Cutting
The third stop of the 2012 Mercuria/NCHA World Series of Cutting wrapped up in Houston at the Livestock Show and Rodeo, and for the third consecutive time this year, Phil Rapp and Don’t Look Twice captured the Open championship and a check for more than $6,700 for owners Waco Bend Ranch.
“Lipstick”, as she’s otherwise known, now has six World Series wins under her belt, a record since the event’s inception in 2009. She drew up 12th in a 14-horse finals Saturday, Feb. 25.
“I think it is phenomenal the way Phil has been able to get her shown at each of these shows,” Louis Baldwin, Waco Bend Ranch, said. “It doesn’t matter if she draws early or late. He’s done a great job of getting her through the go-round and then getting her shown in the finals.”
RL Chartier, Weatherford, Texas, piloted the Wrigley Ranch’s A Little Bossy to the reserve championship by marking a 227 that paid nearly $6,000.
“We drew early enough, fifth to go, and we still had some cows we liked a lot. My horse was really good and fortunately our cuts worked out good as well,” Chartier said.
The first go was led by newly declared Open rider, Justin White, Chappell Hill, Texas, who marked a 225 on Hal & Renise Doerr’s Rio Woodstock. The duo closely followed suit in the finals by marking a 224.5 to split third and also secure the highest cumulative score with a 439.5 that won the Overall Open just a year after Justin did the same thing in the Non Pro on his gelding Wild Hickory Bob.
“Anytime you can be successful with the caliber of horses and competitors at Houston, you know you have accomplished something,” White said. “I had a lot more confidence in my horse [during the finals] and had some cattle picked that I thought would allow me to show his abilities.”
In the Non Pro, Brandon Dufurrena picked up his first World Series of Cutting win by marking a career best 229 on Miss Ella Rey to win more than $8,700. 2011 Non Pro champions, Dan Hansen and Woody Be Lucky, followed Dufurrena with a 223 to win more than $7,500.
Dufurrena gave notice by winning the go-round by half a point over Hansen with a 224.
“She was good both runs,” he said. “We cut our cows a little bit better in the finals. My game plan every time I go to the herd is to be smooth, clean and accurate, and let the chips fall where they may. Tonight we cut good cows and I stayed out of her way and let her work.”
“This horse is just phenomenal,” said Hansen of Woody Be Lucky. “He goes and does his job and gives 110 percent every time, and tonight in the finals we picked three cows that we liked. We were second in so we had a lot of good picks, and he did his job. He’s been really good here - he likes Houston, obviously, since he’s always really good here.”
Amanda Morris and Quejanaisabella marked a career best 153 to win the Senior Youth Championship for the second year in a row. Rieta Dufurrena and Auspicious Cat followed with a 150.
“My run on Saturday was hands down the most exciting and fun ride I have ever had on the back of a cutting horse,” Morris said. “When the buzzer rang, I had no idea that I had just had the winning run. I was just ecstatic and proud of my horse that I wasn’t really thinking about anything else. The aftermath was overwhelming, but so incredibly humbling and really a strong reminder of the unity of the sport as a whole and how blessed I am to have been born into it.”
The Junior Youth was won by reigning champion Andrew Viola, Fort Worth, Texas, riding One Rowdy Kitty. They were followed by Lexie Slaughter, Hempstead, Texas, and Playdox Lil Lena.
For complete results, check out www.rodeohouston.com
The next stop of the 2012 Mercuria/NCHA World Series of Cutting will take place in Oklahoma City July 3-4 in conjunction with the American Quarter Horse Association’s Battle in the Saddle event. The series will then head to the Calgary Stampede July 10-12. Other stops this year include Idaho CHA Futurity and El Rancho Futurity in September, as well as the All American Quarter Horse Congress in October before heading to Lyon, France for the finale.
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