When Playful Smoothtalker—the 2019 gelding by Smooth Talkin Style and out of Playful Ricochet (by Smart Lil Ricochet)—stepped into the sale ring at the Triangle Sale as a yearling, no one could have predicted just how far he would go. Purchased for $5,300 by Colt and Kolby Moore, with Jencee Moore on the bid, the young horse would become one of cutting’s most consistent performers, amassing more than $313,000 in earnings.
His path was anything but ordinary. As a 2-year-old, “Sam” logged an adventurous start before settling into training with Colt, then under the guidance of Russ and Janet Westfall, where he learned the fundamentals that would shape his career. In 2022, Todd and Elizabeth Quirk acquired him just before the NCHA Futurity—and in his very first show, he captured the NCHA Limited Open and Intermediate Open Futurity championships and made the Open Futurity Finals. Few horses make headlines their first time in the show pen—Playful Smoothtalker made them twice in the same week. It was the kind of debut that sets a tone for a career, and “Sam” has lived up to it.
From there, Sam’s résumé grew quickly: major wins at the Breeders Invitational, NCHA Super Stakes, PCCHA Stakes, Cotton Stakes, Brazos Bash, and multiple NCHA Triple Crown finals. Through it all, Colt remained a key part of his success, and Jencee describes every ride as a blessing—calling Sam’s quirky personality and grit “something that’s opened doors we’ll never be able to repay.”
From a modest sale ticket to a decorated show career, Playful Smoothtalker stands as a testament to the opportunities that can come out of the Triangle Sale.
