Steem and Banuelos Power to The Cattlemen’s 5/6-Year-Old Open Win

Twenty-one horses walked to the herd during The Cattlemen’s 5/6-Year-Old Open finals on March 5, and when it was all said and done, it was Steem and Adan Banuelos who came out on top after scoring a 225. The duo collected a paycheck worth $20,000 for owners John and Barbara Gaughan.

Steem (Hottish x Cat Mist x High Brow Cat) was bred by Arcese Quarter Horses. The 5-year-old gelding earned $86,795 during 2023, including a second-place finish in the Brazos Bash 4-Year-Old Non-Pro with Gwen Gaughan. With Banuelos at the reins, he tied for third in the 2023 Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Derby Open and also won the gelding class.

Banuelos also made The Cattlemen’s 5/6-Year-Old Open finals with three other horses. He and Rocking Cash (Reyzin The Cash x Purr N Like Magic x Abrakadabracre) rode to a 220 to take sixth and an $8,500 paycheck home for owner Rocking P Ranch LLC. With A Regal Royal (One Time Royalty x Desires Katrina x High Brow Cat), who is owned by Brumbaugh Ranches, he marked a 215 and placed 15th, which came with a check for $4,000. He also made the finals with Storyteler (Smooth Talkin Style x Show Biz Kitty x High Brow Cat), who banked $2,000 for owner Double Dove Ranch.

Rockin Spots (Spots Hot x Rockin Sallycat x Rockin W) and Jesse Lennox took Reserve with their score of 224.5. The duo collected $16,000 for Rocking P Ranch LLC, who also bred the 6-year-old stallion. Prior to The Cattlemen’s, Rockin Spots boasted $155,832 on his record. Highlights from his career include fifth place in the 2022 National Cutting Horse Association Super Stakes 4-Year-Old Open and a tie for third in the 2022 Breeder’s Invitational Derby Open, both with Lennox in the saddle.