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Commerce, Texas, professional Jay McLaughlin won the 2015 National Reined Cow Horse Association Stakes open championship April 4 aboard Blind Sided (Peptoboonsmal-Lil Miss Shiney Chex by Shining Spark) at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas.

The 2010 stallion, bred by NRCHA breeder sponsor Carol Rose and owned by NRCHA breeder sponsor and corporate partner Aaron Ranch, scored a big 668 (219 herd/220.5 rein/227.5 cow). They had the high score in the herd work and fence work finals, and tied for the high score in the rein work, on their way to the championship.

"He's got a big heart and lots of guts. [Horses by Peptoboonsmal] are strong horses. He's not a real big horse, but he rides big," McLaughlin said, adding that Blind Sided started his breeding career just a few months ago, and everyone involved with the roan stallion hopes to see his offspring in the winner's circle in the future. Aaron Ranch also owns Blind Sided's sire, the legendary Peptoboonsmal.

The Stakes open cchampionship came with a check for $31,047, as well as a Bob's Custom Saddle and C.R. Morrison Trophy from the NRCHA; a Gist buckle sponsored by the Neal family; a pair of boots from Rios of Mercedes; and gift certificates from Santa Cruz Animal Health and Platinum Performance. The $3,500 Open Champion Sire Award check went to Jackson Land and Cattle Co., who nominated Peptoboonsmal to the NRCHA Subscribed Stallion program.

Stakes Open Reserve Champion
The Open Reserve Champion was Hickory Holly Time (One Time Pepto x Hickorys Holly Cee x Doc's Hickory), shown by Kelby Phillips and owned by NRCHA Breeder Sponsors Garth and Amanda Gardiner of Gardiner Quarter Horses. Hickory Holly Time, a 2010 roan stallion bred by Arcese Quarter Horses, scored a 657 (217.5 herd/219.5 rein/220 cow), earning $22,656. The Reserve Championship also came with a Gist buckle, boots from Rios of Mercedes, and a gift certificate from Platinum Performance. The $2,000 Reserve Champion Sire Award went to NRCHA Breeder Sponsor Matthews Quarter Horses, who nominated One Time Pepto to the Subscribed Stallion program.

Stakes Intermediate Open Champion
In the Intermediate Open, it was California horseman Justin Wright at the top of the results sheet, riding Im Countin Chics (Im Countin Checks x Dixie Chic Please x Chic Please)  to a 650.5 (218.5 herd/216.5 rein/215.5 cow), earning just over $6,600 for owner Eric Freitas. 

The sire award check for $1,000 went to Circle Y Ranch for nominating Im Countin Chics' sire, Im Countin Checks to the Subscribed stallion program.

Stakes Limited Open Champion
Justa Doin It (Smart Little Pepinic x Justa Hot Chic), with Russell Probert in the saddle, won the Stakes Limited Open Championship. Justa Doin It is a 2011 gelding owned by JJ and Theresa Fisher. They scored a total 645 (213.5 herd/213.5 rein/218 cow), taking home just over $5,200 and earning a $1,000 sire award check for the Ward Ranch.

Stakes Non Pro Champion
It was a busy day for Justa Doin It, who also carried owner JJ Fisher to the Stakes Non Pro Championship, earning just over $7,700. Fisher's prize package included a Bob's Custom Saddle and a Gist buckle. They scored a 644.5 (211.5 herd/212 rein/221 cow) and collected the $1,500 Non Pro Champion Sire Award check for NRCHA Breeder Sponsor Ward Ranch, who nominated Smart Little Pepinic to the Subscribed Stallion program.  

Stakes Intermediate Non Pro and Novice Non Pro Champion
The Non Pro Reserve Champion, Elizabeth Kania, also won the Intermediate Non Pro and Novice Non Pro divisions - riding Uno What Time It Flo (Uno What Time It Is x Dew It Flo) to a total 639.5 (2017 herd/213.5 rein/219 cow). Her triple payday was more than $11,600. Elizabeth also earned a total of $2,500 in Sire award money for Julie Gibbons, the nominator of her mare's sire, Uno What Time It is. Uno What Time It Flo is owned by Kania's mother, Renee Dubois. 

Jay McLaughlin Pilots CD Dee Vee Dee to the NRCHA Stakes Open Bridle Spectacular Championship

McLaughlin won the 2015 NRCHA Stakes Open Bridle Spectacular Championship aboard CD Dee Vee Dee (CD Lights x Shiners Missy Jay x Shining Spark). McLaughlin rode the 2005 gelding to a 661 score (219 herd/220.5 rein/221.5 cow), earning $5,460. They had the high score in the herd work round and tied for the high score in the rein work round on their way to the championship. 

CD Dee Vee Dee is owned by McLaughlin and his wife, Wendy. The gelding does double duty in the McLaughlin family as the Youth Limited and Non Pro Limited mount for the couple's son, Cutter. 

Non Pro Bridle Champion
Canadian horsewoman Suzon Schaal made a big impression on the judges in the Non Pro Bridle cow work today, with a scorching 151.5 aboard Genuine Brown Gal (Listo Pollito Lena x Genuine Emerald). Paired with their 144.5 rein work score, they earned a total 296 and the Non Pro Bridle Championship, which paid $1,650. 

NRCHA Stakes Champions Crowned

Open Novice Horse
The Open Novice Horse Champion was Smart Crackin Cat (High Brow Cat x Smart Crackin Chic x Smart Chic Olena), a 2011 mare shown by NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Corey Cushing for owner Eric Dunn. Smart Crackin Cat scored a total 652.5 (214 herd/216.5 rein/222 cow), earned $2,970 and took home gift certificates from Farnam and Platinum Performance. 

Level 1 Limited Open
Jason Gay piloted Remedys Shinin Cash (Very Smart Remedy x Cashs Shining Spark x Shining Spark) to the Level 1 Limited Open Championship, scoring a 637 (209 herd/211.5/216.5). The Championship paid $4,661 and came with a Gist custom buckle sponsored by the Neal family; a C.R. Morrison Trophy from the NRCHA; a Cow Trac system sponsored by Cow Trac; and a gift certificate from Platinum Performance. They also advanced to the Limited Open finals.

A Sire Award check for $500 went to Anne M. Reynolds, who owns Remedys Shinin Cash's sire, Very Smart Remedy, and nominated him to the NRCHA Subscribed Stallion program.

Amateur Champion 
The Amateur Champion was Jamie Schrack, riding Goldies Boss Man (CD Lights x Shiners Goldielocks x Shining Spark) to a 634 score (215.5 herd/214 rein/204.5 cow). The Championship paid $1,269 and came with a Gist buckle and C.R. Morrison Trophy from the NRCHA, and a gift certificate from Platinum Performance. Goldies Boss Man also earned a $1,000 Sire Award check for Winston Hansma and Danny Motes, who own his sire, CD Lights, and nominated him to the NRCHA Subscribed Stallion Program. 

Non Pro Limited Champion
In the Non Pro Limited, the herd work/rein work/boxing division, the champion was Farrah Roberts McArthur, who guided Reys Stylish Bell (Dual Rey x Blues Stylish Bell x Docs Stylish Oak) to a 638.5 (213 herd/213.5 rein/212 cow). The Championship paid $1,782 and came with a Gist buckle and C.R. Morrison Trophy from the NRCHA, and a gift certificate from Platinum Performance. 

The Non Pro Limited Sire Award check for $500 went to Linda Holmes, the owner/nominator of Dual Rey.

Open Two Rein Champion
The Open Two Rein Champion was Too Long Til Autumn (Autumn Acre x Lil Lena Long Legs x Smart Little Lena), shown by Clayton Edsall for owner Lisa Krogh. They scored a 295.5 (144.5 rein/151 cow) for the championship, which paid $2,660.