The $103,000-added West Texas Futurity in Amarillo concluded August 17, giving cutting horse enthusiasts their first look at the crop of 2005, and another look at the NCHA Derby champion rider.

Boyd Rice, who won the 2008 NCHA Derby on Peptos Stylish Sue, was champion of the West Texas Derby on Oh Cay N Short, and claimed first and second in the West Texas Classic Challenge with ARC Cat Her Please and Sophistcated Catt. He also took reserve with Farmer In The Blue in the West Texas Futurity.

Rice’s West Texas Futurity earnings, including place money on four additional horses, amounted to $51,200 – just $300 less than half of the added event purse.

A familiar story unfolded in the Open Futurity finals, as a High Brow Cat daughter marked 222 to win for owner Black Rock Ranch and rider Grant Setnicka. The winner was Chatty Little Kitty, whose dam was Wyoming Classic Challenge champion SR Instant Jazz.

Freshman sires represented in the West Texas Futurity Open finals included TR Dual Rey with SDP TRs Joy, and Playboy Boonsmal with BN Boonsmal. Black Rock Ranch was on a roll as Marshall Chesrown marked 225 on Smooth Peppy Suneta to win the Non-Pro finals and the Limited Non-Pro. Smooth Peppy Suneta is a daughter of Smooth As A Cat out of limited age event winner Little Peppys Suneta.

Chesrown also won the Non-Pro Gelding award with High Smokin Cat, by High Brow Cat.

Freshman sires represented in the Non-Pro finals included Sun Olena Lightning (Cajun Olena) and Its Just About Me (Just About Hickory).

Click here for West Texas Futurity results and breeding of finalists.