Rick Ford and Ben Gerst
The 6-year-old mare (Nu Chex To Cash x Snip O Gun x One Gun), owned by Cinder Lakes Ranch, Valley View, Texas, displayed tremendous athleticism and ended up in the plus column on every maneuver. The wins in the Open, Intermediate Open and Limited Open were worth a combined $14,669.
Snip O Chex had prior earnings of $20,779, including an eighth-place Open finish with Todd Bergen at the 2008 NRHA Derby and the Intermediate and Limited Non-Pro titles at the 2006 SWRHA Futurity, where Rick Ford also took third in the Non-Pro. However, it was Gerst’s first time to show the mare. The Gainesville, Texas, trainer described the mare as “awesome,” and didn’t mind the last slot in the draw.
“I love last because at least it gives you an idea how hard you have to go,” he said. “I asked a lot of her and she gave me everything.”
The Open Reserve Champion with a 224.5 was Shiners Lena Dust (Shiners Lena Doc x Hollywood Sure Stop x Pines Fourway Stop), shown by Duane Latimer and owned by Ken and Margaret Johnson, Thorhild, Alberta, Canada. They earned $6,570.
There were ties for the Reserve Championship in both the Intermediate and Limited Open. Sharing second in the Intermediate with a 223.5 were Magnum With A Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Shine On Sayo x Shining Spark), owned and shown by Josh Visser, Whitesboro, Texas; and Shiners Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Ebony Shines x Shining Spark), owned by Rosanne Sternberg, Aubrey, Texas, and shown by Brad Giesbrecht. Each earned $2,317.
The Limited Reserve Championship was shared by A Bueno Chic (Bueno Fritzi Nic x A Hollywood Chic x Smart Chic Olena), owned by Carolyn Tellepsen, Simonton, Texas, and shown by Steve Archer; and Miss Brim Peppy (Lil Ruf Peppy x Bay Brim Hat x Hollywood Return), owned by Roxanne Koepsell, Aubrey, Texas, and shown by Sebastian Petroll. Each marked a 218.5 and earned $1,092.
Tricia Hamilton
“He’s a blast,” Hamilton said of the gelding. “He turns good, he stops big, he circles really pretty, and he’s just a lot of fun.”
Hamilton rides with Gerst, and credited him with preparing the horse to show.
The Non-Pro Reserve Champion was Veronica St-Onge, Gainesville, Texas, riding Tori French Kiss (Slip Me Another Kiss x Dun It Like Torima x Dun Its Cowboy), a 2003 gelding owned by St-Onge and her husband, Patrice. The duo not only earned $1,486 for the Reserve title, but also won both the Intermediate ($1,076) and Limited ($608) divisions with their score of 215.5.
Nicole Sinkule, Whitesboro, Texas, took Reserve in both the Intermediate and Limited Non-Pro on Bit Of Magnum (Magnum Chic Dream x Bitsy Bye Remedy x Doc’s Remedy), her 2003 gelding. She earned a combined $1,300.
Written by Susan Morrison www.quarterhorsenews.com
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