Todd Crawford finished strong in the preliminaries of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby in Paso Robles, California. Riding The Love Man (Meradas Money Talks X Lovie Lena) owned by Gary and Kathy Benton, Todd scored a 223 in the cow work, to win the go. That score, combined with his 214.5 in the herd and 216 in the rein, made a 653.5 composite and was good enough for him to top the preliminary composite scoring.

Todd will lead the field of twenty open finalists to the Sunday showdown, as the riders vie for the lion’s share of the $340,000 purse at the event.

Jake Gorrell showed Quick As Einstein (As Smart As The Fox X High Brow Jose) owned by Joe and Bobbie Stone to a 220, good for second place in the cow work and second in the Open preliminary composites (652).

That leads the Intermediate, as well, and in that division, Jake grabbed the top three spots in the preliminaries, as he finished second on Paid By A Starlett (Paid By Chic X Starwards Ginger) owned by Dan Roulet (649.5) and third on Shesa Little Pleaser (Chic Please X A Shining Starlett) also owned by Dana Roulet (647.5). Thirteen riders qualified for Sunday’s Intermediate Open Finals.

In the Limited Open Cow Work competition Sherri Gilkerson won the composite and leads the list of six Limited Open riders qualified for Sundays clean-slate finals on Lenas San Lena (Lenas Wright On X Shorty San Della) with a 643 composite (210.5,216,216.5).

In the Non Pro division, a familiar name tops the leader board after the preliminaries and leads the ten Non Pro finalists. Anne Reynolds was consistent throughout the preliminaries on Shirley Shine (2126,215,217.5) to reach a 648.5 composite.

Michelle Cowan is right behind Anne with a 646 (215.5, 217.5,213) on Stylin Elan (Docs Sylish Oak X Playboys’ Classy Chic). That was good for the Intermediate Non Pro lead, as well, as she and 6 of her fellow exhibitors will show in Sunday’s Intermediate Non Pro Finals.

In the Amateur division, the championship is decided in the Derby Preliminary competition. Marc Bourdet rode Quanah Remedy Too (Quanah O Lena X Pep N Remedy) to a scalding 222 in the cow work to finish strong and take the championship with a 637 composite. He earned a check for $3,140, a special silver Tom Balding Bit sponsored by Tom Balding and an embroidered commemorative jacket from Nutrena. The Amateur Reserve Champion was Robin Flournoy on Badger Be Smart (Ill Be Smart X Badger Be Good) with a 628.5 (211,203,214.5), to earn $2,579.00

In the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular, it all came down to the fence work! Winston Moore riding Playboy Colonel and Tish Wilhite on Tequila Slide actually tied in the composite, each posting a total of 640.5. By NRCHA Rules, the cow work score is the tie-breaker, and Wilhite’s hot 223 on her cow work gave her the title and a check for $4,043. Moore would have to settle for the Reserve Championship, a check for $3,321 and the championship of the concurrently run Novice Non Pro Bridle class.

Action begins Saturday at 8 am at the Mid-State Fairgrounds in Paso Robles, California.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the 56-year-old governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bayer Corporation, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, EQ Solutions, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, Dan Gamel's RV Centers, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.