Lance Griffin scored a 221 on his Whiz N Tag Chex (Topsail Whiz x Tag Chex) to lead the NRHA $15,000 added Non Pro Derby qualifying go round. Whiz N Tag Chex, ridden by Duane Latimer, was a 2002 NRHA Futurity Open Division finalist who went on to win the 2003 and 2004 NRBC Derby Non Pro Division with Lance in the driver’s seat. According to his wife, Terry, “Lance doesn’t like to lead the go round.” At last year’s Non Pro Derby, he won the go round and finished eighth overall in the Finals. With that in mind, Lance will definitely be gearing up to win a prize this year!
There was a tie for second place between Mandy McCutcheon riding her Smart Great Dude (Smart Starbuck x Miss Great Dude) and Marc Wagman riding Best Stop (Custom Crome x Rest Stop) owned by Wagman Ranch, Inc. Both riders scored a 220.
As she explained that her husband, Tom, trained her horse and that she’s coached by her father, Tim McQuay, with an occasional assist from Bill Horn, Mandy said with a smile, “It takes a team to get me to the Finals.” Actually, with $748,203.99 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings, Mandy is NRHA’s Leading Lifetime Non Pro Money Earner. She knows her way around a show pen.
Marc Wagman was thrilled to score a 220 on Best Stop. He bred, raised, and trained this six-year-old mare himself. “She turned and circled beautifully. Everything flowed,” said Marc of his pattern. “She was totally dialed in.”
Lee Schild is leading the $15,000 added Intermediate Non Pro Division on Juiced Up Doc (Smart Like Juice x Jokes Startime) with a score of 216.5 and Scott Davis is leading the $5,000 added Limited Non Pro Division on Shines Za Dandy (Shining Spark x Zansadandy) owned by Malcolm Davis.
NRHA Non Pro Derby finalists will advance to their clean slate divisional finals on Friday afternoon and evening. It took a 213 to make the Non Pro Finals, a 211 to make the Intermediate Non Pro and a 209 to move up to the Limited Non Pro Finals. The $5,000 added NRHA Non Pro Derby Prime Time Division, determined by the highest go round score, was won by Lee Schild aboard Juiced Up Doc. He earned $2,096.58 for that victory.
Shane Kelley rode Gail Klapper’s RS La Rooso to the win in the NRHA $2,000 added.
Intermediate Open class with Ronnie Wayne placing second on Gold Card Whiz owned by J. Allen Miller.
Richard Pokluda earned a win the $500 added NRHA Limited Open class on Hes Alotta Chic owned by John McElreath with Jose Montalvo placing second on Custom Dry Doc owned by Ruben Pacheco Cuevas.
The NRHA Open Derby, first go round, first section began this morning at 8:00 a.m. and will be followed by the $4,000 added NRHA Non Pro and $2,000 add NRHA Intermediate Non Pro class later in the day.
Thursday’s action includes the Celebration of Champions and Open Town Talk Forum as well as the NRHA Derby Open Division first go –round, second section and $2,000 added Novice Horse Non Pro class.
