Kenny Platt was back in the winner’s circle on Saturday, July 18, at the 2026 NCHA Summer Spectacular, this time aboard Robert “Bob” Tregemba’s Get Um Talkin in the Open Derby, taking home the championship with a score of 224, $62,251.
The win brought Get Um Talkin’s lifetime earnings to $158,105. Sired by Smooth Talkin Style and out of Just U Babe (by Lizzys Gotta Player), Get Um Talkin was raised by Platt and represents one of the longest-standing relationships in his barn, stretching back at least 15 years.
Get Um Talkin didn’t advance to the finals quietly, either. He posted a semifinal-topping score of 225 on Friday, an effort Platt says was the result of the young horse finally stepping up to the plate.
“I’ve been asking him to be a little more grown up here lately, quit protecting him and start working him like he knows what’s going on instead of like I’m still training him,” Platt said. “That’s really helped him. Instead of being worried about him getting scared, I’ve been like, ‘Hey, don’t get scared.'”
That faith, combined with Platts familiarity with the bloodlines behind Get Um Talkin made for a winning combination.
Get Um Talkin’s dam, Just U Babe, was a mare Platt wanted to own. Even though Tregemba wasn’t interested in the broodmare business, he loaned Platt the money to buy the 2011-model mare.
When the resulting gelding was ready to sell, Platt gave Tregemba the first shot at him.
“I told Bob, ‘The only reason I’m selling this horse to you as cheap as I am is because you loaned me the money to buy his mom,'” Platt explained. “That’s the coolest part about this whole deal.”
Just U Babe is a full sibling to Moms Stylish Player, a gelding Platt won the 2016 NCHA Super Stakes Open Derby on. Platt isn’t the first progeny of Just U Babe he’s ridden to success, either. He won the 2022 ICHA Open Derby on Moms Smart Babe, a mare sired by WR This Cats Smart.
In all, it was a full-circle moment for Platt. He captured a major NCHA title on a horse he bred, raised and trained from a bloodline he’s deeply familiar with, and got to share the moment with a man who’s invested in his program for more than a decade.