On July 26, NRHA $2 Million Non Pro Mandy McCutcheon rode Cromedblack Gun MIL (Gunner Dun It Again x Cromedblackcielo FMM) to the 100X Brazos Slide Non Pro Derby championship in Waco, Texas, just days after her son, Cade McCutcheon, tied for the Level 4 Open Derby title aboard Berry Uniquely Dunn.
A Perfectly Matched Panel
McCutcheon and the mare, owned with her husband Tom McCutcheon, didn’t just win, they did it with all five judges landing on the same number: 74 ½ apiece, for an overall score of 223 ½. It’s the kind of unanimous score that doesn’t come around often, and for McCutcheon, it was proof that the mare finally put together the run she’d long believed was in her.
“I was happy to finally put a run together on her because I felt like that’s the kind of score she could get,” McCutcheon said.
A Long Time Coming
McCutcheon bought the Brazil-raised mare Cromedblack Gun MIL last year at the 100X Reining Classic in Tulsa. She watched the mare show through the finals before striking a deal.
“When she ran in and stopped at Tulsa, I was like, whoa,” McCutcheon said. “It’s easy for her to slide a long way, and she can do it with a lot of style. She’s got a big heart and a lot of try and a lot of grit, and I think that’s what I like about her the most.”
McCutcheon has had the mare for almost a year, and the road to Waco included a couple of near misses at the NRBC and the NRHA Derby.
“The run I had on her at 100X Brazos Slide is what I’ve always felt in her; I’ve just made mistakes a couple times,” McCutcheon said.
This time, it all came together. McCutcheon plans to take Cromedblack Gun MIL to The Run For A Million this August to compete in the Non Pro Challenge, then give the mare the rest of the year off before pointing toward next year’s aged events.
Level 4 Non Pro Derby Results
| Rank | Horse | Rider | Owner | Sire / Dam | Money Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cromedblack Gun MIL | Mandy McCutcheon | Tom McCutcheon & Mandy McCutcheon | Sire: Gunner Dun It Again Dam: Cromedblackcielo FMM | $9,150.08 |
| 2 | Sundrop | Blair McFarlin | Blair McFarlin | Sire: Hollywoodstinseltown Dam: Sheza Chic Olena | $4,873.41 |
| 2 | Gunna Dream On | Andrea Stillo | Andrea Stillo | Sire: Gunnatrashya Dam: Starlight N Dreams | $4,873.41 |
| 4 | SRH Allaboutattitude | Emma Hillis | Hillis Ranch Reiners | Sire: Not Ruf At All Dam: Face The Attitude | $3,580.47 |
| 5 | Alpha One Top Whiz | Allison Rae Thorson | Thorsport | Sire: Topsail Whiz Dam: One Last Corona | $2,983.72 |
| 5 | Froze | Allison Rae Thorson | Thorsport | Sire: SG Frozen Enterprize Dam: Electric Cha Ching | $2,983.72 |