After seeing his 223-point lead overwritten by Tom Dvorak’s 224 in the John Deere Division of the XTO Energy NCHA Super Stakes last Saturday, Tarin Rice and That Sly Bob went one better Tuesday in the Open Gelding finals. As the second rider to the herd, Rice marked 224, and waited out the 22-horse field, which included Dvorak and his John Deere champion, Bet On A Cat.
Bred by Glade Knight, That Sly Bob is by That Sly Cat out of Cotton Candy. Rice bought him for Carl and Shawnea Smith of Jacksboro, Texas, the day after the horse sold for $7,500 at the Slate River Ranch Sale last October.
The Smiths sold the horse to Dub and Christy Leeth of Cleburne, Texas, following a reserve championship at the Cattlemen’s Derby, and Christy Leeth showed the gelding in the first round of the Non-Pro at the Super Stakes a few hours before Rice’s win.
Rice, who has racked up more than $20,000 in Super Stakes money on That Sly Bob, will also ride him in the Open semi-finals on Friday.
“He seems to be getting better each run,” Rice said. “He’s doing good. Hopefully the trend will continue.
“I like his consistency. There’s been very few times where he hasn’t been exactly how he was tonight. Maybe we didn’t show him as hard, or the cows weren’t as good, but he’s pretty much the same.”
Michael Cooper marked 220.5 on Jae Bar One Time to take the reserve championship for James Hooper of Decatur, Alabama.
Bred by Crystal Creek Ranch, Jae Bar One Time is by One Time Pepto out of Jae Bars Fancy Cat, from the family of champions Jae Bar Fletch and Jae Bar Maisie. He sold for $19,000 to Darol Rodrock at the 2010 Western Bloodstock NCHA Futurity Sale.
Jae Bar One Time placed third in the NCHA Futurity, and went on to win the Abilene Spectacular on his way to the Super Stakes.