It seems that Smart Luck's luck turned around at the 2010 National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby. With NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Todd Bergen at the reins, the talented cow horse won the title after an exciting run-off with the 2009 Derby Champions Corey Cushing and Smart Boons.

The win came with a check for $40,460, a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by Centennial Cattle Company, Rios of Mercedes boots, a custom engraved bridle from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs, a CR Morrison trophy, and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion.

Bergen and the 4-year-old cow horse began the finals with a 220 in the herd work, and followed that with a 221.5 in the rein work. "I went in to compete like I always do - I just want to be in the position where I have a shot going into the fence work," he said.  In the cow work, Bergen and Smart Luck marked a 223 - the same cow work score as Corey Cushing, who also had a 664.5. "Corey ran early in the cow work and I went late. I saw his big run. He came and told me that he knew I could beat him, but he was going to make me work for it. After my fence work I told him I didn't think he was going to make me work that hard!"

Cushing and Smart Boons competed first in the run-off, and when the Scottsdale, Arizona, trainer had a little difficulty with the first turn, Bergen knew he had a shot. "I saw that he had a little trouble, so my game plan was just to be clean and not get any penalties," he said.

Smart Luck could be described as a hard luck horse. At the 2009 Snaffle Bit Futurity with Bergen at the reins, the Very Smart Remedy stallion, out of Gunna Be Lucky, fell during the fence work of the finals during what might have been Bergen's second Snaffle Bit Futurity Championship. Although the stallion did place in the top five at the National Reining Horse Association Futurity, he still has had little bobbles or mishaps at the major reined cow horse events. "We were beginning to think his name was a bad omen and that we'd have to change it," joked Bergen. "This is a great horse and I'm very happy to finally get a win under his belt."

Bergen compared Smart Luck to Smart Boons, saying, "He's a lot like Corey's horse. They look like cutters in the herd work, reiners in the rein work, and cow horses when they go down the fence.  I think the two best horses in the field came out on top today."

Smart Luck's owner, Cindy Warn, was in Paso for the Derby - but she wasn't at the event. "She thinks she's bad luck, so she spent the whole day doing anything other than being here at the show," laughed Bergen.

Warn agreed, saying, "I decided to do something different and not be here. I'm pretty excited. He's a good little horse." Even though she didn't see the exciting run-off in person, Warn made sure to visit official NRCHA Videographer Galloping Video to order a tape. "Todd has done a great job. I've been with him for years and I follow his lead, because he does such a great job."

Bergen was equally appreciative of Warn, noting, "She supports me so much and she's the best customer in the world. She's a great lady."

Cushing and Smart Boons might have went home with the Reserve Championship - but the paycheck was still $29,670. Smart Boons, by Peptoboonsmal out of Smart Little Easter, is owned by Kevin and Sydney Knight of Peoria, Arizona.

Riding Haida Lena Peppy, Will Pennebaker won the Intermediate Open Championship and the accompanying check for $6,820. He also won a pair of Rios of Mercedes boots, a Tom Balding Bits & Spurs silver engraved handmade bit, a CR Morrison trophy, and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion.

"I thought he was good today. We were only a 210 in the preliminary herd work and today we had a 216. We missed one stop in the rein work, but he was solid everywhere else. I was happy with the fence work - we had a 218. He ran good and had two good turns," the Clements, California, trainer noted.

Pennebaker purchased Haida Lena Peppy, by Haidas Little Pep out of Sallys Little Lena, as a 2-year-old. "He's solid everywhere, but he just had trouble drawing a good cow this year."

Pennebaker thanked his wife, Laura, and "all the other trainers because they've helped me a lot."

Canadian trainer Cayley Wilson won the Reserve title in the Intermediate Open on Freckles Be Twisted, by Freckles Fancy Twist out of She Be Jazzy. Owner Diane Bern of Ferndale, Washington, took home $5,456.

Brad Barkemeyer only began riding Dulce Smart Boomer in March, and has already won a major NRCHA title. The Scottsdale, Arizona, trainer rode the horse to a 639 composite, winning $4,775 in the Limited finals and an additional $3,751 for a fourth place finish in the Intermediate Open for owners Steven and Trish Greenberg. He also won a pair of Rios of Mercedes boots, a custom engraved bridle from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs, a CR Morrison trophy, and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion.

"I came into the finals pretty confident because he was exceptional in the preliminaries. The wind got taken out of my sails in the cutting, and from that point on it was about making up ground with each event," he said.  Following the 205 in the herd work, Barkemeyer and the 5-year-old cow horse marked a 215.5 in the rein work, and a 218 in the fence work.

"I was real tickled with the fence work. I didn't box long and had a lot of cow. This horse tries all the time so it is easy to sit up there and let him do his job."

Barkemeyer thanked the Greenbergs. "Steve and Trish have been great to my family and I feel fortunate that I have the opportunity to show their horses," he said. "I thank my wife, who's such a great supporter, my sponsors Weaver Leather and Wrangler, and my herd help for this show, Doug Williamson, Brandon Staebler, Shadd Parkinson, and Cookie Banuelos."

Jans Rey Cuatro, owned by Sheri Jamieson, won the Reserve Championship in the Limited Open with Nicolas Barthelemy at the reins. With a 623 total, Barthelemy won $2,865. Jans Rey Cuatro is by Dual Rey out of Haidas Jan.


Tammy Jo Hays Wins 2010 NRCHA Non Pro Derby on Nics Get Smart/Jo Anne Carollo Tops Intermediate Non Pro

The Texans dominated the NRCHA Non Pro Derby Finals. Tammy Jo Hays, of Nocona, Texas, won the Championship, while McKenzie Merrill of Dallas, Texas, won Reserve.

Hays was riding 5-year-old Nics Get Smart, who she piloted to a 652.5 composite. The win came with a check for $11,825, a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by Target Constructors, Rios of Mercedes boots, a silver engraved bit from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs, a CR Morrison trophy and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion.

"I'm so excited! This show has been great beyond our wildest dreams," said Tammy Jo, whose husband Shawn won the Holy Cow Performance Horses $50,000 Open Bridle Spectacular on Saturday night.

Finals day started with a bang, as Tammy Jo and the Nic It In The Bud gelding, out of Chelsea Lena, marked a 215 in the herd work. "Thanks to Robbie Boyce. He helped me school in the herd yesterday, and he's been helping us with this horse," she said. "I always thought that if I could get him shown in the herd I'd have a shot, so when I heard my score I was really excited."

A 218.5 in the rein work followed, and then it was time for the cow work. A difficult bovine looked that it could cost Hays the title. "It's up to God when it comes to going down the fence. You can practice all you want but you have to make it work with the one you get," she said. "My cow was pretty numb - I didn't know if it was going to run or be slow. It was a little on the slower side but my horse was tuned up and I think that's why we were able to get a better score."

Because Tammy Jo was pregnant, Nics Get Smart wasn't shown much during his 4-year-old year. In fact, Tammy Jo only started to really get back showing this spring. "Shawn and I spent about two weeks with Don Murphy. I told Don I felt rusty and after those two weeks I felt confident and like I knew what I was doing. Don is a great teacher and has helped us so much, and I really appreciate him," she said. "I also thank my husband for his help, and the Lord. I feel like everything's in God's hands."

McKenzie Merrill and Ill Be Skeets took Reserve honors with a 649. Merrill and the 4-year-old by Skeets Peppy out of Oak Ill Be marked a 215.5 in the herd work, a 217.5 in the rein work, and a 215.5 in the cow work. Merrill received a check for $9,460.

Jo Anne Carollo won the Intermediate Non Pro Championship, and finished fifth in the Non Pro division, on AR Splash Of Pep. The composite score of 635 netted $4,440 in the Intermediate Non Pro, and an additional $4,730 in the Non Pro. She also won a pair of Rios of Mercedes boots, a Tom Balding Bits & Spurs silver engraved handmade bit, a CR Morrison trophy, and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion.

Carollo was severely injured during a fence run three years earlier, and has only shown cow horses four times since then. "It's not intentional. We just had to change directions with the economy changing, so we've focused on more cutting," she said. That shift in focus was evident during the finals of the Derby, when she piloted the 5-year-old gelding to a 217. "I was very pleased with him. We didn't cut a very good third cow, but he handled it well and I was happy," she said. 

The herd work was followed by a 210 in the rein work and a 208 in the fence work. "He's fairly green in the reining since we'd focused on cutting, and green on cattle because we haven't had any cattle," she explained. "Some Open riders knew the cow we drew in the fence work and knew it was a bad cow. It definitely wasn't good for a green horse. Having to handle a fast cow was surprising to him, and I'm a little rustier than I was before the accident, but he handled it well and I was pretty pleased."

AR Splash Of Pep, by Hickorys Indian Pep out of Splashnround, is owned by both Jo Anne and her husband, but Jo Anne says that he is actually her husband's horse. "I've got to thank my husband Jim for letting me show his horse. I also thank Russ Westfall for letting us come work cattle."

Kylie Knight won the Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Championship on Dualin With Nitro with a 632.5 composite, collecting $3,700. Dualin With Nitro, by Nitro Dual Doc out of Shootin Poo, is owned by Kylie's parents, Kevin and Sydney Knight.