Ms Peppy Cat and Pete Branch pulled further ahead in the 2010 NCHA World standings with a 227-point win in the Mercuria NCHA World Series of Cutting Open finals at the Reno Rodeo Saturday. Bubba Matlock, riding Thomas E Hughes, finished second with a 222.

It was Ms Peppy Cat’s second World Series win this year; she took the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo finals with a 227.5. Her $8,427 paycheck at Reno will take her earnings for the year to more than $51,000, about twice as much as her nearest rival. Ms Peppy Cat was the 2008 NCHA World Champion for owners Lonnie & Barbara Allsup of Clovis, NM. Branch also rode Daisy May Rey for the Allsups in the finals at Reno.

“I was sixth and seventh in the draw with nine horses,” Branch said. “I knew I was going to be in a little bit of a spot because most of the good cattle were being used by then.

“My first horse didn’t fit the cows quite as good. But one thing about Ms Peppy Cat is I can cut her about any kind of cow and she makes something happen with it. With tough cows I can run, stop, and she has a way of drawing a cow to the middle of the pen and making it look at her. That’s the great thing about her.”

Branch plans to show in Sweetwater, TX this weekend, before heading to Oklahoma City to show both mares in the next stop in the Mercuria NCHA World Series, the Battle in the Saddle, July 5-7.

Dual Rey Me’s $1,400 check in the finals nudged his career earnings up to $804,951, making him the sport’s richest active money earner.

Here’s a look at the Open finals at Reno:

227.0	MS PEPPY CAT, 2002 (HIGH BROW CAT x MS PEPPY DOC)
	Rider: PETE BRANCH Owner: LONNIE & BARBARA ALLSUP Earned: $8,427
222.0	THOMAS E HUGHES, 2003 (HIGH BROW CAT x SMART LETHA)
	Rider: BUBBA MATLOCK Owner: DON & KATHY BOONE Earned: $7,021
218.5	TOMCAT CHEX, 2002 (HIGH BROW CAT x MISS REED CHEX)
	Rider: GAVIN JORDAN Owner: RICK & JALINDA COVEY Earned: $5,616
216.0	TACHITAS CAT, 2001 (HIGH BROW CAT x TACHITAS LAST)
	Rider: GAVIN JORDAN Owner: MARGOT HAZELL Earned: $4,211
213.0	STARCAT MERADA, 2003 (HIGH BROW CAT x MERADA LENA)
	Rider: CHUBBY TURNER Owner: DANIEL JAEGGI Earned: $2,805
202.0	DAISY MAY REY, 2003 (DUAL REY x JANIE JR TOO)
	Rider: PETE BRANCH Owner: LONNIE & BARBARA ALLSUP Earned: $1,400
0.0	DUAL REY ME, 1999 (DUAL PEP x MISS SMART REY JAY)
	Rider: JEREMY BARWICK Owner: JEREMY & CANDACE BARWICK Earned: $1,400
0.0	JUST PLAYIN SMART, 2000 (FRECKLES PLAYBOY x SMART LITTLE PET)
	Rider: MATT GAINES Owner: GRAY QUARTER HORSES Earned: $1,400
0.0	WHITTLE WED BOON, 2000 (PEPTOBOONSMAL x SMART WHITTLE WENA)
	Rider: COOKIE BANUELOS Owner: KATE GAUGHAN BANUELOS Earned: $1,400