National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Two Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida bested himself to take over first place in the $80,000 added Open Derby go round on Thursday at the 2007 NRHA Derby at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.
Flarida scored at 227.5 on KR Lil Conquistador (Conquistador Whiz x Smart Little Prize). The 2005 NRHA Open Futurity Champion, KR Lil Conquistador, is owned by B. Cheree Kirkbride, from Ocala, FL. Thursday’s high score means Flarida holds the top THREE placings in the go round. But it’s a clean-slate finals going into the Open Derby Finals on Saturday, so the championship is up for grabs. KR Lil Conquistador is sharing the spotlight at the Derby with Walla Walla Whiz, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA and Senor Tejano Whiz, owned by 4R Performance Horses.
There’s a new leader in the second section of the $50,000 added Intermediate Open division go round. Casey Hinton, from Whitesboro, TX, scored a 222.5 on Smarty Starlight (Bueno Starlight x Cat). Smarty Starlight is owned by Hinton and Joe Verser of Jonesboro, AR.
Crystal McNutt Brock, from Scottsdale, AZ, is holding onto first place in the second section of the $5,000 added Limited Open division go round.
NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider and all-time leading money earner Tim McQuay, from Tioga, TX, is taking home top honors in the $5,000 added Prime Time Open division. McQuay scored a 220.5 on Chic Magnetic (Chocolate Chic Olena x Shiners Crystal). Chic Magnetic is owned by the Peter Cofrancesco Jr, Estate, from Sparta, NJ.
The top 25, plus ties, Open Derby riders will qualify to compete in the clean-slate finals on Saturday night. The top 20, plus ties, Intermediate Open division as well as the top 15, plus ties, in the Limited Open division will all advance to the clean-slate finals.
The Open Derby draw party was held Friday, May 18th at 11:00 am and the Open Derby Finals are set for the afternoon and evening of Saturday, May 19th. As the competition at the NRHA Derby intensifies, Thursday’s competition also featured the Novice Horse Non Pro ancillary class, American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Amateur, American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Regular Amateur and APHA Solid Amateur classes.
The first NRHA Non Pro and only woman to earn the elite million dollar rider distinction, Mandy McCutcheon, took first place in the Novice Horse Non Pro class. McCutcheon scored a 215 on Major Jesse (Major Vaquero x Jesses Affair), owned by McCutcheon and her husband, Tom McCutcheon. They both live in Aubrey, TX. The Novice Horse Non Pro winner took home $1,326.46.
Sally Broten, from River Falls, WI, won the AQHA Amateur class on her Dreamy Little Sailor (Magnum Chic Dream x Enjoy A Lena).
Susan Ray, from Bridgeport, TX, took home first place in the APHA Regular Amateur class. Ray won the class with her Hot Little Pistol (Gunner x Miss Freckles Audi).
The winner of the APHA Solid Amateur class was Laurie Hartman on her Pamelas Lil Gun (Lil Gun x Pamela Jujos Joy). Hartman lives in Laporte, CO.
This afternoon and tonight will be the big events for the Non Pro Derby riders. The Finals for the $15,000 added Intermediate Non Pro division, the $7,500 added Limited Non Pro division and the Prime Time Non Pro division will begin at 1:00. Then tonight will be the second section of the $30,000 added Non Pro Derby, the $15,000 added Intermediate Non Pro division, the $7,500 added Limited Non Pro division and Prime Time Non Pro division finals, which all run concurrently.
Many will have the best seat in the house for tonight’s Non Pro Derby Finals. Everyone is invited to attend the “Taste of Reining” in the Cantina Lounge in the State Fair arena from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. For just $10, you can sample some of the best cuisine from some of the best restaurants in the Oklahoma City area. The “Taste of Reining” benefits the Reining Horse Sports Foundation.
There’s an added attraction tonight following the awards ceremonies for the Non Pro Derby winners. Riders will compete in the $4,000 added Open ancillary class.
Those who can’t attend the 2007 NRHA Derby can still catch all the action on the internet! The NRHA is offering free live streaming video. Go to www.nrha.com to start watching all the spectacular Reining competition.
