Matt Koch and SJR Hitime Shine Win Tres Osos Open Derby
Matt Koch, of Elizabeth, Colo., won the Tres Osos Open Derby riding SJR Hitime Shine. The 2020 gelding, sired by High Brow Cat and out of Shiners Little Oak, was bred and owned by San Juan Ranch. The horse had already earned over $46,000 in its lifetime, securing a spot in the finals of the 2023 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity and winning the California Reined Cow Horse Association Futurity.
Koch praised his horse in an interview with the NRCHA, saying, "He wants to be a show horse. Every time I have shown him, he brightens up and is happy to be in the pen."
Koch and SJR Hitime Shine had a slow start in the herd work with a score of 215.5, but they quickly bounced back with a 223 in the rein work and a 225.5 down the fence, resulting in a composite score of 663.5. The pair had to wait through 18 more riders to determine their fate but ultimately took home a check for $45,000.
Other winners at the Tres Osos Derby include Clay Roeser, who rode Reyzin Peaches, owned by Kalpowar Quarter Horses, to victory in both the Intermediate Open Derby and Novice Horse with a composite score of 661. Jon Hawthorne rode Bamacats Courage, owned by Chuck Terro, to score a 649 and win the Limited Open Derby. Will Roden rode The New Cat In Town, owned by Gully Enterprises Inc, to win the Level 1 Open Derby with a score of 649.5.
In the Tres Osos Non Pro Derby, Brent Ratliff and his 2020 gelding, TwntyTwntyTwntyWhatAMitch, out of Shiney N Quick and by Call Me Mitch, claimed the championship with a score of 660.
"It's pretty exciting – it's been a long time coming… You put a lot of time, energy and effort into this so when it works, it's definitely a blessing," Ratliff said in an interview with the NRCHA.
Although Ratliff and TwntyTwntyTwntyWhatAMitch had a slower start in the herd work with a score of 213.5, they quickly made up for it with a 222.5 in the rein work and a 224 in the cow work.
William Akin and Good Timing Mizzter won the Intermediate Non Pro Derby with a composite 647, while Caroline Fletcher and Squeaky Reyalty emerged victorious in the Limited Non Pro Derby with a composite 646.5. Roan West and Boonafide Smarty won the Level 1 Non Pro Derby with a composite score of 636. Jayson Fisher and Sure Hesa Smart Cat marked a composite score of 648.5 to top the Novice Horse and Select Non Pro Derby.
