Contributed Courtesy of NRCHA

The NRCHA Stallion Stakes is the fourth of five NRCHA premier events, and it pays out more than $500,000 in prize money. The event’s success is largely due to its tie to the NRCHA Subscribed Stallion program. Subscribed stallion nominators pay a fee so 4- and 5-year-old offspring can be eligible to compete in the limited aged event portion of the show. Besides paying lucrative checks to the Stakes winners, the NRCHA also presents an incentive checks to the nominator of the Stakes Champion’s sire in each division.

In addition to the Stakes divisions, the event offers a full slate of horse show classes, and several Spectaculars, including the $20,000 added Open Bridle Spectacular sponsored by Holy Cow Performance Horses.
The final day of competition was deep at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center. On Sunday, August 30, the National Reined Cow Horse Association Stallion Stakes Open and Non Pro champions were crowned. They say it all comes down to the fence work and the Stakes Finals was no exception. Excitement filled the arena as Open and Non Pro posted large scores and took home over $500,000 in prize money.

Stakes Open Champions

In an elite field of horses and riders, it was Justin Wright, of Santa Maria, CA, and Scooter Kat who topped the Stakes Open for the second year in a row. Scooter Kat (Kit Kat Sugar X Scooters Daisy Dukes X Dual Smart Rey) and Wright earned owner Eric Freitas $30,839 and the prestigious NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open championship title. The pair posted a 223 in the herd work, a 224.5 in the rein work and 221 down the fence, for a 668.5 composite.

Erin Taormino and Hazardouz Material earned $24,030 and topped the Intermediate Open at the 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes with a 662.5 composite (219 herd/221.5 rein/222 cow). Hazardouz Material (Metallic Cat x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey), owned by Linda Mars, and Taormino also finished fourth place in the Open.

MC Cowhammer and Trevor Carter captured their second NRCHA Stallion Stakes championship title. In 2019, they were crowned champions in the Limited Open. The pair returned to the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center to defend their title and won the 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Limited Open with a 647.5 composite (218.5 herd/223 rein/2016 cow). Mc Cowhammer (Metallic Cat x GunSmart Gay x Playgun) is owned by the Bogle Brothers LLC., of Dexter, New Mexico.

Winning the Stallion Stakes Level One Limited Open is Reanna Dillman aboard her 2015 mare, Smarter Than Nic (Shining Lil Nic x Smart N Katsi x Smart Little Pepinic). The team scored a $3,691 payday with a 651 composite (215.5 herd/ 218.5 rein/ 217 cow).

Clayton Edsall piloted Mr Metallic Cat (Metallic Cat x Heavens Little Angel x Smart Little Lena) to the Stakes Open Novice Horse win for owner Paul Poor. The they earned $2,203 with their 660 composite (218 herd/219.5 rein/222.5 cow).

The Non-Pro Champions

Terry Christiansen and Smoketta Cat (Dual R Smokin x Fletchetta Cat x High Brow Cat) captured the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro and Novice Non Pro championship titles. Christiansen, from Snohomish, WA, was a strong competitor throughout the 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes. He sealed the deal by piloting Smoketta Cat to a 216 in the herd work, a 220.5 in the rein and a 220 in the fence work. The 656.5 composite score was accompanied with a $10,700 paycheck.

Nicole Westfall captured the Amateur Champion and Reserve Champion titles of the 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes. The non pro from Calhan, CO, rode Time To Honky Tonk (One Time Pepto x Honkytonk Diva x Royal Fletch) to a winning 648 composite (213 herd/215.5 rein.219.5 cow) and a check for $1,573. The duo also won the go round with the highest fence score of the Amateur.

Westfall also piloted Gotta Smoker (Gotta Go Get It x Miss Smokin It x Smart Little Pepinic) to the reserve title with a 638 composite score.

Dorian DiNardo and Hesa Bit Bossy are the 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Non Pro Limited champions.

DiNardo, of Sweet Home, OR, guided her 2015 gelding, by CD Lights and out of Shiney Bit O Ivory by Shining Spark, to a 216 in the herd, 217 in the rein work and 220.5 in the cow work. The 653.6 composite earned the team $2,387.

For complete results visit www.nrcha.com. 🎠