Mary Kate Huntsberger of Paso Robles, California and My Lil Lucky Duck, by Blue Duck Okie, marked 217 Monday to lead the first round of 4-year-old Amateur competition at the XTO Energy NCHA Super Stakes in Fort Worth, Texas.

Bred by San Juan Ranch, My Lil Lucky Duck is out of Tachitas Hickory, whose dam produced quarter-million dollar earner Tachitas Cat.

Huntsberger, who won the $2,000 Limit Rider title at the NCHA Western National Championships in 2000, won the Non-Pro at the El Rancho Futurity last September with My Lil Lucky Duck, and went on to place third in the Non-Pro at the Pacific Coast Futurity. She was also a Non-Pro finalist on him at the recent Pacific Coast Derby.

Five riders tied with the next highest score of 216 Monday:

• Billy Emerson of Addison, Texas, on Royal Red Rosita, by Smart Little Lena
• Larry Galyean of Henderson, Texas on Princess Spoonfull, by Hes A Peptospoonful
• Katherine Hermes of Cotulla, Texas on A Play Rey, by Reys Dual Badger
• Barnwell Ramsey of Huntersville, North Carolina on MC Simply Smooth, by Smooth As A Cat
• Kelsey Weeks of Cotulla, Texas on One Sweet Sis, by One Time Pepto.

Thirty contestants marked 212 or better to advance to Thursday’s finals.