Mandy McCutcheon won the NRHA $15,000 added Non Pro Derby on Smart Great Dude (Smart Starbuck x Miss Great Dude), owned by Mandy and her husband, Tom, with an authoritative ride that earned a score of 221. Mandy graciously thanked the “team” it took to get her to the Finals: her husband Tom, who trained Smart Great Dude, her father Tim McQuay who has been Mandy’s life-long coach, and Bill Horn, who rode Smart Great Dude recently and helped Mandy fine tune her performance. With a team like that, combined with Mandy’s show ring savvy, it was easy to “play it smart” on Smart Great Dude. Her winning ride earned $10,356.50.
There was tie for second place between Sally Broten and Dr. Jim Morgan. Both riders scored a 218. Broten was first into the Finals show pen on Dun It By Starlight (Starlights Wrangler x Okie Dokie Dunnit) and set a blistering pace with her smooth, yet dynamic ride. Dr. Jim, always a strong contender, matched Sally’s score on Hesa Friendly (Hesa Smart Chic x Seduction) a horse he bred, raised, and trained himself. In fact, Morgan has successfully shown just about every equine listed on Hesa Friendly’s pedigree. Both riders earned $7,327.64
Mike Garnett, a detective from Lincoln, Nebraska, rode his “home grown” entry, Ashleys Great Kid (The Great Kid x Solanos Skip Brick), to a score of 216.5 and a win in the Non Pro Derby $7,500 added Intermediate Non Pro Division. Mike, a seasoned competitor, has been a multiple AQHA Select World Reining Champion who obviously enjoyed adding this NRHA victory to his resume, as well as the $3,784.78 paycheck. Danielle Stanton wowed the crowd and scored a 215.5 on Shiners Odyssey (Shining Spark x Playboys Pet) to earn the reserve championship and $3,012.83.
Sixteen-year-old Carlie McKinzie, coached by John Slack, earned the win in the $5,000 added NRHA Non Pro Derby Limited Non Pro Division on RU Missin Diamonds (Like A Diamond x Missy Olena), owned by her parents, George and Cindy McKinzie. She earned $2,752.07 for her score of 214.5. Lyndsey Jordan earned the reserve championship in this Division on Flip My Nic (Reminic x Dun Its Kalico Star) and added $1,675.17 to her NRHA Lifetime Earnings.
Todd Crawford won the $4,000 added Open on Christina Knox’s Commandalena with a 224.5. Todd and Commandalena have been consistent players in NRHA Open events. They won the Open class at the 2004 NRHA Futurity & North American Affiliate Championship Show last fall in OKC, and most recently won the NRHA Open and USEF/CRI Open reining at the National Reining Breeders Classic in Katy, Texas.
The NRHA Collegiate Reining Championship is billed as the “ultimate catch ride class,” because riders have just five minutes to get to know their mounts before entering the show pen. The class was won by Shevin Schwartzenberger riding ICR Sailor (Galapagos Cody x Rapid Bay Beauty) who is owned (and was donated for the class) by Sandy Day. Shevin, a junior at Colorado State University pursuing a degree in Biochemistry, scored a 218.5 for the win. Sarah Meier, a senior at the University of Georgia majoring in Agricultural Business, scored a 218 for second place. Sarah rode Smart Play Olena (Smart Chic Olena x Playalotta) owned by C. Mike Dry.
The NRHA Derby Show, being held at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in OKC, concludes today with the NRHA Derby Open Finals. The Limited Open and Intermediate Open division finals begin at 2:00 p.m. and continue through to the evening’s Open Division Finals, which start at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact the NRHA Office at 405-946-7400 or log on to the NRHA website.
