Davide Tresoldi, Milano, Italy, was the high-scoring rider on Sunday, July 23 the second and last day of the qualifying go-round for the 2017 Rios of Mercedes NCHA Derby Amateur/Unlimited Amateur Finals. Tresoldi, the NCHA earner of $19,913, qualified with 219 points on CC Capreycious LTE $2,443, by Halreycious.

Derby Amateur entrants with go-round scores of 212 points or higher qualified for the Rios of Mercedes Amateur Finals to be held on Thursday July 27. Unlimited Amateur Derby entrants with go-round scores of 213.5 points or higher qualified for the Unlimited Amateur Finals, also to be held on Thursday morning, July 27.

Claire Binkowski, Weatherford, Tex., scored 218 points as an Amateur go-round contender on Fed Exx LTE $54,263. Binkowski, the NCHA earner of $1,057, showed the Spots Hot-sired gelding to place fifth in the $2,000 Limited Rider division of The Non-Pro Cutting. Fed Exx made his career debut as a finalist in the 2016 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro with Kristen Galyean and has been an open finalist in six major events under Wesley Galyean.

Colton Smith, Geary, Okla., earned 216.5 points, the third-highest go-round score for Derby Amateur riders. Smith, the career earner of $34,363, rode High Brow CD-sired Wendels Grendel LTE $18,998, who won the PCCHA Derby Amateur Unlimited Gelding, the Amateur Unlimited Novice, and was reserve in the Amateur Unlimited with Colton’s father, Wade Smith.

Eddie Young, San Angelo, Tex., and Pat Taylor, Pilot Point, Tex., tied with 218.5 points to top the Derby Unlimited go-round, where four riders tied with 217 points, the second highest score.

Young showed Herding Reys LTE $19,384, the homebred Herding Cat daughter who he also showed as reserve champion of the NCHA Super Stakes Amateur Unlimited and Amateur Unlimited Senior divisions. Young is the career earner of $396,708.

Pat Taylor was aboard Rydin Dirty LTE $13,012, the Whiskeynadirtyglass-sired gelding he showed as a 2016 NCHA Futurity Amateur Unlimited finalist. Taylor was reserve champion of the 1996 NCHA Futurity Non-Pro Limited and won the 1997 NCHA Super Stakes on SR Shortening LTE $174,868 and has NCHA career earnings of $229,045.