Im Catman and Matt Budge Top PCCHA Classic Open, Earn Two Checks Totaling $17,234

Im Catman, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Los Olivos, Calif., cutting couple Chuck and Stephanie Roven, and the horse's career-long trainer Matt Budge, Weatherford, Texas, topped the Classic Open finals Monday with a 224 at the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Futurity and Cutting Stakes to earn two checks totaling $17,234.

Im Catman (High Brow Cat x Cowstruck x Smart Little Lena) and Budge made the 4-Year-Old Open finals at last fall's PCCHA while ranking among 2010's top cutting duos all year. The horse, a prior career earner of $196,231, soared across the $200,000 mark in career earnings by securing $13,936 as the Classic Open Champion. He also picked up an extra $3,298 by winning the event's Gelding Open title.

Oxbow Ranch, owned by the Rovens' friend, Lindy Burch, bred Im Catman. His name stems from co-owner Chuck Roven, a movie producer, working on the film Batman Begins when the horse was born. Co-owner Stephanie Haymes Roven competes aboard Im Catman today during the first round of the Classic Non-Pro.

Fancy Lookin Cat (That Sly Cat x Playin N Fancy Peppy x Freckles Playboy) and John Mitchell, Weatherford, Texas, finished as Classic Open Reserve Champions with a 223 to earn $11,341. The 6-year-old mare, a prior career earner of $123,962, is bred and owned by Slate River Ranch, Weatherford, Texas. Mitchell worked as Slate River Ranch's lead cutting trainer several years, until taking another job last fall. He still rides many of its horses.

The PCCHA Futurity and Cutting Stakes continues through Sunday in Paso Robles, Calif.

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