Metallics MVP LTE $133,892, shown by Rodrigo Taboga for Billy Wolf, Whitesboro, Tex., won the 2020 NCHA Metallic Cat Summer Spectacular 5/6 Open Intermediate finals with 221.5 points on Thurday, July 16. Taboga also claimed reserve with 221 on Metallic Royal Mate, for Belle Terre Ranch, Corinth, Miss., and tied for fourth with 219 on The Dewd, also owned by Belle Terre Ranch. Bradey Davis placed third with 219.5 points riding Rammer Jammer, owned by Bradey Davis Performance Horses, Texarkana, Tex.
This was Metallics MVP’s third Open win in 2020. The 5-year-old Metallic Cat son also won the Abilene Spectacular and the Arbuckle Mountain 5/6 Open championships with Beau Galyean. Bred by Cows & Horses Etc, Dallas, Tex., Metallics MVP is out of My Lizzy Babe LTE $163,656, a full sister to Moms Stylish Player LTE $413,087, winner of the 2016 NCHA Derby.
Six-year-old Metallic Royal Mate LTE $105,160 and Taboga were also finalists (9-12) in Wednesday’s 5/6 Open Finals. Earlier this year, the 6-year-old Metallic Cat son carried Taboga to win the Abilene Spectacular 5/6 Open Limited, as well as owner Missy Etheridge, to win the Ike Hamilton 5/6 Non-Pro Intermediate, and Vick Etheridge to place second in the Arbuckle Mountain Amateur Intermediate. Bred by the JH Nail Ranch, Albany, Tex., Metallic Royal Mate is out of Royal Red Rinpoche, a half-sister to 2000 NCHA Futurity champion Royal Fletch LTE $235,598.
Rammer Jammer LTE $23,715 was reserve champion with Bradey Davis in the 2019 Cotton Stakes Open Limited and also placed third in the Open Intermediate. The 5-year-year old Bamacat daughter is half-sister to One Time At Bandcamp LTE $92,445, out of DCD Every Which Rey LTE $37,983, by Dual Rey.
Rodrigo Taboga, the NCHA earner of $354,260, has been a consistent limited age event Open and Open Limited winner in 2019 and 2020, including the NCHA Futurity Open Limited with Sugar Smak, owned by Bridget Trenary Nashville, Tenn., and the 2020 Cattlemen’s Derby with Sanctus, owned by Scott Durham, Fort Worth, Tex.
Bradey Davis, the NCHA earner of $328,950 most recently won the 2020 Ike Hamilton Futurity 5/6 Open Limited on Redhead From Denver, who he also rode to win the 2019 Congress 4-Year-Old Open Futurity.