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Hiss N Vinegar and Spud Sheehan had a first-class run in the 2021 NCHA Super Stakes 6/7-Year-Old Open. • Photo by S. Sylvester Photography.

Sheehan & “One-of-a-Kind” Hiss N Vinegar Win at NCHA Super Stakes

Many said the 6/7-Year-Old Open was shaping up to be one of the saltiest classes at the Kit Kat Sugar National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Super Stakes, and two sets of top-class aged-event cutting horses didn’t disappoint.

When the dust settled, it was reigning NCHA Super Stakes champion Hiss N Vinegar and Geoffrey “Spud” Sheehan who marked a winning 228. The victory by the homebred daughter of Dual Smart Rey delighted owner-breeders Jeff and Jennifer Foland, who were on hand to enjoy the win.

“She was awesome today,” said Jennifer, who also made the 6/7-Year-Old Non-Pro and Intermediate Non-Pro finals on the mare. “She really stepped up with Spud and he showed her perfect, cut his cows perfect, had a ton of working time and they were just ready to go.”

Sheehan, who’s had Hiss N Vinegar since early this year, said the sorrel mare “cares a lot about her job” and never has a bad day.

“She’s an amazing horse … her intelligence, her try,” said Sheehan, a winner of more than $1.7 million. “She’s one-of-a-kind, really. She just gives you everything every day.”

The win on Saturday was Hiss N Vinegar’s second victory at the NCHA Super Stakes. In 2019, which was the last time the show was held, the mare won the 4-Year-Old Open with then-trainer Phil Hanson.

Hiss N Vinegar’s Family Roots

The win was especially meaningful to the Folands because she’s a second-generation homebred for the couple, who also bred her mother, Hissy Cat (by High Brow Cat). Family members also owned and showed Hiss N Vinegar’s granddam, Hustlin Leopard (by Freckles Hustler).

Hissy Cat has been an exceptional show horse and broodmare for the family, earning more than $314,000 in the cutting pen and so far foaling the winners of more than $1.4 million. The win Saturday morning in Fort Worth vaulted Hiss N Vinegar, now the earner of more than $239,118, to the status of top earner for her dam.

Hiss N Vinegar’s earnings will end up being higher than that, because she was due additional money for winning the Texas Quarter Horse Association and Chrome Cash incentives.

“It’s pretty amazing, because her mother was so special to all of us; and her mother’s mother (Hustlin Leopard) was actually my daughter Jordann’s kids horse,” Foland said. “So, Hissy Cat came along and for ‘Hissy’s’ babies to step into the winner’s circle is pretty amazing. Hissy Cat never won a major aged event here, but she made the finals of all of them — pretty much every major aged event.”

Hiss N Vinegar is already carrying on the family legacy. Her first two foals, by Purdy Boy Flash and Im Countin Checks, were recently born to recipients. She also was bred to Im Countin Checks prior to the NCHA Super Stakes, and was sheduled to have that embryo flushed and put into a recipient mare shortly after the show.