Double Derby

Debbie Crafton earned her second consecutive Non Pro Derby win at the Eastern Derby, presented by MARS Equestrian™, aboard Dualin Alittle Time.

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OUBLE DERBY

Debbie Crafton defended her Non Pro Derby Champion title from last year at the 2021 Eastern Derby.

By Katie Navarra Photos by Primo Morales

Debbie Crafton hauled to the annual 2021 Dom Conicelli Memorial Eastern Derby, presented by MARS Equestrian™, looking to defend her 2020 Non Pro Derby Champion title. This time she hoped it would be aboard a different horse. Dualin Alittle Time (One Time Pepto x ARC Little Dualena x Dual Pep) was due for a win. The pair finished third at both the 2020 and 2021 competitions.

“We came to win!” she said. “We’d been so close at the Western Derby I just knew he could do it.”

During the weeklong show, she rode the stallion to a 651.5 (H:213.5/ R:219.5/C:218.5) to claim the Non Pro Derby Championship. The win paid $3,292.38. Crafton said the ground was perfect for the rein work. The footing gave her a chance to showcase his talents.

“The dirt was really good, so I got to show him off in the reining with a big, long stop,” she said. “He circles and turns around so well. He is just pure and honest.”

Drawing up at the bottom, the duo was in a tough herd work spot. On their last cow, one bolted from the herd, causing a disruption. They still turned in a clean cut to score 213.5.

2021 EASTERN DERBY NON PRO TOP 10

Memphis, Tennessee— July 10 – 17, 2021 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money 1. Dualin Alittle Time; Debbie Crafton; (One Time Pepto x ARC Little Dualena x Dual Pep); Debbie R. Crafton; 651.5 (H:213.5/R:219.5/C:218.5); $3,292.38 2. Frat Cat; Catelyn Walker; (WR This Cats Smart x Tamu A Dualin Reina x Aggies Twelfth Man); Catelyn M. Walker; 648.5 (H:212.5/R:216/C:220); $2,586.87 3. TRR Lucky Brazos; Trail Townsend; (Pepcid x TRR Ms Lucky Gun x Playgun); Tripp Townsend; 648 (H:207/R:216.5/C:224.5); $1,998.95 4. Seven S Red Robin; Addison Fjelstad; (Blind Sided x Seven S Dixie Chic x CJ Sugar Lena); Kenneth J. Schueller; 647 (H:216/R:212.5/C:218.5); $1,411.02 5. Monster Truk; Morgan Holmes; (Ima Downtown Cat x Cowgirls GettinItDun x Dun It Big); Jay & Rhonda Holmes; 644.5 (H:212/R:216.5/C:216); $1,058.27 6. Hughes This Chic; Debbie Crafton; (Thomas E Hughes x Smart Playing Chic x Smart Chic Olena); Debbie R. Crafton; 639.5 (H:212/R:217/C:210.5); $823.10 7. Twice In A Blu Moon; Debbie Crafton; (Once In A Blu Boon x Teltrona x Little Trona); Debbie R. Crafton; 638 (H:215/R:210.5/C:210.5); $587.93

“I really need to thank my herd help who I wouldn’t have been successful without,” she said. “I also couldn’t do this without my family who is holding down the fort at home.”

Heading into the cow work, she knew she needed a solid run to maintain the lead. Pleased to have a “decent cow,” the duo wrapped up the final leg of the competition with a 218.5, giving Crafton a full three-point lead over Reserve Champion Frat Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Tamu A Dualin Reina x Aggies Twelfth Man) and owner Catelyn Walker who rode to a composite 648.5 (H:212.5/R:216/C:220).

“It was extra special to win with him,” Crafton said. “I’ve raised him, and trained him and he has always wanted to please.” “I really need to thank my herd help who I wouldn’t have been successful without. I also couldn’t do this without my family who is holding down the fort at home.”—Debbie Crafton

Crafton bought the 2016 stallion out of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Western Bloodstock Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales® as a yearling. She has done all his training on her own. Dualin Alittle Time was bred by Acrese Quarter Horses, and he has more than $52,000 in lifetime earnings. His career highlights include the 2019 Snaffle Bit Futurity® Non Pro Championship and a Top 5 finish at the 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes.

Craftons’ plans include moving the hosre into the two-rein and, eventually, the bridle.

Crafton piloted three horses to Top 10 finishes in the Non Pro. She finished sixth with Hughes This Chic (Thomas E Hughes x Smart Playing Chic x Smart Chic Olena) and seventh with Twice In A Blu Moon (Once In A Blu Boon x Teltrona x Little Trona).

“It was a great week,” she said. “It is a blessing to have these horses who are talented and put me on top.”

NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION, INTERMEDIATE NON PRO CHAMPION & NOVICE NON PRO CHAMPION

Catelyn Walker piloted her horse Frat Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Tamu A Dualin Reina x Aggies Twelfth Man) to a composite 648.5 (H:212.5/R:216/C:220). The horse earned $13,075.83 for the Non Pro Reserve, $1,356.75 in the Intermediate Non Pro and $542.70 for the Novice Non Pro.

INTERMEDIATE NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION, NOVICE NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION, AMATEUR CHAMPION

Trail Townsend and TRR Lucky Brazos (Pepcid x TRR Ms Lucky Gun x Playgun), owned by Tripp Townsend, rode to a 648 (H:207/R:216.5/C:224.5) to take home $1,998.95 for the Intermediate Non Pro Reserve champion. The horse earned $434.16 in the Novice Non Pro.

AMATEUR RESERVE CHAMPION

Riding Seven S Red Robin (Blind Sided x Seven S Dixie Chic x CJ Sugar Lena), owned by her stepfather Kenneth Schueller, Addison Fjelstad scored a 647 (R:212.5/H:216/C:218.5) to earn the reserve spot and $1,170. In the Non Pro, she earned $1,411.02 for placing fourth; $814.05 for placing third in the Intermediate Non Pro and another $325.62 for third in the Novice Non Pro.

NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION

NRCHA Youth Lucinda Rose David piloted her horse Rubys Reypeat (Reys Dual Badger x Ruby Tuesday DNA x Peppy San Badger) to a composite (H:215.5/ R:212/C:216) to take home $2,088.90.

NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION

Cheryl Chown rode her horse Xtra Short Trick (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Short and Royal x Short Oak) to a 645 (H:212/ R:217/C:216) to take home $2,658.60. This is her second consecutive Derby win on her home-bred mare trained by her husband, NRCHA professional Robert Chown.