The 2020 limited age event calendar for cutting horse competitors began on Monday, January 6 in Abilene, Texas, where Babes Smart Cat and Boondexterous tied with the high score of 222 points in the Open first go-round of the Abilene Spectacular Futurity.  On Tuesday, January 7, horses with 215.5 points or more will compete in the Open second go-round, with the Finals to be held on Wednesday, January 8.

Boondexterous LTE $4,736, shown by Cullen Chartier for Belle Terre Ranch, Corinth, Miss., made his debut as an  NCHA Futurity Non-Pro Futurity Semi-Finalist with Missy Etheridge. The Once In A Blu Boon red roan stallion is out of the High Brow Cat daughter Cats Smart Lady LTE $6,578 and half-brother to DB Cats Sweet LTE $33,970, fifth-placed finalist in the 2013 NCHA Derby with Jason Clark.

Babes Smart Cat, shown by Tatum Rice for Cows & Horses, Etc., Dallas, Tex., and as yet not an NCHA money earner, is sired by WR This Cats Smart. Her dam, Just U Babe, by Lizzys Gotta Player, is a full sister to Moms Stylish Player LTE $402,019, 2016 NCHA Super Stakes and NCHA Derby Open Champion under Kenny Platt.

Shorty Katz LTE $4,736 scored 221.5 points, under owner Jason Clark. The High Brow Cat son, shown in the NCHA Futurity Non-Pro Semi-Finals by Sheridan Clark, is a full brother  to six other money earners, including Cat Atat Cat LTE $242,665 and Miss Stylin Katz LTE $101,748.

Stole A Kiss LTE $72,128, shown by James Payne for Kathleen Moore, Madill, Okla., and Buonvino, under Beau Galyean for Billy Wolf, Whitesboro, Tex., tied with 220 points, the go-round’s third highest score. Stole A Kiss, a Metallic Cat daughter out of Smart Lookin Mate LTE $54,240, was the seventh-place finalist in the NCHA Futurity under Payne. Buonvino, not as yet an NCHA money earner, is a Metallic Cat son out of Never Reylinquish LTE $84,709, the dam of four NCHA earners, including Catoker LTE $42,541.

Click here for complete results from the 2020 Abilene Spectacular.