It was three days after his 24th birthday, but Shes Icing Onthe Cat added the frosting to Wes Galyean’s cake, as he rode the 4-year-old mare to win the Memphis Non-Pro Futurity. It was Galyean’s second championship this week and his fourth this year.
“She’s always been a talented mare and tonight we finally got to see it come out,” said Galyean, who scored 221.5 points for his win. Deena Adams, Dublin, TX, was reserve champion on Show Me Your Boon.
The Memphis Futurity win boosted Galyean’s 2007 earnings to $99,517; with a lifetime record of $908,651, he is on course for the $1 million mark before his next birthday.
“It’s not about the money,” said Galyean, the son of trainer Jody Galyean, a former NCHA Futurity champion with lifetime earnings of $3.1 million. “This is what we love to do and we’re really fortunate to get to do something that we love.”
On Monday, Galyean won the Memphis Non-Pro Classic on Spots Hot, the horse he raised and trained to become NCHA Open Futurity champion. Earlier on Monday, he had lost a cow on Missing Addition, in the first go-round of Memphis Non-Pro Futurity competition. The Little Trona daughter had carried him as non-pro champion of the Augusta Futurity.
“It’s always a disappointment (to lose a cow),” said Galyean. “But that’s part of cutting and you try to make the best of every situation.”
Galyean purchased Shes Icing Onthe Cat, who had also placed him third in the Western Horseman Non-Pro Cup, last spring from Jim Shaeffer, Paul, ID. He bought Missing Addition, by Little Trona, during the NCHA Super Stakes from Barbara Brooks, wife of country music star Kix Brooks.
“They work completely different and have different mindsets,” said Galyean of the 4-year-old mares. “I saw good qualities in both of them. Shes Icing Onthe Cat was fast and had a lot of reach and was eye appealing. Missing Addition is real intense on a cow and has a lot of grit and heart. ”
Gaylean is headed home to Ardmore, OK to work his 2- and 3-year-olds. He doesn’t plan to show again until the Super Stakes.
“It’s been a long haul since three months before the (NCHA) Futurity,” he said. “The horses deserve a break. They’ve been trying their hearts out.”
Spots Hot returns to EE Ranches Stallion Station, Whitesboro, TX, where he stands along with 11 other stallions, including Dual Rey and Cat Ichi.
“He’s got a great setup,” noted Galyean. “It’s an incredible place. It’s like Hugh Hefner’s pad to him. He’s really happy there.”
With $450,000 in earnings, 6-year-old Spots Hot is one of the sport’s all-time leading money earners.