Sir Long Legs & Austin Shepard at the 2017 NCHA Summer Spectacular • Photo by Alex Lynch

“Big A” Aces in Fort Worth 

At a show like the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Summer Spectacular, there is plenty of anticipation leading up to the Derby Open, and this year the performances brought the house down.

When Equi-Stat Elite $3 Million Rider Matt Miller marked a 224 on Cynthia Villas’ Metallic Smart Cat in the first set, things started ramping up pretty quick. That score was holding up through several horse and rider teams, but they say it’s not over until it’s over.

As the last draw, Equi-Stat Elite $6 Million Rider Austin Shepard put together an electric run on Sir Long Legs (High Brow Cat x Lil Lena Long Legs x Smart Little Lena). That run earned a huge 229 from the judges, which sealed the deal on the Championship.

The title was worth a massive $41,097 paycheck, which pushed the stallion to  and Equi-Stat record of $259,641.

“This horse just loves his job,” Shepard said. “I got lucky enough that it all worked out for me.”

Sir Long Legs is owned by Lew Hall and was bred by Michelle Cannon.

Miller and Metallic Smart Cat (Metallic Cat x Smart Jerri Lee x Smart Little Jerry) came out with the Reserve Championship, worth $36,227.

Derby Non-Pro 

The Derby Non-Pro proved to have some tough cattle, but Equi-Stat Elite $2 Million Rider Paula Wood and her homebred mare Suen Too Be Black (Boon Too Suen x Chitas Blue Boon x Duals Blue Boon) navigated the situation like professionals.

The pair marked a 219.5 to claim the Championship and $18,545. Suen Too Be Black now has an Equi-Stat record of $27,554.

“She is very athletic,” Wood said. “I was really proud of her on the third cow. She is always really sticky on a cow, and she just stayed right there with it.”

Sweet Baby Marie (High Brow CD x Hangem High Pep x Hickorys Indian Pep) carried Madalyn Colgrove to a 218 to clinch the Reserve title and $16,765.

Derby Limited Non-Pro

The Derby Limited Non-Pro finals brought plenty of fans to the Will Rogers Coliseum, and the competitors put on a show that didn’t disappoint. 

As the third combination out, Colton Rothwell and Khaleesi Cat (Jazarell Cat x Bobbie Boonsmal x Peptoboonsmal) wowed the crowd with their run, and the performance earned a title-winning 221 from the judges.

The Championship was worth $8,485, which pushed Equi-Stat record to $441,799. Khaleesi Cat, who was bred by The Over Forty Ranch, now boasts lifetime earnings of $63,468. 

Lica Pinkston and Stylish Top Brow (High Brow CD x Stylish Top Girl x Docs Stylish Oak) marked a 217.5 to pick up the Reserve Championship and $7,787.

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