The wintry weather moving into the Oklahoma City area isn’t putting a damper on the excitement at the 2006 NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show at the Oklahoma State Fair Park. The competition is getting hotter as the best three-year-olds in the country vie for part of the total purse – over $990,000 - with a guaranteed first prize Open Division paycheck of $125,000!
When the second section of the second go round of the NRHA Futurity for three-year-old reining horses finished, Shawn Flarida was sitting first and second with the highest composite scores. Flarida earned a 450.5 on Walla Walla Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Shiney Walla Wanda) owned by Arcese Quarter Horse USA, Clements, CA, and a 449.5 composite score on Senor Tejano Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Tejana Chic) owned by Green Valley Partners, Aubrey, TX. Breeding shows! The top two horses are by NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire, Topsail Whiz, owned by Bob Loomis Quarter Horses, Marietta, OK!
Craig Johnson, riding Too Busy Cashin Chex (Nu Chex To Cash x Bay N Busy) owned by Rebecca and Chris Brasel, Ava., IL, and Mark Prince, Carterville, IL, earned a composite of 445.5. That nice score has Craig sitting third in the Open Division and leading the $50,000 added Elite Trailer Intermediate Open Division. Casey Hinton, riding Smarty Starlight (Bueno Starlight x Cat), owned by Hinton and J. Verser, Whitesboro, TX, is tied for second with a composite score of 441.5, matched only by Corey Cushing aboard Bad Paint Job (Gunner x Lenas Peppy Cutter) owned by Cathy Frank, Phoenix, AZ.
Deon Locke, riding Whizin In The Dirt (Topsail Whiz x A Shining Starlett) owned by Clinton Anderson, Belle Center, OH, is leading the $10,000 added Limited Open Division with a composite score of 434. Peter DeFreitas is sitting second on DRF Colonel Badger (Lenas Horizon x Chick N Peppy) owned by Double Run Farm, Leland, NC.
At the completion of the qualifying go round of the Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity, Mandy McCutcheon maintained her lead with a score of 224 in the $60,000 added Non Pro Division on I Spin For Chics (Tangys Classy Peppy x Chics Koko Angel) owned by Mandy’s dad, Tim McQuay, Tioga, TX. Nelle Murphy riding Panas Jewels (Tachitas Jewels x Pana Sugar Chex), owned by her dad, Don Murphy, Marietta, OK, is second with a composite of 220.
Zane Haverty, riding Button Up Wranglers (Roosters Wrangler x Little Smart Jac) owned by his dad Clint Haverty, Krum, TX, is tied for the lead in the $25,000 added Intermediate Non Pro Division with Tami Wagman riding Miss Diamond Jane (Like A Diamond x Gunners Smokin Jane) owned by Wagman Ranch Inc., Talala, OK. Both talented riders scored a 217.5.
Clayton Eggers, Mingus, TX, riding his Hesa Smarty Pants (Freckles Fancy Twist x Sneza Smarty Pants) maintained his lead in the $10,000 added Limited Non Pro Division with a score of 214.5. Just a half point behind is Rick Ford aboard Snip O Chex (Nu Chex To Cash x Snip O Gun) owned by Cinder Lakes Ranch, Powell Butte, OR.
Clayton Egger’s score also held up in the new Youth Non Pro Division, putting him at the top of class after the completion of the go round, earning him the inaugural Cinch NRHA Youth Non Pro Division championship. Clayton, Mingus, TX, rode his Hesa Smarty Pants. Claiming the Reserve Champion title was Carlie Thompson, Dublin, OH, riding her Peppys Lil Miss.
Dr. Jim Morgan, Pilot Point, TX, earned the high score in the Prime Time Non Pro Division on his Chexouthisreminic (Von Reminic x Miss Celebrity Chex). Dr. Jim scored a 219. The top-ten scoring Prime Time Non Pro entries, plus ties, will advance to the Finals.
Non Pro contestants will have one more opportunity to make the clean-slate Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity Finals slated for Friday, December 1. The inaugural Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity Consolation Round will take place on Thursday morning.
Reining enthusiasts and horse lovers will find plenty to enjoy at this fabulous show. On Saturday, popular clinician Clinton Anderson, assisted by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani, will present the Clinton Anderson Downunder Horsemanship Clinic presented by Horse & Rider magazine, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. There are three major sales featuring the finest bloodlines in the performance horse industry. They get underway on Thursday, November 30. You can rub elbows with the Reining world’s celebrities at the Gathering of Legends reception to honor NRHA Hall of Famers. The Gathering also includes presentation of the Vaquero Media Awards and the Open Finals Draw Party on Friday. This year the Century Investment Group figures prominently in the Show’s schedule – prepare to be entertained and energized at the North American Freestyle Open and Non Pro Championships presented by Century Investment Group. The Freestyle Non Pro is scheduled for Thursday, November 30, and you won’t want to miss the Freestyle Open performance on Friday, December 1. Both performances take place at 8:00 pm. There are also first-class vendors to help get your shopping done for the holiday season.
