Working Cowhorse
Tucker Robinson Rides Days Zanolena to Win 2008 NRCHA Stakes
By Savannah Magoteaux-Howell
Mar 31, 2008, 10:01

The National Reined Cow Horse Association Stakes made for a week of excitement at the Idaho Horse Park in Nampa, Idaho. From the beginning days of preliminaries to the finals, there was about anything a true cow horse fan could want - great horses, great runs, great watching, and even a visit from Idaho Governor and First Lady, Butch and Lori Otter.

But the excitement built to a crescendo when it came time for the Cow Work - the last section of competition in the triathlon that makes up a reined cow horse limited aged event. As the temperature plunged outside, the action heated up the inside.

The stage was set. Tucker Robinson was leading the field after the rein work with a 439 composite on his 2007 Hackamore Classic Champion, Days Zanolena. He was seventh to show in the cow work and he kept the lead, marking a 217.5. The score didn’t really give him a “safe” feeling. “I wasn’t real happy with my fence work. The cattle were tough, though, so it was out of my control and we did the best we could. I just had to wait and see how it worked out.”

The waiting was amplified by the trio of riders that had a clear shot at the championship. Todd Bergen on Billys Cool Cat (High Brown Cat X NQH Lucy Lena), owned by Bar L Quarter Horses. Todd Crawford on 2006 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champ Smart Crackin Chic (Smart Chic Olena X Kwackin) owned by Singleton Ranches, and Doug Williamson on Hes Wright On (Lenas Wright On X Shesa Lota Nic) owned by D & S Quarter Horses.

Doug Williamson would put together a 220.5 score - which moved him to second, just a point and a half behind Robinson’s 656.5. Todd Bergen and Billys Cool Cat would have to settle for a 214.5 after their match with an obstinate bovine. Todd Crawford and Smart Crackin Chic were able to mark only slightly better - at 215.5.

The Open Championship would go to the likeable young trainer with the big smile, and along with the championship, a check for $36,252. Robinson picked up another check for $6,570 for topping the Intermediate Open, so he had plenty to talk about when he called Matt Day, the owner of Days Zanolena, who was unable to attend.

“I told him ‘Hey, I just got you a birthday present,’” said Tucker, laughing. “We talked a lot on the phone today.”

Robinson gives much of the credit for winning to Days Zanolena. “There are good horses and there are great horses. She’s a great one. I’ve been so fortunate to ride her.”

He’ll continue to do so, as the current plans are to continue to show her at the NRCHA major events. “You know, I got her late in her 3-year-old year, and as a four, she got stronger and stronger. Now she’s five and we’ve just started. I’m just glad to have her.”

The Reserve Open Championship went to Doug Williamson on Hes Wright On, owned by Michael G. Vantreight. Williamson earned $26,712. The Reserve Intermediate Open title went to Smoky Pritchett on his own Bonnies Smart Peppy (Smart Peppy Doc X Bonnie Smoke). His composite of 644.5 earned $5,256.

Josh Auman won the Limited Open on Nic Me (Nic It In The Bud X Starlight Chex) owned by Custodio and Vickie Sanchez. He collected $4,320 for a composite score of 629.

It was Auman’s first time to enter the NRCHA Stakes, and his horse’s second show, ever. Like Robinson, he reported that his owners were unable to make the trip - in their case because of weather. “I called them and they were pretty excited!”

They got the stocking-legged sorrel stallion from Todd Bergen and Eric Storey in the spring of 2007, but shortly after, they had to give him a big layoff after surgery to remove a bone chip. “We went to Reno, but he was behind. He’s starting to catch up now.”

The Limited Open Reserve Championship and a check for $4,320 went to Brad Lund on Diamonds With Style (Playin Stylish X Shiners Diamond Jill) owned by Garth and Amanda Gardiner.

The NRCHA Stakes awarded over $308,000 in prize money to the competitors, but the Stakes Program also recognizes the sires who make up the program.

Open Champion Days Zanolena’s sire, Smart Zanolena earned $4,000 for Hooker Creek Ranch. The Lenas Wright On Syndicate received $2,500 for Hes Wright On’s second place win and Jim Babcock, owner of Smart Chic Olena, the sire of Smart Crackin Chic, received $1,500 for the third place Open finish.

The Intermediate Open Sire Award was $1,000 to Hooker Creek Ranch, for Robinson’s Intermediate Open win, and the Limited Open Sire Award recipient was Eric Storey, owner of Nic It In The Bud, sire of the Limited Open Champion, Nic Me.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, 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 Wayne Hodges 4-Star Trailers and Outlaw Conversions, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse magazine, the Peppermill Hotel/Resort, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD, Great American Insurance Company 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.

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NRCHA STAKES 2008 (Nampa, ID) — 03/26/2008
Open Finals COMPOSITE

Money

Horse

Sire

Dam

Rider

Owner

Herd

Rein

Cow

Total on 3



$36,252.00

Days Zanolena

Smart Zanolena

Chex Out This Day

Robinson;Tucker

Day;Matt

217.5

221.5

217.5

656.5



$26,712.00

Hes Wright On

Lenas Wright On

Shesa Lota Nic

Williamson;Doug

Vantreight;Michael G.

216.0

218.5

220.5

655.0



$21,942.00

Smart Crackin Chic

Smart Chic Olena

Kwackin

Crawford;Todd

Singleton Ranches

216.5

220.0

216.5

653.0



$17,172.00

Billys Cool Cat

High Brow Cat

NQH Lucy Lena

Bergen;Todd A.

Bar L Horses

220.0

218.0

214.5

652.5



$13,356.00

Scootin N Dualin

Smart Lil Scoot

Dual N Missy

Crawford;Todd

Kalpowar Quarter Horses

219.0

213.5

218.5

651.0



$11,448.00

Misters Brown Sugar

Mister Dual Pep

Plain Cute Sugar

Emmons;Ron

Granade;Douglas / Granade;Cynthia

205.0

216.0

227.0

648.0



$8,586.00

Tazs Precious Peppy

Pepto Taz

Splash A Lil Cash

Collier;Sandy

Conicelli;Dominic L

213.5

216.5

214.5

644.5



$8,586.00

Flo N Blu Boon

Pretty Boy Boon

Lena Over Flo

Reaney;Wade

Little;Jan

218.0

209.0

217.5

644.5



$5,724.00

Lil Time To Smoke

Senors Lil Brudder

Smoke Time Tuck

Anderson;Lyn

Schaefer;Kathryn

207.0

212.5

223.0

642.5



$5,724.00

Dualing Fletch

Royal Fletch

Roseanna Dual

Rice;Boyd

Moncrief;Kit & Charlie

213.0

207.0

221.5

641.5



$4,770.00

Sailin By Starlight

Topsail Whiz

Badger On The Loose

Gorrell;Jake

Roulet;Dana

209.0

215.0

213.0

637.0



$4,770.00

Playin Skeets

Playgun

Little Lady Skeet

Roeser;Jon

Smith;Karl & Pauline

213.5

214.0

208.0

635.5



$3,816.00

CD Son Of Magnolia

CD Olena

Eye Of The Magnolia

Good;T. J.

Har Mar Ranch

216.5

198.0

218.5

633.0



$3,816.00

Peppy Nicolena

Nic It In The Bud

Chelsea Lena

Hays; Shawn D.

Greeman;Walter / Hays;Tammy Jo

213.0

213.0

202.0

628.0



$3,816.00

Cookin Merada

Meradas Money Talks

Cookies Cookin

Crawford;Todd

Benton;Gary & Kathy

216.0

215.5

196.0

627.5



$2,862.00

Starlight Silk

Junior Starlight

Montana Silk

Johnston;Lance

Stroud;Mary

213.0

211.5

201.0

625.5



$2,862.00

Starlights Finale

Grays Starlight

Fasa Little Lena

Telford;Jake A.

White;P.Newton

207.0

212.5

206.0

625.5



$2,862.00

He Be Fierce

Peptoboonsmal

Smart Starlight

Davis;Zane

Semanik;John

212.0

208.5

194.5

615.0



$2,862.00

Docs Soula

Soula Jule Star

Docs Hickory Nut

Williamson;Doug

D & S Quarter Horses

215.5

0.0

SCR

215.5



$0.00

Oh Cay N Short

Oh Cay Quixote

Bit Of Shorty

Rice;Boyd

Knight;Kevin & Sydney

SCR

SCR

SCR

0.0



NRCHA STAKES 2008 (Nampa, ID) — 03/26/2008
Intermediate Open Finals COMPOSITE

Money

Horse

Sire

Dam

Rider

Owner

Herd

Rein

Cow

Total on 3



$6,570.00

Days Zanolena

Smart Zanolena

Chex Out This Day

Robinson;Tucker

Day;Matt

217.5

221.5

217.5

656.5



$5,256.00

Bonnies Smart Peppy

Smart Peppy Doc

Bonnie Smoke

Pritchett;Smoky

Pritchett;Smoky

213.0

214.5

217.0

644.5



$4,106.25

Real Sharpshooter

Real Gun

Lena Little Sooner

Littlefield; Chris

McLain;Keith

214.5

207.5

220.0

642.0



$3,285.00

Voodoo Chic

Smart Chic Olena

Lenas Black Witch

Stallings;Kevin

Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch

213.0

211.0

210.0

634.0



$2,628.00

Hailn Magic Diamonds

Shine Like Hail

Thiefs Of Diamonds

Unzicker;Tim

Peters;Jerry

204.0

212.0

215.5

631.5



$2,299.50

Peppy Nicolena

Nic It In The Bud

Chelsea Lena

Hays; Shawn D.

Greeman;Walter / Hays;Tammy Jo

213.0

213.0

202.0

628.0



$1,971.00

Tangys Classy Sox

Tangys Classy Peppy

Gala Oak

Spence;Jim

Trimble;Mary

213.0

210.0

204.5

627.5



$1,642.50

Spooky Merada

Meradas Money Talks

So Spooky

Staebler;Brandon

Humphreys;Robbie

216.0

208.0

196.0

620.0



$1,314.00

Diamonds With Style

Playin Stylish

Shiners Diamond Jill

Lund;Brad

Gardiner; Garth & Amanda

211.0

206.0

202.0

619.0



$1,149.75

Sweet Like Pepto

Peptoboonsmal

Sweet Lil Lena

Ralls;Ron

Bell;Richard

210.0

211.0

194.0

615.0



$985.50

Chics Onside Kick

A Chic In Time

High Lil Joette

Bruce;Monty

Bauman;Kurt

206.0

205.5

188.0

599.5



$985.50

Solena Cielo

Gallo Del Cielo

Smart Solena

Lund;Brad

Arns;Mark / Wilson;Mike

206.0

207.0

185.0

598.0



$657.00

Shiners Super Model

Shining Spark

Bar J Jackie

Hays; Shawn D.

Hiscox;Don

212.5

187.5

SCR

400.0





NRCHA STAKES 2008 (Nampa, ID) — 03/26/2008
Limited Open Finals COMPOSITE

Money

Horse

Sire

Dam

Rider

Owner

Herd

Rein

Cow

Total on 3



$4,320.00

Nic Me

Nic It In The Bud

Starlight Chex

Auman;Josh

Sanchez;Custodio & Vickie

207.0

212.0

210.0

629.0



$3,240.00

Diamonds With Style

Playin Stylish

Shiners Diamond Jill

Lund;Brad

Gardiner; Garth & Amanda

211.0

206.0

202.0

619.0



$2,160.00

Stylish Peanut

Docs Stylish Oak

Not Quite An Acre

Lund;Brad

O Donnell;Michael & Suzanne

191.0

202.0

206.0

599.0



$1,080.00

Solena Cielo

Gallo Del Cielo

Smart Solena

Lund;Brad

Arns;Mark / Wilson;Mike

206.0

207.0

185.0

598.0









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