May 31, 2006 — It’s official! Lil Ruf Peppy, owned by Green Valley Ranch in Aubrey, Texas, has just been named the National Reining Horse Association’s 11th Million Dollar Sire. At the start of the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) held in April 2006 in Katy, Texas,, Lil Ruf Peppy was less than $3,000 short of the Million Dollar milestone. Limited and Intermediate Open Classic finalists Lil Santana, Pop Tart and Dry Ruf joined forces to put their sire over the top.
Lil Ruf Peppy, bred by the King Ranch, Inc, hit the ground in Kingsville, Texas, on May 1, 1991. He’s by Peppy San Badger and out of Rufas Peppy by Mr San Peppy. Ridden exclusively by Tom McCutcheon, who trains out of Wallis Winegar’s Green Valley Ranch, Lil Ruf Peppy has National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Lifetime Earnings of $28,031.55. While owned by Giuditta Foti, he was fourth in the 1994 All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity, and he was the Limited Open Division Champion and an Open Division finalist at the 1995 Carolina Classic Derby in Raleigh, N.C. In 1995, he was the NRHA Derby Open Reserve Champion and the Limited Open Division Champion in Oklahoma City.
Lil Ruf Peppy’s offspring have excelled. NRHA money earners include Sailin Ruf, Ruf Hearted Jac and Lil Ruf Jac. Each demonstrates the athletic ability, versatility and longevity of Lil Ruf Peppy’s offspring. Sailin Ruf, owned by Giovanni Cioli and ridden by Tom McCutcheon, was third in the 2001 NRHA Futurity and went on to earn $110,532.52 in NRHA events. Ruf Hearted Jac, with McCutcheon in the saddle for owner TLC Farms, was a 2002 NRHA Futurity and 2003 NRBC finalist. With Justin Mathison, Ruf Hearted Jac owned by Tommy Lee Pierce also earned money at the 2004 and 2005 NRBC Derby competitions.
Most recently, ridden by Tom McCutcheon and owned by Sarah Willeman, Ruf Hearted Jac won the first USEF Open Qualifier of the 2006 show season in Denver, Colo. Ruf Hearted Jac has NRHA Lifetime Earnings of $65,548.13. Then there’s Lil Ruf Jac with NRHA Lifetime Earnings of $52,462.07. Owned by Tom and Mandy McCutcheon and with Tom in the saddle, the gelding was a 2001 Congress and NRHA Futurity finalist, but from that time on, Lil Ruf Jac has been shown in NRHA Non Pro competition and is presently owned by Shevin Schwartzenberger.
Other NRHA Million Dollar Sires include Hollywood Jac 86, Be Aech Enterprise, Topsail Cody, Reminic, Gallo Del Cielo, Custom Crome, Two Million Dollar Sire Shining Spark, Three Million Dollar Sires Topsail Whiz and Smart Chic Olena and Four Million Dollar Sire Hollywood Dun It.
