The Amateur divisions became part of the Valley Equine Super Stallion Incentive at the 2026 NCHA Summer Spectacular, opening another level of the event to substantial added earnings.
A total of $53,117 was allocated to the top 10 eligible finalists in the Amateur Derby, marking the first year that payouts have reached all the way through the Amateur payouts at this event. The division formed part of the more than $568,000 distributed at the Summer Spectacular, marking the continued expansion of a program already returning significant money through the Open and Non Pro ranks.
First Place | $12,216.91
Tessa Rey and Trystan Crow led the eligible finalists with a 224, earning $12,216.91 for Crow Performance Horses LLC.
By Metallic Rey Mink and out of Countessa Kitty, Tessa Rey carried Crow to the top payout at just 13 years old. The result opened a two-horse showing for Crow Performance Horses within the paid positions and placed the largest Amateur Derby check behind the youngest rider in the finals.
Second Place | $8,498.72
The Bad Ich and Sandra Halliday Patton earned $8,498.72 after marking a 218.
Owned by Patton, The Bad Ich is by Badboonarising and out of SDP Lil Ichi Maddie. Their score secured the second-largest payout awarded among the eligible Amateur Derby finalists.
Third Place | $7,436.38
Lemon Drops and Alvin Fults followed with a 214, collecting $7,436.38 for Fults Ranch LTD.
The Badboonarising mare out of RN Starlights Cat was the first of three Fults Ranch-owned horses represented in the payout. The result began a strong showing for the program that continued through White Widow and Secretsarising.
Fourth Place: $5,842.87
Lil Sassy Lena and John Lavelle earned $5,842.87 after scoring a 212.
By Metallic Cat and out of Scoot A Lil Closer, Lil Sassy Lena is owned by John P. and Lora Lavelle. Her payout placed another substantial check behind the mare.
Fifth Place: $4,780.53
White Widow and Cade Fults collected $4,780.53 for Fults Ranch LTD with a 211.
The Rollz Royce mare out of To High For Sue gave Fults Ranch its second horse within the payout.
Sixth Place: $4,249.36
RT Playin My Jam and Tim May earned $4,249.36 after marking a 207.
By Bama Jelly and out of LHR Play Boon, RT Playin My Jam is owned by Tim and Paul May. The mare added another payout for a program represented by both the rider and ownership behind the horse.
Seventh Place: $3,718.19
Tallic Cash and Trystan Crow received $3,718.19 after scoring a 206.
By Reyzin The Cash* and out of Tallic Cat, Tallic Cash gave Crow and Crow Performance Horses LLC a second check in the Amateur Derby.
Eighth Place: $2,655.85
Secretsarising and Cade Fults earned $2,655.85 for Fults Ranch LTD after marking a 193.
By Badboonarising and out of Frecklesareinstyle, Secretsarising completed a three-horse payout for Fults Ranch. The result also gave Cade Fults his second check alongside White Widow, while placing a third Badboonarising offspring within the distribution.
Ninth Place: $2,124.68
If You Got The Money and Deb Mullins earned their share of the incentive payout after scoring a 192.
Owned by Mullins, If You Got The Money is by Reyzin The Cash* and out of Merada Mirage.
Tenth Place: $1,593.51
Shadow Dancinn and Victoria Nau Johnson completed the paid positions with a 185, earning $1,593.51 for VP Cutting Horses LLC.
The Dual Smart Rey mare out of Reycy Moon carried the payout through the 10th eligible finalist and completed the first Amateur Derby distribution held through the Valley Equine Super Stallion Incentive at the Summer Spectacular.
Adding the Amateur divisions was a deliberate expansion of Valley Equine’s investment at the Summer Spectacular. The program had already placed significant money behind eligible horses in the Open and Non Pro divisions; extending that opportunity into the Amateur Derby and Classic allowed the 2025 overage to reach another segment of the owners developing and showing these horses.
For Valley Equine and its participating stallion owners, growth is measured by where the money is ultimately returned. At the 2026 Summer Spectacular, that meant creating meaningful payouts across six divisions and ensuring the Amateur competitors had a place within the program’s largest distribution to date.
*Horses sired by Reyzin The Cash are eligible only through the 2026 NCHA Summer Spectacular. For more information on the incentive, please visit the incentive page on our website.
