Winning Material

INNING MATERIALW

Hazardouz Material and Erin Taormino had some bad luck during the stallion’s early years of competing, but their persistence paid off at the 2021 Stallion Stakes with an Open win.

By Kristin Pitzer Photos by Primo Morales

After winning the Intermediate Open at the rescheduled 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes, Hazardouz Material and Erin Taormino stepped up in 2021 to nab the Open win and $43,786.40.

2021 NRCHA STALLION STAKES OPEN TOP 10

Las Vegas, NV – March 26–April 3, 2021 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money 1. Hazardouz Material; Erin Taormino; (Metallic Cat x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey); Linda Mars; 666.5 (H:218.5/R:224/C:224); $43,786.40 2. Saddling At Sunrise; Kelby Phillips; (WR This Cats Smart x Sunshine Ingredient x Mr Sun O Lena); Burnett Ranches LLC; 666 (H:219/R:221.5/C:225.5); $32,263.66 3. SarahTrashya; Kelby Phillips; (GunnaTrashYa x Lil Miss Shiney Chex x Shining Spark); DT Horses LLC; 662 (H:218.5/ R:222.5/C:221); $26,502.29 4. Smart Shiney Playboy; Nick Dowers; (WR This Cats Smart x Sinful Playgirl x Freckles Playboy); Clinton Marshall; 661 (H:221/R:223/C:217); $20,740.92 5. SnapDragons; Zane Davis; (GunnaTrashYa x CatNaps x High Brow Cat); Shane Law; 659.5 (H:215.5/R:221/C:223); $16,131.83 6. Hesa Dual Bet; Matt Koch; (Bet Hesa Cat x RJJ Miss Viagra Pep x Dual Pep); Kent Blough; 659 (H:214/ R:220.5/C:224.5); $13,827.28 7. Smart Chic An Tari; Sarah Dawson; (Smart Chic Olena x Shiney Tari x Shining Spark); Aaron Ranch; 657.5 (H:219.5/ R:218.5/C:219.5); $11,522.74 8. Graceful Smart Cat; Justin Wright; (WR This Cats Smart x Gracielights x CD Lights); Wagonhound Land & Livestock; 657 (H:222/R:219/C:216); $9,218.19 9. Me And Mrs Jonez; Chris Dawson; (Travelin Jonez x Shine Smarter x WR This Cats Smart); Wendy Buehler; 655.5 (H:216/R:219/C:220.5); $6,913.64 10 (tie). Cee Me Travelin; Sarah Dawson; (Hickory Holly Time x Travelin With Sass x Travalena); Stephen Roseberry; 655 (H:217.5/R:218.5/C:219); $6,337.51 10 (tie). One Time Up North; Cayley Wilson; (One Time Pepto x Our Special Kitten x High Brow Cat); Up North Performance Horses; 655 (H:218/R:220/C:217); $6,337.51

The pair entered the herd work finals as said. “I just went in there with the mindthe last duo in set three, and that position set of watch your cow and let him work, made Taormino nervous. Though the and that’s what I did.” cattle had been working well, she Taormino and Skeeter’s 224 down the knew once she got into the middle fence resulted in a 666.5 composite score, of them, they could be tricky. and the pair nabbed the Championship “I knew if I cut him decent cows, by half a point. Taormino was thrilled for he was absolutely going to be there Mars, who she said has been a supportive for me, and he was,” Taormino said. owner even through the bobbles they had “Two of my cattle were reruns, but earlier in the stallion’s career. they were really good. He actually felt “I appreciate all that Linda does for me more dialed in in the finals than he did and for believing in my program, believHazardouz Material and Erin Taormino had been through the ringer by the time they arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the National Reined Cow in the prelims.” The duo’s 218.5 landed them ninth going into the rein work. Because of the run-in pattern, Taormino schooled “Skeeter” the night before on galloping through the gate. They were second ing in this horse,” said Taormino. The Stallion Stakes title proved how much Skeeter has progressed since Taormino got him into her program as a late 2-year-old. The 2016 stallion, bred by Taylor Carbo, was started by Travis Horse Association Stallion Stakes, held in the draw, which wasn’t Taormino’s Stewart, and Taormino said he’s always March 26-April 3 at the South Point favorite so she came up with a plan. been athletic. As he’s matured, he’s gotArena & Equestrian Center. As a “I didn’t love that draw because it’s so ten even stronger and able to utilize his 3-year-old, the roan stallion’s bid for early and everybody that’s in those finals talent, she said. the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® title is going to be running for it,” Taormino Some of that talent obviously stems was spoiled after he stumbled and broke said. “My mindset going into the finals from Skeeter’s dam, Scooters Daisy Dukes gait, and at the NRCHA (Dual Smart Rey x Derby the next year, he tripped down the fence “He’s got a lot of heart, and for him to get this, it means the Scooters Playmate x Freckles Playboy), and nearly wrecked. world to me. I feel like he really deserves it. He’s been a really who also produced Although the pair did good horse from the start.”—Erin Taormino 2020 Open Champion clinch the Intermediate Scooter Kat (sired by Open title at the 2020 Kit Kat Sugar), ridden Stallion Stakes, but otherwise, circum- rein work was give them something to by Justin Lawrence and owned by Eric stances seemed to continually deny their mark, and make them mark me. I ran Freitas. The half-brothers weren’t alone quest for the limelight. him pretty darn hard, and I honest-to- in contributing to her dam record at

The duo’s luck finally turned around goodness could not have asked him to be the show, though, as their younger halfat the 2021 NRCHA Stallion Stakes when any better.” sister, A Gritty Kitty (sired by Chiquita Taormino piloted Hazardouz Material Their 224 was the high score in the Open Cat), who was also trained by Taormino, (Metallic Cat x Scooters Daisy Dukes x rein work, putting them in a good posi- won the Non Pro with owner Hope Mills. Dual Smart Rey) to a composite of 666.5 tion going into the cow work. Taormino Taormino thanked her crew for their (H:218.5/R:224/C:224). The pair secured was confident in Skeeter’s abilities down help, especially her husband, Anthony, the Open Championship and a check the fence; she just hoped they would and Sarah Sheridan, who works for her. worth $43,786.40 for owner Linda Mars. draw a cow that would allow him the “My husband is kind of my rock, and

“He’s got a lot of heart, and for him opportunity to show what he could do. with our little one, I don’t know how to get this, it means the world to me,” “I have a lot of faith in that horse. He’s I would do it without him,” Taormino Taormino said. “I feel like he really just been so consistent and so good that said. “[He and Sheridan] keep everything deserves it. He’s been a really good horse I knew if I drew a good cow, he would going behind the scenes when I’m showfrom the start.” be there, and he was spot on,” Taormino ing. It’s definitely a team effort.”

OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

Saddling At Sunrise (WR This Cats Smart x Sunshine Ingredient x Mr Sun O Lena) carried Kelby Phillips to the Open Reserve Championship with a 666 (H:219/ R:221.5/C:225.5), netting $32,263.66 for owner Burnett Ranches LLC.

INTERMEDIATE OPEN CHAMPION

With a composite score of 655 (H:214/R:219.5/C:221.5), One Ata Time (One Time Pepto x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey) and Ryan Gallentine nabbed the Intermediate Open title for owner Steve Mattson, worth $13,379.18.

INTERMEDIATE OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

Ken and Renee Jones’ stallion Back In The Blue (Metallic Cat x Shinin Melody x Peppys Boy 895) and Tyson Benson scored a 655 (H:219/R:218/C:218) for the Intermediate Open Reserve Championship and $9,506.26.

LIMITED OPEN CHAMPION

Desires Sweet Pepto (Sweet Lil Pepto x Desires Lil Scoot x Scootin Boon), ridden by Veronica Swales, scored a 648 (H:215.5/R:216/C:216.5) for the Limited Open Championship. Owner Robin Morrison banked $5,377.28.

LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

Tripp Townsend rode his stallion TRR Lucky Brazos (Pepcid x TRR Ms Lucky Gun x Playgun) to a score of 644.5 (H:212/R:215.5/C:217) for the Limited Open Reserve title and $4,225.

LEVEL 1 LIMITED OPEN CHAMPION

HQ Wilma Gotta Kitty (Meteles Cat x Wilma Gotta Gun x Spooks Gotta Gun) and Sarah Murphey rode to a 649 (H:215/R:214/C:220) for the Level 1 Limited Open Championship, earning $3,694.32 for owner Reid Hockenson.

LEVEL 1 LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

Taking home the Level 1 Limited Open Reserve Championship for owner Erica McNaney was SJR Sparkin Metal (Metallic Cat x CD Sparkle x CD Olena), who scored a 645 (H:218/ R:214.5/C:212.5) with Cody McNaney. The pair banked $2,902.68.

OPEN NOVICE HORSE CHAMPION

Clayton Edsall rode Kim Basterrechea’s Heza Rowdy Cat (Bet Hesa Cat x Dear Little Boon Bar x Boon Bar) to a 661 (H:221.5/R:215/C:224.5) for the Open Novice Horse Championship, worth $6,313.32.

OPEN NOVICE HORSE RESERVE CHAMPION

Wendy Buehler’s mare Me And Mrs Jonez (Travelin Jonez x Shine Smarter x WR This Cats Smart), piloted by Chris Dawson, scored a 660 (H:217.5/R:220/C:222.5) for the Open Novice Horse Reserve title and $4,984.20.

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