The go rounds of the NRHA 40th Anniversary Futurity Open divisions are complete and 30 horse and rider combinations are advancing to the clean slate Open Finals. The Intermediate Open final runs concurrently with both scheduled for Saturday, December 3. Due to an increase in entries the Open Finals purse is up $78,054.50 over last year! The winner is guaranteed $125,000.
Shawn Flarida, a multiple NRHA Futurity Champion as well as an NRHA Million Dollar Rider, is at the head of the leader board on Cheree Kirkbride’s KR Lil Conquistador (Conquistador Whiz x Smart Little Prize) with a composite score of 447.5.
NRHA’s Leading Lifetime Money Earner, Tim McQuay, earned the second highest composite score, 446, on Great King Pine (Earl Be Nimble x Echoing Piney [AQHA Bobs Poco Echo]) owned by Guenter Bosner. Tim has two other entries qualified for the Finals.
Tanya Jenkins has remained consistent on Las Cruces Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Shining Bubbles) owned by Manntana LLC and is sitting third. Two NRHA Futurity Champions, Andrea Fappani and Todd Sommers, are going to the Finals confident. They each earned a composite score of 444. Sommers is riding Spooks Rey Jay (Grays Starlight x Dox Rey Oak) owned by Jimmy Pierce; Andrea Fappani is riding Big Chex To Cash (Nu Chex To Cash x Snip O Gun) owned by the 23 Partnership.
Tanya Jenkins and Las Cruces Whiz are leading the Intermediate Open composite standings followed by Bill Horn riding Twist A Rey (Dun It With A Twist x Tamu Expectations) for Bruce Duplechin. Bill and Twist A Rey will also be competing in the Open Finals. This is NRHA’s 40th Anniversary Futurity and Bill Horn has had at least one entry in every single Futurity since 1966. This is the 34th time Bill will be competing in an NRHA Futurity Open Division Finals. Jenkins logged the third highest Intermediate Open composite score of 438 on Challis Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Dipsy Diver) owned by Manntana LLC.
The Futurity Limited Open Division Champion is determined by the highest composite score earned by eligible riders in the first two go rounds. The winner of the 2005 NRHA Futurity Limited Open Division is Casey Deary riding Ciscos Roan Ranger (Cisco Lena x Changabang) owned by Alison and Harry Courtice. However, Casey has earned another ride. He made the Finals of both the Open and Intermediate Open divisions.
Stefano Calcagnini, riding Julianne Amabile’s Gun Dealer (Gunner [AQHA Colonels Smokingun] x Peppy Oak [AQHA Docs Peppy Oak RB]), earned a composite of 433.5 and the Division’s reserve championship while Sam Schaffhauser placed third on his Chic N Roost (Gallo Del Cielo x Dun Maid By Chic).
The 40th NRHA Futurity Open Division Finals is slated for Saturday, December 3, 2005. Judging by the quality of the finalists, this will be another outstanding NRHA Futurity Finals. The NRHA Futurity Prospect Sale starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday as does the Clinton Anderson Clinic with a special appearance by six-time NRHA Futurity Champion and Hall of Famer Bob Loomis.
