PASO ROBLES — In a thrilling finish, Todd Crawford and Sinful Cat delivered a big fence work score when they needed it most to clinch the newly renamed Jack and Phoebe Cooke National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby Open Championship and win a check for $32,742.
This year’s NRCHA Derby, held June 12-17 at the Paso Robles Events Center, featured 4- and 5-year-olds by NRCHA Subscribed Stallions competing in snaffle bits and hackamores. The competition includes many of the top Snaffle Bit Futurity horses from the previous year, as well as those who might not have been ready for the Futurity, but who are now able to perform competitively.
Crawford and Sinful Cat began their finals performance with a less-than-ideal 216.5 herd work score, then built some momentum in the reined work, marking a 220. Finally, the clutch performance in the cow work netted a 224, the highest score of the finals round.
Todd Crawford and Sinful Cat, owned by Stacy Lynch, marked high fence score en route to the NRCHA Derby Open title that paid $32,741.
“He just hasn’t had the best luck showing,” said Crawford. “I lost a cow in the Snaffle Bit Futurity finals, and then he comes back and marks a 221 in the reining and 219 down the fence. He was third at the Circle Y Derby this year. He’s always been there, he just hasn’t been on top.”
Until now.
Crawford started training Sinful Cat, who is by WR This Cats Smart out of Sinful Playgirl, a Freckles Playboy mare, early in his 2-year-old year. The horse originally was destined to be a Non Pro horse for his owner, but he showed more promise as an open competitor.
Todd Bergen (above) and Smart Luck, owned by Cable Creek Ranch, claimed the 2012 NRCHA Bridle Spectacular and will have their names added to the CD Survivor Memorial Trophy. At right, Cheri Johnson (from left), Burl Flanigan and Renee Burks admire the award in the NRCHA Derby show office. The perpetual award, made possible by Holy Cow Performance Horses owner Nancy Crawford-Hall, had been given to previous Bridle Spectacular winners Shawn Hays on Shine Smartly (2010) and Ron Emmons on Olena Oak (2011).
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