From NCHA’s Daily Chatter
A day after marking a 216 on Justa Indian Maiden, Mary Bradford, Weatherford, TX, turned it up a notch in yesterday’s second set with 217 points on Bit Of Young Gun.

The gelding is by Young Gun out of the Smart And Trouble daughter Little Bitty Angel, a Super Stakes Open finalist. He was a $5,000 purchase at the 2006 Western Bloodstock Summer Sale, where Bradford’s husband, Milt, liked the way he worked on cattle.

Bradford, who qualified for the Non-Pro Futurity finals three years in a row, starting in 2003, said she hasn’t shown since July.

“I haven’t had anything to practice on except those two 3-year-olds, so I was a little nervous coming in here,” she said. “But he’s very consistent. He’s very easy to ride and very honest. He’s been a good horse all the way through. He feels very mature, very strong.

“The nerves get you more than anything,” she said. “Remembering what your job is and not making it too complicated is the main thing. Paul has been working me hard.”

Paul Hansma has been training both of Bradford’s horses.

Gail Hooper held the overall lead at the conclusion of the first go-round of Non-Pro competition.

Read more stories from the NCI Building Systems NCHA Futurity in today’s Daily Chatter, edited by Sally Harrison.