Jon Roeser and Tish Wilhite Lead NRCHA Derby

Paso Robles, CA - June 22, 2006 - Jon Roeser and Tish Wilhite are the names at the top of the leader board at the end of a long day of herd work preliminary competition at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby which began on Wednesday in Paso Robles, California.

Jon Roeser rode Mister Smart Remedy (Mister Dual Pep X Ima Smart Remedy) to a score of 222 to top the Open Herd Work. Mister Smart Remedy is owned by Larry and Sharon Rose of Lindsey, California and he has been a consistent winner since his futurity year in 2004, with over $55,000 in NRCHA earnings.

The Roses bought Mister Smart Remedy as a yearling in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale from the Clear Lake Land and Cattle Company, on Roeser’s advice. Jon had ridden the colt’s dam, Ima Smart Remedy, or “Peach” as he nicknamed her. She had earnings of over $100,000, so he felt the youngster had potential.

His hunch was quickly proven right, as Mister Smart Remedy was the Valley Cow Horse Association Futurity Reserve Champion, then tied for fourth at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity.

John Ward rode another Mister Dual Pep son to the second place slot in the herd work. Mister Smoking, owned by Jennifer Gamel, scored 220.

It was the Jake Gorrell show in the Intermediate Open Division. He rode Quick As Einstein (As Smart AsThe Fox X High Brow Jose) owned by Joe and Bobbie Stone to a 217 score and Shesa Little Pleaser (Chic Please X A Shining Starlett) owned by Dana Roulet to a score of 216.

There was a big tie in the Limited Open Herd Work with three horses scoring 212. Ryan Lincoln rode Smart First Lady (Smart Peppy Doc X Master Lady Bar) for owner Jon Roeser; Jimmy Stickler rode Shesa Taris Catalyst (Taris Catalyst X Shesa Hickory) for Mel Smith; and Ed Robertson rode May Days Magnum (Lenas May Day X She Mo Dry Doc) for owner, Gilbert Aguirre.

In the Non Pro division, Tish Wilhite rode Classy Luna (Tangys Classy Peppy X Baroak Again) to the highest score of the day, at 217.5.

Wilhite and Classy Luna have been a successful combination since their futurity year in 2004. At their first outing, the Valley Cow Horse Association Futurity, they won the $50K Non Pro, and were the Non Pro Reserve Champions. At the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, they won the $50K Reserve Championship and finished sixth in the Non Pro.

Although she bought the mare as a 2-year-old, Wilhite’s connection with Classy Luna goes back much farther. Two decades, in fact, to the time when she learned to go down the fence, on Classy Luna’s granddam, Smokealot!

Stacey Warnock topped the Intermediate Non Pro Derby competition with My Peppy Jeep (Genuine Jeep X Myrenes Badgerette) and a 216 score. In the Amateur division, John Pascoe rode Sugar Water Taffy (Mister Dual Pep X Sweet Water Taffy) to a score of 215 to top the 23 entries.

All the exhibitors will compete in the rein work and cow work and the top finishers will qualify for the finals to be held on Sunday. Action begins Thursday at 8 am at the Mid-State Fairgrounds in Paso Robles, California.

The 2005 NRCHA Derby show will pay a record $340,000, up over 49% percent from last year’s $227,600.

On Thursday evening at 6:30, the National Reined Cow Horse Association will host a Luau Reception honoring NRCHA Corporate Partners, Patrons, Jack & Phoebe Cooke and the Paso Robles Area NRCHA Sponsors. The reception will be held at The Barn on the California Mid-State Fairgrounds.

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.