Scottsdale, Arizona - March 26, 2003 - With the qualifying round of National Reined Cow Horse Stakes action begun at Westworld in Scottsdale, Jon Roeser took an early lead in the Open Snaffle Bit Stakes herd work on RSP Smart Remedy 399, a son of Smart Little Lena out of Remedys Response. Roeser earned a score of 223 on the Clear Lake Land and Cattle-owned stallion.

Finishing tied for second in the Open Herd Work preliminaries were Todd Crawford on Wright Smart Olena, by Lenas Wright On out of Colonel Minne, owned by Mr. & Mrs. C. Ross Conner with a 218 and Brad Buttrey on Oak Ill Be. The Smart The Ill Be Smart daughter of Ill Be Smart out of Gypsy Oak, owned by Joanie Cohn is also leading in the Intermediate Open division, followed by Dominican Starlight, a Grays Starlight son owned by Pat Warren of Scottsdale.

In the Limited Open, Shadd Parkinson rode Starznic, another Grays Starlight son owned by Debra or Dorn Parkinson, to the lead, followed by Sky N Mister, a daughter of Mister Dual Pep, owned by Paul and Amy Bailey and ridden by Steve Metcalf.

In the Non Pro division, it was a "Cowan Day" as William Cowan rode Neat Starlight (Grays Starlight X Neat Prescription) to a score of 224 to lead both the Non Pro and 50K Non Pro divisions. Not to be outdone, wife Michelle Cowan piloted Almosta Boom (Boomernic X Paulas Little Lena) to a score of 218 to finish reserve in both divisions.

In Amateur Snaffle Bit Stakes competition, Dave Archer was leading the field on Gunna Be Crazy, a gelding by Cutaways Gun Crazy.

In the 5-year-old Hackamore Open Stakes, Wayne Hinder took an early lead on Silver Gun, a son of Playgun owned by Fairlea Ranch of Badger, California, scoring 218. Ken Wold was close behind on Ill Be A Lil Smarter owned by Lil Smarter Partners, with a 216.5.

Silver Gun led the Intermediate Open division as well. In the Limited Open Hackamore division, Tracer Gilson rode Tuff Sliding Peppy, by Lil Ruf Peppy to the top score for owner Randy Paul.

Tish Wilhite rode Tequila Slide (Freckle Face Smoke X Smokey Tequila) to the lead in the Non Pro and 50K Hackamore Stakes, scoring 214 to edge ahead of John Showalter on Kiss My Dot (Tejons Peppy Doc X Dot O Lena) with a 213.

Action continues in Scottsdale on Thursday with the Rein Work in all divisions of the NRCHA Stakes.