Jay McLaughlin, of Gainesville, Texas, rode CD Dee Vee Dee to win the Circle Y Ranch Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association Open Derby, held during the Fort Dodge Animal Health Celebration of Champions in San Angelo, Texas. The win garnered a check for $10,000.

McLaughlin and the 5-year-old CD Lights stallion, out of Shiners Missy Jay, began the weekend with a 145 in the herd work, and a 150.5 in the rein work. “He was really good in the herd work, and pretty much did it all by himself,” said McLaughlin. “In the rein work, he was just phenomenal – he was like he always is.”

Going into the cow work, McLaughlin was in a three-way tie for the lead – but knew that it would all come down to the cattle. “I remembered the steer from earlier in the week – he wasn’t too bad in the herd work. When he came out I had a feeling that if I got control of him, he was the one I could win it on,” he explained. “My horse was so ready. I hadn’t schooled on him for four days, and he was as good as gold.” McLaughlin’s resulting score of 151 was the highest of the day, and he won the title by three points with a 446.5 composite

CD Dee Vee Dee was bred and raised at Carol Rose Quarter Horses, where McLaughlin works as head trainer. Although recently purchased by Shannon and Hershel Reid, of Pilot Point, Texas, he will be shown in the Open Hackamore of the NRCHA World Championship Show with McLaughlin. “He’s definitely one of my favorites. They broke the mold when they made him,” he said.

Boyd Rice and Mr Playinstylish, by Playin Stylish out of Tari Chick Gay, earned a 443.5 total to win the Reserve Championship. Owned by Kit and Charlie Moncrief of Fort Worth, Texas, Mr Playinstylish won $7,731.

Under the guidance of Wayne Hinder, Hickorys Chic Olena topped the Intermediate Open Derby results sheet with a 429.5 composite. That score was also good for third in the Novice Horse division, earning a total of $3,011.

Hinder has ridden Hickorys Chic Olena, by Smart Chic Olena out of Hickorys Red Rey, a little over a year for the Double HH Ranch. “We were good in the herd, but got a little tangled up on our last cow. In the rein work he stopped really good and hard, and he worked well in the fence work even though we had a tough cow,” he explained.

Hinder, a transplanted Australian, has trained cow horses for over twenty years, and is currently located in Mineral Wells, Texas.

Lil Cooter Lena, ridden by Darren Miller, earned the Reserve Championship and $1,421 with a score of 428.5. Lil Cooter Lena, owned by Rhoda Rein of Watkins, Colorado, is by Cinnabars Lil Lena out of Can U Dig An Eighty.

For the second year in a row, Zeb Corvin won the Limited Open Derby division. This year he rode Lady Dox, owned by Neo Villa Ranch Inc., to a score of 433.5, collecting $2,126. The Derby was only the 4-year-old mare’s second show, and the Canyon, Texas, trainer noted he was pleased with the results. “She’s a really talented horse on the cow, and pretty natural in the reining. Her weakest event was the fence work. For her to come back and do so well made me pretty proud of her,” he said.

Corvin was quick to give credit to his friends and mentors, Bozo Rogers and Boyd Rice. “They have both helped me so much, and I really appreciate everything they have done,” he said.

Kyle Trahern, of Penrose, Colorado, took Reserve honors with his horse MH Bold Intentions. The pair compiled a final score of 431.5, good for $1,701. MH Bold Intentions is by Bodee Boonsmal and out of Freckles Docs Oak.

The conclusion of the Circle Y Ranch SRCHA Derby marked the beginning of preliminary competition for the NRCHA World Championship Show, presented by John Deere. Preliminary competition for the World Championship Show and the World’s Greatest Horseman runs throughout the week, with the World Championship Finals being held on Friday and Saturday, and the World’s Greatest Horseman finalists competing on Sunday.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, now in its 61st year, is the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Markel Insurance Company, Wide World of Horses, John Deere, AdequanR, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Running W Designs, and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.