Al Dunning and Zack And Blue marked the highest score yet of this year’s 6666 Ranch NCHA Western National Championships, a 225, to win the $3,000 Novice finals Tuesday.

Dunning shows the 7-year-old gelding for Parri and Jerry Longworth of Cave Creek, Arizona. Parri Longworth was a finalist on Zack And Blue in last year’s $35,000 Non-Pro and $50,000 Amateur divisions at the Western National Championships.

Bred by Jim Vangilder, Zack And Blue is by Mecom Blue out of Zacks Lena, a Zack T Wood mare that earned over $135,000 in Open, Non-Pro and Amateur competition. Zacks Lena has produced the earners of more than $200,000.

Zack And Blue brought career earnings of nearly $60,000 to Reno. He was the 2011 NCHA World Champion in the $3,000 Novice class.

Dunning previously won an NCHA Western National Championships title in 2003 with Short Willy in the $10,000 Novice.

Josh Sleeman took the $3,000 Novice reserve championship Tuesday with a 222 on  Duane Bruner’s Ho Chi Minnie, by Cat Ichi.