8 minute read
One-Two Once More
NE-TWO O ONCE MORE
Debbie Crafton and her two geldings proved that they had the magic for a second time, grabbing the Non Pro Derby Championship and Reserve with consistency and faith.
By Lillian Kent Photography by Primo Morales
Debbie Crafton rolled into Scottsdale, Arizona, for the 2022 DT Horses Western Derby with high hopes. Coming off a one-two Non Pro Derby victory at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes, Crafton was confident in her three Derby horses but ready to accept any outcome.
“Coming in, it was another see-what-happens thing. I knew that they were very capable. I talk to my horses, and I joked around with Hesa Wee Bet like, ‘Hey, this is your turn,’ ” Crafton said.
The 5-year-old gelding must have taken it to heart, stepping up and scoring a 213 out of the herd, 219.5 in the reining and a 219.5 in the cow work on challenging heifers.
With a composite score of 652, Crafton and “Wee Bet” (Bet Hesa Cat x Wee Quejana Gal x Quejanaisalena) earned the Non Pro Derby Championship and Non Pro Derby Chrome Cash Championship for a grand total of $11,136.
“Hesa Wee Bet is so fun to circle [in the reining] and a huge stopper,” Crafton said.
2022 DT HORSES WESTERN DERBY NON PRO TOP 10
Scottsdale, Arizona – June 1-11, 2022 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money 1. Debbie Crafton; Hesa Wee Bet; 17G (Bet Hesa Cat x Quejana Gal x Quejuanaisalena); Debbie Crafton; 652 (H:213/R:219.5/C:219.5 ); $10,000. 2. Debbie Crafton; FoundLoveAtHooters; 17G (Smooth As A Cat x Rey Lena Rey x Dual Rey); Debbie Crafton; 650 (H:216/R:217.5/C:216.5); $7,500. 3. Trail Townsend; MC Bet Time; 17G (Bet Hesa Cat x Diamonds On Time x One Time Pepto); Trail Townsend; 639 (H:208/R:217/C:214 ): $6,000. 4. Hannah Warde; DT Time To Stray; 17G (Hickory Holly Time x Stray Katz x Boonlight Dancer); Hannah Warde; 638.5 (H:212/R:215/C:211.5); $4,410.90. 5. Julia Winders; Dual Smarty; 17S (Dual Smart Rey x Cats Gabriella Acre x Cats Merada); Julia Winders; 635 (H:208/R:212/C:215 ); $3,528.72. 6. Cutter McLaughlin; SCR King Of The Road; 17G (Sannman x SCR Crackin Light x Boonlight Dancer); Jay and Windy McLaughlin; 634.5 (H:212/ R:216.5/C:206 ); $2,646.54. 7. Debbie Crafton; SJR Sumkindarockstar; 18S (Smooth As A Cat x Sumkinda PinkCadilac x Peptoboonsmal); Debbie Crafton; 634 (H:213/ R:215/C:206); $2,646.45. 8. Lynne Faust; Seven S Party Favor; 18G (Stevie Rey Von x Seven S Party Girl x Matt Dillon Dun It); Lynne Faust; 633.5 (H:209/R:216/C:208.5); $1,984.91. 9. Garrell Reilly; Bet Shesa Playmate; 18M (Bet Hesa Cat x Very Smart Playmate x Very Smart Remedy); Preston Williams; 629 (H:207/R:216.5/C:205.5 ); $1,764.36. 10. Tylor Todd; Voodoo Whiskey; 17G (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Whiskey On Wheels x Paddys Irish Whiskey); Tylor Todd; 626.5 (H:208/R:204.5/C:214 ); $1,543.82.
The Reserve Champion was Crafton’s Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes Non Pro Derby Champion, Foundloveathooters (Smooth As A Cat x Rey Lena Rey x Dual Rey), also known as “Zaro,” who scored a 216 in the herd work, a 217.5 in the reining and a 216.5 in the cow work for a 650 composite and $7,786.
Crafton managed to advance her third horse to the Finals, too. Stallion SJR Sumkindarockstar (Smooth As A Cat x Sumkinda Pinkcadilac x Peptoboonsmal) finished seventh in the 15-horse finals with a composite of 634 (H:213/R:215/C:206), earning a check for $2,450.
“After the prelims I was just feeling so blessed. They’re little golden children,” Crafton said. “Accomplishments are not possible without these kinds of horses and this kind of partnership.”
The partnerships’ poster child of the Western Derby was “showman” Wee Bet with his stylish reining maneuvers and quick feet down the fence.
“Going into the [cow] Finals, I sat and studied the cattle a lot. They were
“Going into the [cow] Finals, I sat and studied the cattle a lot. They were kind of liars. You would see one and think ‘That one is OK’ and it was a runner. It wanted to smoke you. They were heifers, they were going to be a little sensitive. I let [my cow] see me and process.”—Debbie Crafton
NON PRO DERBY RESERVE CHAMPION
Debbie Crafton rounded out the top two spots with Foundloveathooters (Smooth As A Cat x Rey Lena Rey x Dual Rey), scoring a 650 composite (H:216/R:217.5/C:216.5) and bringing home $7,786 for the Reserve Non Pro Derby Championship. kind of liars,” Crafton explained. “You would see one and thin ‘That one is OK,’ and it was a runner. It wanted to smoke you. They were heifers, they were going to be a little sensitive. I let [my cow] see me and process.”
Her plan panned out, and she posted the two highest scores in the cow work Finals on Wee Bet and Zaro.
To keep her team tuned between the Stakes and Western Derby, Crafton worked her horses on her family’s ranch in southeastern Colorado.
“I am a huge believer in using them outside. You’re still doing a form of training but in a totally different arena. It keeps them fresh, keeps them happy,” Crafton said. “They’re put in high-pressure, stressful situations and having to deal with that.”
To Crafton, one of the best ranching exercises is turning back a rouge calf in the pasture because of the drive it instills in the horses. Mistiming a turn means more running, so her horses learn to read the cattle accurately and conserve energy.
Crafton thanked Chris Dawson, Matt Koch, Jay McLaughlin, Tyler Merrill and Caylee for their help during the show. Next up for Crafton and her trio is the Dom Conicelli Memorial Eastern Derby, presented by MARS Equestrian™, in July, before focusing on getting qualified in the hackamore for the NRCHA Celebration of Champions.
Hannah Wade and DT Time To Stray (Hickory Holly Time x Stray Katz x Boonlight Dancer) wasted no time bringing home the Intermediate and Limited Non Pro Derby Championships, scoring a 638.5 composite (H:212/R:215/C:211.5) and earning $6,141.
LEVEL 1 NON PRO DERBY CHAMPION
Julie Donovan and Her Lucky Cat (Hes One Lucky Cat x Her Kinda Sugar x Some Kinda Okie) scored a 627.5 (H:208/R:214/C:205), winning the Level 1 Non Pro Derby Championship and $3,000.
Lynne Faust and Seven S Party Favor (Stevie Rey Von x Seven S Party Girl x Matt Dillion Dun It) nabbed two Reserve Championships in the Intermediate Non Pro and Limited Non Pro Derby, scoring a 633.5 (H:209/R:216/C:208.5) for $4,886 in earnings.
LEVEL 1 NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION
Shelby Walker and 4-year-old gelding CR Ima Tuffy (Woody Be Tuff x Calie Del Rey x Dual Rey) scored a 626 (H:214/R:215.5/C:196) and $1,598 in winnings.
SELECT NON PRO DERBY CHAMPION
Eric Freitas and Meredith Gray (Dual Smart Rey x Cattahoochie x High Brow Cat) scored a composite of 623 (H:209/R:218/C:196) for the title and $125.
SELECT NON PRO DERBY RESERVE CHAMPION
With a 606 (H: 207/R: 202.5/C: 196.5) Timothy Rodney and Boons Chic A Boons (Smart Boons x Solid Lady Chic x Smart Chic Olena) earned the reserve spot and $75.
NON PRO BOXING DERBY CHAMPION, SELECT NON PRO BOXING DERBY CHAMPION
Riding the 2016 gelding she co-owns with husband, Robert, Cheryl Chown and The Metal Doctor (Metallic Cat x The Doctress Orders x Dual Rey) rode to two division Derby championships with a 649 (H:213.5/R:217/C:218.5) in the Non Pro Boxing to earn $3,384.36. They added another $15 for winning the Select Non Pro Boxing.
NON PRO BOXING DERBY RESERVE CHAMPION
Riding Logicality (Magicatlity x Boonlight Angel x Boonlight Dancer), Lori Frampton-Crafton rode to reserve with a 643.5 (H:208/R:213/C:222.5) ), earning $2,707.49. The 2016 gelding was bred by Anne Reynolds and is owned by Debbie Crafton.
LEVEL 1 NON PRO BOXING DERBY CHAMPION
Jenna Stolting rode her 2016 mare Kit Kat Royal (Kit Kat Sugar x Little Royal Blue x Smart Little Lena), bred by Ronald Knutson, to a 632.5 (H:205/R:214/C:213.5) to take the title and $2,986.20 purse. For eight in the Non Pro Boxing Derby, the pair earned $1,015.31.
LEVEL 1 NON PRO BOXING DERBY RESERVE CHAMPION
Vyntage (Doc’s Hickory x Cancan Kitty x High Brow Cat ), a 2018 stallion bred by Lone Oak Performance Horses and owned by Walt or Mark Vermedahl, and Amber Carrol rode to reserve with a 627.5 (H:205/R:207/C:215.5) to earn $746.55.
SELECT NON PRO BOXING DERBY RESERVE CHAMPION
Carolyn Edson rode her home-bred 2016 mare Mary Janez (Travelin Jonez x Daphne Doo Right x Chex My Freckles) to a 642 (H:210/R:213/C:219) to earn $125 and the Reserve title. The pair were third in the Non Pro Boxing Derby, earning another $2,369.05.
NON PRO BOXING CHROME CASH CHAMPION
American Paint Horse Association-registered horses are eligible for the Chrome Cash Incentive, and Calley Rae Satrina rode her 2017 mare Wing Anda Prayer (Meteles Cat x Wings Ofa Lena x Quejanaisalena ) to the high score in the division with a 630.5 (H:195/R:219.5/C:216) to earn $525. The pair was ninth in the Non Pro Boxing Derby.
