NRCHA Derby Open Herd Work Preliminaries Complete in Paso Robles, California

Corey Cushing and Hott Rod marked a 224.5 in the Derby Open herd work preliminaries for owner Lynne Wurzer. Corey Cushing and Hott Rod marked a 224.5 in the Derby Open herd work preliminaries for owner Lynne Wurzer. Photo courtesy by NRCHA/Primo Morales
June 12, 2019

Tuesday, June 11, was dedicated to Open Derby riders completing the second phase of the preliminary round - the herd work. The National Reined Cow Horse Association Jack & Phoebe Cooke Memorial Derby, presented by Cats Picasso, is one of the largest and most prestigious events for 4- and 5- year-old reined cow horses. Shown two-handed in a snaffle bit or a hackamore, horses are judged in three preliminary events: rein work, herd work and cow work. Top scorers from the preliminaries will advance to the clean-slate finals on Saturday, June 15, for a chance to win the coveted title of 2019 NRCHA Derby Champion and a share of the more than $340,000 in total payout.

Derby Open Herd Work High Score

The temperature was not the only element of heat at the Paso Robles Event Center today. NRCHA Two Million Rider Corey Cushing piloted Hott Rod (Hottish x Sugars Smart Kitty x High Brow Cat) to a scorching 224.5 in the herd work preliminaries of the Open Derby. The 2015 stallion is owned by Lynne Wurzer, of Tucoma, Washington. The Scottsdale, Arizona professional and Hott Rod are no strangers to competition, the pair finished third at the 2018 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity ®.

Derby Open Composite Leader

After two preliminary events, Clayton Edsall and Bet Hesa Boon lead the field of 105 competitors with a composite score of 443.5. The Oakdale, California, professional guided Beverly Vaughn's 2014 stallion to a 220.5 in the rein work and a 223.5 in the herd work.


Clayton Esdall and Bet Hesa Boon, owned by Beverly Vaughn, lead the Derby Open composite preliminaries after two events.


In additional to the popular Limited Aged Event, the Derby also offers a full slate of NRCHA-appproved horse show classes and several spectaculars. The crowd-pleasing $25,000 added CD Survivor Memorial Bridle Spectacular will take place the evening of Friday, June 14 at the Paso Robles Event Center. Ancillary activities include the San Luis Obispo Cattleman's Association BBQ dinner on Wednesday, June 12 at 7:00pm, the San Juan Breakfast on Saturday, June 15 at 6:30am and of course, lots of shopping opportunities.

The entire show can be viewed via the free, live webcast, provided by NRCHA's Official Videographer Equine Promotion, at www.NRCHA.com. The action continues at the Paso Robles Event Center on Wednesday, June 12, with the cow work for the Derby and the first horse show champions will be crowned.

Click here for the complete show results.

By NRCHA Press Release

Published in Cowhorse

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