His name implies a special presence and Downtown Cat maintained that image during the Music City Futurity, which concluded on September 16, in Franklin, TN. The first-crop sire, owned by Kix and Barbara Brooks’ Painted Springs Farms, Brentwood, TN, had two offspring qualify for the Futurity 3-Year-Old Open Finals.

Downtown Daisy Mae, owned by Painted Springs and ridden by Brad Mitchell, tied for third place (see complete results from Sept. 12 post), after posting the third-highest go-round average. Downtown Deluxe, who Skip Queen rode to score 222 points in the West Texas Futurity in August, was shown in the Open finals by Paul Hansma. The two horses are from a crop of six foals. Three others are slated to be shown at the NCHA Futurity in December.

Barbara Brooks (pictured), whose husband is country music star Kix Brooks, of Brooks & Dunn fame, purchased Downtown Cat in 2001 as a three-year-old, from his breeders, Jack and Susan Waggoner. At the time, Brooks was looking for a good Futurity prospect, but the High Brow Cat colt, who earned $88,000, despite being sidelined for five months with pneumonia as a 4-year-old, proved special. In addition to his pedigree – his dam is a rare Freckles Merada daughter – Downtown Cat had lots of style and stop, and an easy-going disposition. So Brooks decided to breed him to her mares, including Peppy Docs Hickory, dam of Downtown Daisy Mae.

Brooks was a Music City finalist in both the 4- and the 5/6-year-old divisions riding Bingos Mate and Nurse Nellie, respectively. She was also a Non-Pro Limited finalist on the two mares, as well as on 4-year-old Teletrona.

Mitchell, resident trainer at Painted Springs Farm, won the Music City 4-Year-Old Open aboard Oh Cay To Smoke, owned by Dennis Levering, and was also a 4-Year-Old Open finalist with Hickory Skyline and Skylines Smarty, both owned by James and Gail Hooper; and on Teletrona, owned by Brooks.