Hot off his win in the 2004 NRBC Non Pro Derby, Lance Griffin, riding Whiz N Tag Chex, scored a 224 to go to the head of the class in the NRHA Non Pro Derby first go standings being held at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.  Whiz N Tag Chex, trained and shown by NRHA Million Dollar rider Duane Latimer, was a finalist in the 2002 NRHA Open Futurity.  Griffin won the Non Pro Division of the 2003 NRBC, then repeated that victory this year. Whiz N Tag Chex is a five-year-old son of Topsail Whiz and out of Tag Chex, an own daughter of King Fritz.

 

Frank Bolea, riding Easy Otie Whiz, by Topsail Whiz and out of Miss Poco Easy, placed second in the go round scoring a 222.5 with Ginger Schmersal riding Be Stylish With Me placing third with a 220.  Be Stylish With Me is by Lean With Me and our of Stylish Major.  Bolea and Easy Otie Whiz lead the Intermediate first go and also won the NRHA Derby Prime Time Non Pro championship with their good score. 

 

Steven Harris, DVM, riding Good Time Show Girl by Hollywood Dun It out of Goodtime Girl, is sitting tied for second in the Intermediate Non Pro Division with Frederick Christen, riding Enchiladas Tuff Kid by Brennas Kid and out of Holey Enchilada.  Both riders scored a 218.5.

 

Christen and Enchiladas Tuff Kid is leading the Limited Non Pro Division followed by Kim Dooley riding Yankee Bambino by Rowdy Yankee and out of Jackie Amanda.  Dooley scored a 217.  George King, riding SR Roosters Kid by Gallo Del Cielo and out of Barlons Toni, scored a 216.5 to place third. 

 

All finalists will advance to the NRHA Non Pro Derby clean slate finals, which begins Friday at 1:00 p.m., and continues through the early evening.

 

Khi Bergmann Wins Intermediate & Limited Open Classes

 

Khi Bergmann won the concurrently run $2,000 added Intermediate Open and the $500 added Limited Open on Kim and Debra Sloan’s Paps Major Dad with a score of 221 - three and a half points ahead of the competition. 

 

The top four placings were identical in both classes. Kim Ferguson placed Starlights Reba owned by Turners’ Driftwood Ranch second.  Richard Pokluda riding Gayle and John Chevrette’s Tejons Impy finished in a tie for third with Uli Kofler riding Flip My Nic for Richard Bergquist.

 

The first go, first section of the NRHA Open Derby for four-, five-, and six-year-old reining horses gets underway Wednesday morning. The $4,000 added NRHA Non Pro and concurrently run $2,000 added Intermediate Non Pro class is also on Wednesday’s show bill.

 

And There’s More

 

The NRHA Derby Show will continue at the Oklahoma State Fair Park through Sunday, May 23^rd.  The 2004 Derby Spotlight Sale is scheduled for Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. with the Derby Open division finals slated to begin Saturday afternoon.  The week will end on Sunday with International Day featuring the USEF Young Rider Reining Medal Finals and the $75,000 added Bayer/USEF Open Reining Championships Finals.