, Lindy.
Herding Instincts and Herding Reys, champion and reserve champion of the 2017 NCHA Super Stakes Amateur Unlimited, were also bred by Eddie and Barbara Young, and sired by Herding Cats.
Holly Francois is the NCHA earner of $120,953. Her biggest paychecks came from the reserve championship of the 2011 NCHA Derby Non-Pro aboard Dualsadie and her third-place finish on Poppin Tagz in the 2013 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro Limited. Francois’s husband Lee, NCHA Hall of Fame Rider and earner of $2,791,392, won the 2010 NCHA Super Stakes and the 2011 NCHA Super Stakes Classic on Reys Desire LTE $393,766, whose daughter, Desires Time, he will show on Saturday in the NCHA Super Stakes Open Finals.
Becky Galyean’s mount, Smooth Little Linda LTE $591, by Smooth As A Cat, is out of TF Smartlittle Linda LTE $137,434, by Smart Little Lena. Galyean, the NCHA earner of $139,850, placed seventh in the 2012 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro on Panolas Spot and was also fourth-placed in the 2010 NCHA Super Stakes Classic Non-Pro Limited on Ms Tazzy Lena.
Charles Israel, NCHA earner of $62,872, was a 2010 NCHA Classic Challenge Non-Pro finalist on My Lil Catillac, and most recently placed in the NCHA Eastern Nationals $5,000 Novice Non-Pro and $25,000 Novice Non-Pro on Twisted Metal and Checking The Cats, respectively.
Twisted Metal, by Metallic Cat, is out of Some Kinda Twister LTE $58,298, by Freckles Fancy Twist, and half-brother to Twistful Thinking LTE $257,329, 2015 NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Champion with Cade Shepard.