8 minute read
The Streak Continues
INTERMEDIATE OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION, CHROME CASH CHAMPION
Robert Chown rode 2018 gelding Smart Nicholas (WR This Cats Smart x Secrets Lil Liz x Lizzys Gotta Player), bred by Cows & Horses Etc. and owned by L&K Barker Family Trust, to $3,679.63 in the Intermediate with a composite 649 (R:220/H:215/C:214). The pair earned an additional $1,050 for the Chrome Cash high score.
LEVEL 1 OPEN CHAMPION
Jeffrey Simpson-owned 2017 mare Tuesdays Tuff Kitty (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Tuesday x High Brow Cat), bred by Cowan Ranch LLC, and Aaron “AJ” Black Jr. took the win with a 645.5 (R:217.5/H:213.5/C:214.5) to earn $2,052.
LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION
My Boots Are Royal (Royal Fletch x My Boots Are Tuff x Woody Be Tuff), a 2018 stallion bred and owned by Kit & Charlie Moncrief, and Daniel Sanchez rode to a composite 647 (R:218/H:215.5/C:217) to earn $1,050.30.
LEVEL 1 OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION
Talk It Walk It (Smooth Talkin Style x Reyvin My Engine x Dual Rey), a 2018 stallion bred by Lloyd & Christina Cox and owned by Elizabeth Piccone, and Rebecca Lipka rode to a 634 (R:210.5/H:209.5/C:214) to earn $1,641.60.
NOVICE HORSE RESERVE CHAMPION
Cayley Wilson rode Lee Ann McDaniel’s 2018 stallion CR Dainty N Tuff (Woody Be Tuff x Dainty Dual Rey x Dual Rey), bred by Center Ranch, to a 646.5 (R:220.5/H:215/C:211) and earned $2,642.40.
CHROME CASH RESERVE CHAMPION
Debbie Crafton rode her 2018 stallion SJR SumKindaRockStar (Smooth As A Cat x SumKinda PinkCadilac x Peptoboonsmal), bred by San Juan Ranch, to the Chrome Cash second high score of 644 (R:214/H:210.5/C:219.5) to earn $700.
Debbie Crafton and Foundloveathooters (Smooth As A Cat x Rey Lena Rey x Dual Rey) earned the Non Pro Derby and Chrome Cash Championships with a 654.5 composite (H:213/ R:220/C:221.5), winning a total of $5,989.
HE STREAK CONTINUEST
Debbie Crafton and her team of horses capture their third major NRCHA Derby title of the year, this time in Cordova, Tennessee.
By Lillian Kent Photographs by Primo Morales
Debbie Crafton’s Dom Conicelli Memorial Eastern Derby, presented by MARS Equestrian™, plan was all about optimization. She’d won the event in 2021 and curated a treasure trove of derby-aged horses since then, putting her in prime position to take the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s eastern premier event’s Non Pro Derby Championship home to Ordway, Colorado.
After studying entry numbers, Crafton entered her stallion SJR Sumkindarockstar (Smooth As A Cat x Sumkinda Pinkcadilac x Peptoboonsmal) in the higher-paying Open Derby to make way for her two geldings: Foundloveathooters (Smooth As A Cat x Rey Lena Rey x Dual Rey), or “Zaro,” and Hesa Wee Bet (Bet Hesa Cat x Wee Quejana Gal x Quejanaisalena), or “Wee Bet,” in the Non Pro.
“The goal was to see if we could do a repeat win, because we’ve been consistent at the other two [premier NRCHA events],” Crafton said.
Repeat she did, continuing her streak that started in Las Vegas at the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes and continued at the DT Horses Western Derby in Scottsdale. Riding Zaro, Crafton won the Eastern Non Pro Derby with a composite of 654.5 (H: 213/R: 220/C: 221.5) and clinched reserve on Wee Bet (H: 213.5 /R: 219.5 /C: 220.5) with a composite of 653.5, earning $5,000 and $3,173 respectively. Zaro also won the Non Pro Chrome Cash for an additional $725.
“I am so blessed with those two horses–they are so consistent and they will do anything for me,” Crafton said.
2022 DOM CONICELLI MEMORIAL EASTERN,
PRESENTED BY MARS EQUESTRIAN™, NON PRO TOP 6
Cordova, Tennessee – July 8-16, 2022 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money 1. Debbie Crafton; FoundLoveAtHooters; 17G (Smooth As A Cat x Rey Lena Rey x Dual Rey); Debbie Crafton; 654 (H:213/R:220/C:221.5); $5,000. 2. Debbie Crafton; Hesa Wee Bet; 17G (Bet Hesa Cat x Quejana Gal x Quejuanaisalena); Debbie Crafton; 653.5 (H:213.5 /R:219.5 /C:220.5); $3,173. 3. Steafani Wagley; Boon Doxx (Sannman x Docs Stylish Liz x Docs Stylish Oak); Stefani Wagley; 650 (H:214.5/R:214/C:221.5); $2,379.78. 4. Cutter McLaughlin; SCR King Of The Road; 17G (Sannman x SCR Crackin Light x Boonlight Dancer); Jay and Windy McLaughlin; 638.5 (H:212/ R:217.5/C:209 ); $1,586.52. 5. Addison Fjelstad; Tuff Reyzin; 18G (Woody Be Tuff x Reyzin x High Brow CD); Kenneth Schueller; 635 (H:212/R:212/C:211); $1,189.89. 6. Ashley Lembke; Bet Hesa Honeybee; 18G (Bet Hesa Cat x Honey Bees x Peptoboonsmal); Tyrel and Ashly Lembke; 634 (H:213/R:209.5/C:211.5); $1,000.
in the arena.”—Debbie Crafton
Crafton has so much confidence in her horses that after traveling the more than 1,000 miles from Colorado to Tennessee she didn’t school them ahead of the fence work on July 13.
“Honestly, how I prepared for the fence was trail riding. There are these trails and ponds across the way from the fairgrounds here and I rode them the [two days prior there],” Crafton said. “My whole thing is a bond and a relationship with them, and I know that might sound cheesy to some but it’s true. I don’t want them to think that every time I get on them that I’m going to expect perfection in the arena.”
Crafton thanked Linda Mars for her sponsorship of the event and the NRCHA for their hard work. She also praised her herd help Jay McLaughlin, Cayley Wilson, Ashley Deacon and Luke Jones.
INTERMEDIATE NON PRO DERBY CHAMPION
Stefani Wagley and Boon Doxx (Sannman x Docs Stylish Liz x Docs Stylish Oak), bred by Jeff Schieber, earned the win with a composite of 650 (H:214.5/R:214/C:221.5), earning $1,526.
NON PRO DERBY RESERVE CHAMPION
Hesa Wee Bet (Bet Hesa Cat x Wee Quejana Gal x Quejanaisalena) and Debbie Crafton locked down the Non Pro Derby Reserve Championship with a composite of 653.5 (H:213.5 /R:219.5 /C:220.5), earning $3,173.
Ashley Lembke and Bet Hesa Honeybee (Bet Hesa Cat x Honey Bees x Peptoboonsmal), bred by Honeybee Partners LLC and co-owned by Tyrel and Ashly Lembke, put together a composite of 634 (H:213/R:209.5/C:211.5), winning $1,881.
LIMITED NON PRO DERBY RESERVE CHAMPION, SELECT NON PRO DERBY CHAMPION
Diane Edwards and her 2018 gelding Here For A Good Tyme (Thomas E Hughes x Dualin Safari x Playin Safari), bred by Kathleen Moore, clinched the Reserve with a composite of 627 (H:212/R:210/C:205), winning $608.
SELECT NON PRO DERBY RESERVE CHAMPION
Sandy Miller-Allen and Talkinattheboondocks (Smooth Talkin Style x My Gun Goes Boom x Smart Boons) rode to a 578 (R:198/H:200/C:180) for reserve.
LEVEL 1 NON PRO DERBY CHAMPION
Amber Haglin and Stylish Rebel Boy (Metallic Rebel x Mom In Style x Lizzys Gotta Player), a 2018 gelding bred by Dan Churchill, scored a composite of 626.5 (H:213/R:207.5/C:206), winning $1,845.
LEVEL 1 NON PRO DERBY RESERVE CHAMPION
Evan Means and Chapos Esperanza (Hic Highbrow Freckle x LPD Red Buck 712 x Little Bay Pistol), bred and owned by Means Brothers, put together a 625 composite (H:204/R:210/C:211), earning $1,107.
Xtra Short Trick (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Short And Royal x Short Oak) and Cheryl Chown, who co-owns the 2016 mare with Robert Chown, won with a 651.5 (H:215/ R:217.5/C:219), earning $2,434.
Cheryl Chown took the top two spots in the Non Pro Boxing Derby, bringing home Reserve on The Metal Doctor (Metallic Cat x The Doctress Orders x Dual Rey), bred by Day Creek Ranch LLC and co-owned by Robert and Cheryl Chown, with a 649 (H:208/R:218/C:223) and earning $1,922.
LEVEL 1 NON PRO BOXING DERBY CHAMPION
Toni Blonde and Bet Shes Wright (Bet Hesa Cat x Just Wright Lilly x Hes Wright On), a 2018 mare bred by Garth and Amanda Gardiner, won with a composite of 618 (H:206/ R:203/C:209), earning $679.
LEVEL 1 NON PRO BOXING DERBY RESERVE CHAMPION
Taylee Albritton rode 2017 gelding Once In A Rey Boon (Once In A Blu Boon x Dual Reys Ms Bobbi x Dual Rey), owned by Hawk Family Trust, to a 607.5 (R:209/ H:212.5/C:186), earning $407.
NON PRO BOXING DERBY CHROME CASH RESERVE CHAMPION
Robert Shockley and Cold Harde Cash (Reyzin The Cash x Shes Icing Onthe Cat x High Brow Cat) took the reserve spot with a of 582.5 (R:180/H:192/C:210.5).
NON PRO BOXING DERBY CHROME CASH CHAMPION
Karla Steckel and TR Guns And Roses (One Time Pepto x Miss Silver Gun x Colonels Smoking Gun), a 2017 mare bred by Tamarack Ranch, rode to a 641.5 composite (H:213/R:214.5/C:214), winning $650.
