AW4D King City Classic

Lauren Pai It was time for a revolution in King City. For the last two years, Jamie Cook of Stoneyford, Calif., and her gelding, Triangle Ease, took top honors in the Open 1D of California’s American West King City Classic. This time around, however, Cook was missing from the barrel racing battle and a new ruler emerged—Lauren Pai of Lincoln, Calif. Pai rode her gelding Badger Poco Scamp to times of 16.974, 16.851, 16.974 in the event’s three races. The finishes shot her to the top of the leader board and crowned her the 2008 King City Open 1D Average Queen. “I was really thrilled with ‘Scamp,’” Pai said of her horse. “He worked well and, most important, he was consistent.” Also consistent at the Classic, which took place March 14–16 at the Rava Indoor Arena, was the quality of the races’ production. Although the show’s numbers were down from previous years, those competitors who made the trip on $4-a-gallon diesel were given the royal treatment. “[The producers] did a really good job with it,” said veteran rider and Senior 1D champion Linda Vick. “The facilities were great. Nice parking and camping. The ground was great and they gave out nice awards. They did everything they should have.” Surprise, Surprise Pai didn’t know what to expect out of Scamp at the King City Classic. She’s owned the 9-year-old sorrel for seven years, but their competitive career has never been what one would call smooth. Scamp, who was sired by the Colonel Freckles son Freckles Scamp and is out of Doc Badger S Lady by Doc Bar’s Boy, was a 2- year-old when Pai’s sister, Susan, found him. Susan, who teaches colt breaking classes at California’s Sierra College, suggested that Pai buy the gelding and then proceeded not only to break him for her sibling, but to put a two-year riding foundation on the young horse. “Then she gave me lessons on Scamp,” said Pai, “which was great. To this day, I can take him for a ride down the trail, no problem.” What was a bit of a problem was that Pai intended for Scamp to be a barrel horse. A barrel racer since the age of 10, Pai had long ago decided that speed events were it for her. “I figured you could never really know what the judge was thinking,” she said of non-timed competition, “but you can’t argue with a clock.” Pai’s experience told her that Scamp had the potential to be a solid barrel horse. The challenge was channeling his speed and power into a successful run. “Scamp is real ‘ratey,’” said Pai, “which has been a problem in the past because it feels as if we’re going really fast into the first barrel and I end up getting a little spooked and pulling up. “So we’ve had trouble leaving barrels two and three standing sometimes.” In the months leading up to King City, however, Pai said Scamp seemed to be maturing—controlling his speed and leaving more upright barrels in his wake—and Pai began to gain confidence in her four-legged partner. The word “consistent” actually started to apply to the Pai/Scamp pairing. The first run of King City proved that the duo’s improvements weren’t a fluke. That Friday, they bested 75 entrants to finish at the top of the Open 1D leader board. And they left all three barrels upright. While they didn’t win another go, Pai and Scamp did place fourth in the 1D on Saturday and seventh in the 1D on Sunday for a three-run average of 50.799. Their efforts were enough for the Open 1D average title. “We made it through all three rounds with all three barrels standing, every time,” said Pai. “I was really proud of Scamp.” Now, Pai said she’s looking forward to seeing what Scamp can accomplish the rest of the year, and, of course, to taking the gelding out for a little trail riding. “I know there are some people who put up with an unpleasant horse because that horse gets the job done,” said Pai. “But Scamp is great. I enjoy being with him. I always feel better after riding him.” To read the complete story, pick up the May issue of Barrel Horse News.