The NCHA Metallic Cat Open Futurity Finals took place on Saturday, December 6th with the highest level of pressure and precision on full display. When the finals wrapped, the Valley Equine Super Stallion Incentive returned a total of $600,000 to the owners of the top ten eligible horses, reinforcing the program’s impact at the sport’s most demanding level.
First Place – $138,000
Score: 226
Minkish rose to the top with a dominant finals performance. The Metallic Rey Mink stallion out of Blackish posted a 226 under Beau Galyean for Jackpot Farm and Ellen Carter, earning $138,000 in incentive payouts. From Metallic Rey Mink’s first foal crop to reach the Futurity, Minkish showed consistency throughout the week and delivered when it counted most. His finals score matched the 226 his sire earned in his own Futurity year, a fitting milestone for the first crop.
“I’m overwhelmed in the best way. Burt always believed in Mink, but even he might not have pictured his first foals doing this well, this soon. It has truly taken my breath away. What these babies are doing feels like the beginning of a beautiful legacy,” says Linda Bull on watching Metallic Rey Mink’s foals during the futurity.
“I can almost hear Burt and Gary talking about it. They always said Mink was special and so willing, even as a two year old, and watching that trait pass on has been so meaningful. The only thing missing from this night is them, but I know they’d be so proud. Seeing these horses not only win, but earn so much through the Incentives has been the sweetest blessing on top of it all.”
Split Second Place – $90,000 each
Score: 220.5
Sistersonthewagon, the Metallic Cat mare out of Reys Desire, was ridden by Lee Francois for the Barwick/Francois partnership. The result marked a meaningful moment for longtime friends, reflecting a shared investment that paid off on the industry’s biggest stage.
Joining her was Wood She B Arising, by Badboonarising out of Wood She B A Nockout, piloted by Adan Banuelos for Ten/27 Ranch. Her sire captured Reserve Champion honors in his own Futurity year, and this mare carried that legacy forward with a composed and powerful finals run.
Fourth – $66,000
Score: 219.5
Fourth place went to SCR Metallic Soldier after posting a 219.5. Ridden by Morgan Cromer for Singleton Ranches, the Metallic Cat stallion out of Smart Crackin Chic earned $66,000 in incentive earnings. Bred and owned by Singleton Ranches, the result reflected a breeding decision made four years earlier that came full circle in the show pen.
Fifth – $54,000
Score: 218
Fifth place incentive honors were claimed by Nu Rebelion, who scored a 218 to earn $54,000. The Metallic Rebel stallion out of Special Nu Baby was ridden by Lloyd Cox for owner Kathleen Moore, showing strength and consistency through both go-rounds, the Semi Finals, and a steady Finals performance.
Split Sixth – $45,000 each
Score: 217.5
Kolt 45, by Rollz Royce out of CR One Time Catty, added another incentive check to an already exceptional Futurity week. Ridden by Ali Good for 00 Ranch, the gelding followed his Non Pro Championship with a strong Open Finals showing, finishing tied for sixth in the incentive standings after being bred and trained by Good herself.
California Reyzzin joined the tie under Dirk Blakesley for owners James and Elaine Rohleder. By Reyzin The Cash and out of Cherry Chapstik, the stallion stayed consistent through the rounds and earned his place among the top Open incentive finishers.
Split Eighth – $24,000 each
Score: 216
Dragon It, by Dont Stopp Believin out of Hershey Kiss, earned a share of eighth place after scoring a 216. Shown by Ryan Rapp for owners Philip and Mary Ann Rapp, the gelding was also a Non Pro Semi Finalist earlier in the week, adding to a strong overall Futurity showing. The incentive payout returned to owners who have invested on both sides of the program, illustrating just how much they believe in the program.
Also with a 216 is Eazee Does It, by Dual Reyish out of Smart Cat Moria. Ridden by Thomas Bray for owner John Mancuso, the mare opened the Futurity with a 218 in the first go and maintained that level of consistency all the way through the Futurity into the Finals.
Bomb Prooof, by Reyzin The Cash and out of Pipe Bomb Dream, delivered for Cooper Clark and SMF Cutting Horses LLC, who also made that breeding decision four years ago. That choice and belief in that cross proved its value under the lights of the Open Finals.
The impact of the Valley Equine Super Stallion Incentive does not end in Fort Worth. The program will return in 2026 with continued support for major events, including payouts at the NCHA Summer Spectacular, as it continues to build both scale and reach across the season.
Each year, the strength of the incentive allows more money to be paid across more classes, reflecting steady growth driven by participation and long-term commitment. What begins with stallion owners enrolling and supporting the program carries forward through breeders making purposeful mating decisions and ultimately to owners campaigning these horses at the highest level. The results seen in the Open Futurity Finals are a product of that full cycle working as intended.
The goal has always been to build something that supports the industry at every level,” said Jeremy Barwick, owner of Valley Equine Reproduction. “This program works because stallion owners invest in it, breeders believe in the stallions standing here, and owners continue to prove its value in the show pen. The growth of the payouts and the expansion into more classes reflect that shared commitment.”
As performance standards rise and participation deepens, the Valley Equine Super Stallion Incentive continues to evolve alongside the sport itself. The program’s ability to return meaningful dollars in championship settings is a direct result of belief in the incentive from every level of the industry, and that momentum is set to carry forward into 2026 and beyond.
