Time To Hangem, Austin Shepard Dominate Derby Open at Cotton Stakes Classic

The 2008 gelding (One Time Pepto x Hangem High Pep x Hickorys Indian Pep), had earned $106,704 by making five prior finals with the Summedale, Ala., trainer. This was the duo’s first limited-age victory. They matched their top finals check since earning $70,482 by tying for fourth during December’s 2011 National Cutting Horse Futurity Open finals in the horse’s debut. Kayla Norris, Hattiesburg, Miss., owns the horse, bred by Frank and Robin Merrill, Purcell, Okla.

Four horse and rider duos competing in the single-set, 18-horse finals tied for Reserve Champion honors with 220.5 finishes worth $7,088 each, including Divas On Time (One Time Pepto x Desires Cat x High Brow Cat), a mare ridden by Shepard and owned by Amanda Purdin Standish, Baton Rouge, La. Other horses and riders tying for Reserve Champion honors included Thundercat and Matt Miller, Poolville, Texas; LHR Royal Flush and Phil Hanson, Weatherford, Texas; and Moms Dual N Badger and Clint Allen, Weatherford, Texas.

The Cotton Stakes Classic continues today with events including the Futurity Open finals. It concludes Sunday with six Non-Pro and Amateur finals.

Caylee & Austin Shepard

A Cat Be Quick, Shepard top Classic Open

Frequent finalists Acatbequick and Austin Shepard picked up their first limited-age cutting victory with a 223 finish worth $10,000 during Wednesday’s Classic Open finals at the Cotton Stakes Classic in West Monroe, La. 

Elizabeth Brumbaugh, Weatherford, Texas, bred Acatbequick (High Brow Cat x KD Shorty x Kit Dual) and Shepard, Summerdale, Ala., guided the 2007 gelding to a Reserve Champion Augusta Futurity Open finish and a No. 3 National Cutting Horse Association Super Stakes Open finish for Brumbaugh last year.

Buster Quirk, Denham Springs, La., a frequent horse-training client of Shepard’s, purchased the horse late last year. Acatbequick picked up $10,165 and $30,283 checks with Shepard by placing second at the Augusta Futurity and third at the NCHA Super Stakes last year. He has earned more than $145,000 during his ongoing career.

Reserve Champion Little Pepto Cat and Matt Gaines, Weatherford, Texas, also finished strong during the two-set, 21-horse finals with a 220 to earn $8,000. The 5-year-old gelding (High Brow Cat x Little Pepto Gal x Peptoboonsmal) bred and owned by Bob and Nan Kingsley’s Bluestem Ranch, Weatherford, Texas, had previously earned $238,274. He’s the top-earning foal of his dam, former standout cutter Little Pepto Gal.