Cord Forzano and Smartlookncat won the 2025 Royal Crown Intermediate Heeling to add another big win to the 2019 gelding’s resume, as well as $15,313 to his lifetime earnings.
In September 2024, Forzano and Smartlookncat, sired by Bet Hesa Cat out of Miss Plain Plain by Just Plain Colonel, won the Riata #14.5 for their share of $103,680. Smartlookncat had $128,702 in lifetime earnings heading into Buckeye for the Royal Crown Feb. 5-10, and, in the three years Forzano’s had him, the full brother to 2017 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open champion Plain Catty has made impressive progress.
“His 4-year-old year, I didn’t win him a lot on him, honestly,” Forzano admitted. “I didn’t win that much on him, and he was watchy and spooky and just kind of scared. He was always good to rope on once he seen the cow, but it’s getting fun. My little boy warms him up, I get on him two steers before they call my name and knock them around and do my deal. But he’s changed a lot and I’ve rode quite a few Bet Hesa Cats, and they’re a lot like that way.”
Forzano and Smartlookncat took the Royal Crown Intermediate Heeling win with a 603.25 on four. With six-time NFR qualifier Rhen Richard helping on the head side, they kicked off Round 1 with a 150.22, followed by a 150.86 in Round 2. A 150.31 in Round 3 landed them their spot in the short round where they won second in the round with a 151.86 and the $12,558 aggregate win. For the win, they also picked up $1,929 for sire Bet Hesa Cat’s owners the Bet Hesa Cat Syndicate and $826 for the breeder, Kevin Cantrelle, who also owns Smartlookncat.
Better every day
Since the Riata in September–which is timed rather than scored–Forzano has actually been taking Smartlookncat to more rodeos. The 6-year-old continues to get wiser as he gets more exposure, and he’s able to transition from fast, timed scenarios to show and futurity settings.
“He can get around there and takes a jerk, and that last steer was huge,” Forzano said. “And when I dallied, I felt like he just stood there and never moved an inch. He can do it pretty and he can run them to the end of it and have some fun.”
In his training program, Forzano strives to make rope horses that can be talented with anyone, which is why he likes to put a lot of people on his horses.
“I try to make them that way because when I’m done with them, the customer’s going to have to get on them,” Forzano explained. “I let a lot of people ride my horses. ‘Hey, get on him.’ Well, if they mess them up, then I ain’t doing a very good job. I’m lucky Todd Hampton lives right down the road, he heels great, and he’ll get on them. And he ain’t going to lie to you and tell you if they’re good or not. Then I can put my little boy or my help on them and they might cut in there or do whatever, and I’m like, ‘Alright. I ain’t trained him good enough yet.”
The California trainer recognizes that keeping a good horse good is half the battle, so a lot of work is done on the home front to be prepared at the shows.
“I want to rope for myself, but even today, I threw fast on a couple and then even that last one, he was super wide and I’m like, I need to catch a cow and win a prize,” Forzano said with a laugh. “I took an extra one and he is super forgiving, and he’s got a big stop to where he is easy to dally on. We head on our horses a lot, too. Even our heel horses, to free them up, just to keep them honest. I think it helps.”
