The $60,000 added Cinch NRHA Non Pro go round began with a flourish as NRHA’s best Non Pro riders showed their three-year-old reining horses at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, OK. With the new format, one qualifying go round and a Consolation class, entries are up considerably. The top 25 Non Pros will advance to their clean-slate finals on Friday, December 1 with Jose Vazquez leading the way.
Vazquez rode Dunit Lika Juice, a daughter of Smart Like Juice out of Dunits Papoose, owned by Smart Like Juice Inc., Markham, IL. They scored a 219.5. There are three riders in the chase with a score of 219: Matt Armenta riding Daniel Down Under (Daniel B Boom x JS Sweet N Low) owned by Lorenzo and Kathleen Armenta, Whitesboro, TX, Sally Broten, River Falls, WI, riding her Shining Moonstone (Shining Spark x My Lucky Moonstone) and Dr. Jim Morgan, Pilot Point, TX, riding his Chexouthisreminic (Von Reminic x Miss Celebrity Chex). Kelle Smith, Belle Center, OH, rounds out the top five on Smart Chic O Bar (Smart Chic Olena x Sonitalena Bar).
The leader in the $25,000 added Intermediate Non Pro Division of the Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity is Kim Horn riding Gunnalena Doc (Lil Gun x Little Fanta Lena) owned by Bill Horn, Valley View, TX. Kim scored a 215.5. Rick Ford earned a 214 for second place on Snip O Chex (Nu Chex To Cash x Snip O Gun) owned by Cinder Lakes Ranch, Powell Butte, OR. Rick is leading the $10,000 added Limited Non Pro Division along with Ryan Kail, Scottsdale, AZ, placed second on his Whata Major Smoker (Smokee Tucker x Whata Major Delight).
Randi Lynn Standley, Madisonville, TX, is leading the new Youth Non Pro Division on her Mobster Chic (Gangster Chic x Queen De La Club). Sarah Locker, riding Stolen Nu Chex (Nu Chex To Cash x Smart Peppy Branran) owned by Hilldale Farm, Fayetteville, TN, is in second place.
The first go round of the $100,000 added NRHA Open Futurity finalized with Shawn Flarida in the lead on Sam and Nell Ely’s Western Whiz (West Coast Whiz x Cameos Brite Star). The Elys are from Taylorsville, GA. However, Brian Bell challenged Flarida and is tied for second place in the go round with Flarida’s Senor Tejano Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Tejana Chic) owned by Green Valley Partners, Aubrey, TX.
Brian rode Collenas Finest Tafy (Footworks Finest x Collena Chic Olena) owned by Double Run Farm, Leland, NC. Brian got this mare in March. “She was really green and behind, but I needed her to be a good horse,” said Brian. And she is.
Craig Johnson, riding Too Busy Cashin Chex (Nu Chex To Cash x Bay N Busy) owned by Rebecca and Chris Brasel from Ava, IL, and Mark Price, Carterville, IL, shares the go round lead in the Elite Trailer $50,000 added Intermediate Open Division with Corey Cushing aboard Chexinics Starlight (Bueno Chexinic x Spooks Maid) owned by Snowy Range Ranch, Laramie, WY. Both scored a 223.5.
Arno Honstetter is leading the Futurity’s $10,000 added Limited Open Division on Gunnin For Diamonds (Like A Diamond x BH Top Gun), owned by Juston Palmer, Washington, UT., with a score of 222. Todd Martin is sitting second in the Division on BR Sheza Cameo Jac (Master Cowboy Jac x Sheza Dun Dry) owned by Sandra Morris, Nixon, TX.
The action continues today with the second go round of the Open and the first go round, second section of the Non Pro Futurity. “Visitors Welcome!” Today and tomorrow are “free days” (no charge for admission) for anyone who would like to come and see what Reining is all about. There are vendors throughout the Coliseum and barns – the perfect place to do your holiday shopping.
The first of three sales, featuring the top bloodlines in the reining horse industry, is the Breeders Showcase Select Sale scheduled for Thursday, November 30 at 10:00 am; the NRHA Marketplace Sale will take place on Friday morning, December 1 followed by the premier NRHA Futurity Prospect Sale on Saturday, December 2 at 10:00 am. The Clinton Anderson Downunder Horsemanship Clinic, featuring Clinton and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani, is also on Saturday, December 2 at 10:00 am.
