It went from shirtsleeves to sweat shirts and goose-down jackets overnight Wednesday. As if the sleet, ice and snow weren’t challenge enough, Shawn Flarida finished first, second and third after the two qualifying go rounds of the $100,000 added NRHA Futurity taking place at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, OK. The “Run for the Roses” NRHA Futurity Finals, with a total purse in excess of $990,000 is slated for Saturday, December 2.
On Wednesday, Shawn earned the highest composite score, 453.5, on Western Whiz (West Coast Whiz x Cameos Brite Star) owned by Sammy and Nell Ely, Taylorsville, GA. He earned a composite of 450.5 on Walla Walla Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Shiney Walla Wanda) owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, Clements, CA, and placed third overall on Senor Tejano Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Tejana Chic) owned by Green Valley Partners, Aubrey, TX.
But anything can happen at the Futurity, NRHA’s premier event for three-year-old reining horses, especially since the winner is determined in a clean-slate finals where the winner is guaranteed $125,000! Riders in the 30-horse Finals’ field (who scored a 439 or better) are poised to meet the challenge!
Brian Bell, riding Collenas Finest Tafy (Footworks Finest x Collena Chic Olena) owned by Double Run Farm, Leland, NC, is hot on Flarida’s heels with a composite of 446.5. Randy Paul, riding Taris Designer Genes (Mr Boomerjac x Taris Little Vintage) goes to the Finals with a composite of 446. There are NRHA Million and Two Million Dollar Riders as well as multiple NRHA Futurity and/or NRHA Derby Champions and finalists in the field as well as those hungry to make their mark in the NRHA history books. The Open Division Finals on Saturday, December 2, will be a sizzling competition no matter what kind of challenge the weather presents!
Two riders shared the lead in the $50,000 Elite Trailer Intermediate Open Division of the Futurity. 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 as did Corey Cushing riding Chexinics Starlight (Bueno Chexinic x Spooks Maid) owned by Snowy Range Ranch, Laramie, WY. Casey Hinton, riding Smarty Starlight (Bueno Starlight x Cat) owned by Hinton and Joe Verser, Jonesboro, AR, is tied for third place with Corey Cushing riding Bad Paint Job (Gunner x Lenas Peppy Cutter) owned by Cathy Frank, Phoenix, AZ. Riders had to score a 433.5 or better to make the Intermediate Open Finals.
The $10,000 added Limited Open Division of the NRHA Futurity is determined by the composite scores from the two go rounds. The winner was Arno Honstetter riding Gunnin For Diamonds (Like A Diamond x BH Top Gun) owned by Juston Palmer, Washington, UT. The Reserve Champion, John Irish, rode Chex This Melody Out (Chex That Out x Tularosa Melody) owned by H.J. and Terry Hanscom, White City, OR.
Western Whiz, ridden by Shawn Flarida for Sam and Nell Ely, was declared the winner of the $20,000 added NRHA Futurity Open Gelding Incentive Award.
The action continued well into the evening and Reining fans were treated to a tough $10,000 added NRHA Open competition held concurrently with the $2,000 added North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Open class.
Mike Boyle, representing the West Coast Reining Horse Association won the NAAC Open title on Paps Major Dad owned by Kara Coleman, Modesto, CA. Steve Schwartzenberger, riding for the Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association, placed second on Country Bay Berry owned by Linda Wise, Boulder, Colorado.
Brian Welman wowed the crowd with a score of 226.5 to win the NRHA Open class on Brennas Golden Dunit owned by John Rivard, Hot Springs, SD, Scott McCutcheon scored a 223 to place second on Great King Pine owned by Patricia Widener, Columbia Falls, MT.
Carlie Thompson, Dublin, OH, won the $5,000 added NRHA Non Pro and the $2,000 added Intermediate Non Pro classes with a score of 219.5 earned on her Maggie Chex. Jim Babcock, Valley View, TX, was second in both classes with a score of 217.5 riding his Cowboy Smarts.
In the $2,000 added NAAC Non Pro class, Bernie Paetzel, New Vienna, OH, was the winner on his Toriana Dun It. Bernie represented the Ohio Valley Reining Horse Association. Rebeca Martin, from Gold River, CA, and representing the West Coast Reining Horse Association, was second on her Cee A Chocolate Chic.
In the $1,000 added NAAC Intermediate Non Pro class, Kimberly Tillman, White Hall, MD, representing the Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association, was the winner on her Dualin Son Of A Gun. There was a tie for second between Rebeca Martin, from Gold River, CA, riding Cee A Chocolate Chic for the West Coast Reining Horse Association and Pam Dickinson, Greenwood, FL, riding Chicken Enchilada for the Florida Reining Horse Association.
The $200 added NRHA Limited Non Pro, run concurrently with the NAAC Limited Non Pro, had 101 entries. Debi Murnan, Grass Valley, CA, scored a 218 to win both divisions of this class on Arapaho Sailor. Debi represented the West Coast Reining Horse Association. Jordan Donnelly, Aubrey, TX, riding Hollywood All Star tied for second in both classes with Alan Frye riding Mickey The Kid. Jordan rode for the Southwest Reining Horse Association and Alan rode for the Central Kentucky Reining Horse Association.
Friday night’s program includes the fun, fast and exciting North American $7,500 added Freestyle Open Championship presented by Century Investment Group. Each rider will perform their specially choreographed routine to music – a delight for spectators!
On Saturday, The Clinton Anderson Clinic, presented by Horse and Rider magazine, begins at 10:00 am.
