OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Phil Hanson marked 228 on Classy CD Cat, by High Brow Cat, to win the 2014 NCHA Futurity at the Will Rogers Coliseum Dec. 14.

This is the first NCHA Futurity win for Hanson, 54, who showed 2010 NCHA Horse of the Year LHR Smooth Jamie May and is an NCHA Hall of Fame Rider with lifetime earnings of $3.75 million. He is the brother of Temecula-based trainer Brenda Brown and of Clements-based reining trainer David Hanson.

Classy CD Cat is the third NCHA money earner out of Classical CD, by CD Olena. Paul Hansma showed Classical CD, who placed sixth in the 2000 NCHA Futurity, to earn $221,413 for breeder-owner Bar H Ranche.

Classy CD Cat drew seventh to work in the second set, where only one of the six previous horses had scored above 210.

“Both herds were pretty darn tough,” said Hanson, who shows Classy CD Cat, by High Brow Cat, for her breeders, Bobby and Dottie Hill, Glen Rose, Tex. “They were really hard to read. Everyone was cutting what they thought were the best cows, but you just couldn’t get a feel for them.”

“I can’t tell you I thought the cows we cut were the best in the pen, but it all just fit and fell into place. And the mare was phenomenal.”

Classy CD Cat had been consistently solid during the three go-rounds that got her to the Finals.

“In the first go-rounds the cattle would run and float away and she was very correct and did all the right things, but never got the opportunity to just lay down and do her thing,” said Hanson. “I knew she could handle it, but I just walked down there (in the Finals) wanting to have a good, clean run and get the biggest check that I could get. And it turned out to be the biggest check.”

Austin Keys started Classy CD Cat for Hanson, who took the reins after the first of this year.

“She always showed that she had a really pretty style, but for the longest time, she never really showed that she was quick and explosive,” noted Hanson. “I thought for the longest time, even into the early fall, that I needed to speed her up. But I tried that and she would miss a cow. So I quit doing that and just let her work the cow.”

“Now she gets to the bottom of that stop and the first thing she does is rock that inside hind leg back and is prepared to make the turn really before she even completely gets stopped, and it really works.”