By the 50th draw in the NRBC Open Classic, there was already a 226.5 to set the bar for the rest of the day’s competitors. By the time the 121 runs completed, 14 runs were a 225 or above, with Cade McCutcheon and Varsity Blu (Wimpy Chic x Flo N Blu Boon) taking the lead with a 229.5. The bay stallion was bred by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC, and is owned by Frank and Susan Costantini, Rick Clark and Brent Clark, and Joe Wolfe. McCutcheon leads the Level 4 headed into Day Two’s runs.
In the Level 3, Brandon Brant and Dainty Little Spook (Smart Spook x Dainty Little Step), bred by Brooke Wharton and owned by Sydney Friedman, took the lead with a 223.5. The Level 2 high score of the day was a 222 from Luca Fappani riding Joetta and Don Bell’s Dream On Whiz (Magnum Chic Dream x Ms Sassy Whiz), bred by Hill Country Reiners, LLC. Christina Croston-Boyes rode Spooken Starlight (Smart Spook x FS Lena Starlight), bred by Diane Beckman and owned by White River Ag Products Inc., to a 218 to take the lead.
The Prime Time Open Classic high score of the day was from Bosque Ranch Performance Horse’s Setting Off To Town (Gunners Tinseltown x Setting Off Smart), bred by Rosanna Sternberg, shown by Craig Schmersal to a 226.5. The Open Novice Horse saw Tracer Gilson ride Loren Booth’s stallion Up To Code (Electric Code x Darlins Not Painted), bred by Tom McCutcheon, to a 222. In the Open Chrome Cash, Trevor Dare and Julio Mora Hernandez’s stallion Gangsta Sixtysix (Inferno Sixty Six x Rush N Cat), bred by Lorenzo Lotti, took the top score of the day with a 227.
The Open continues through Thursday, with the finals on Saturday, April 22. Follow the results at nrbc.com and watch the live feed at equinepromotion.com.
Toyon Ranch Rookie Free-For-All Kicks Off at NRBC
A day of ancillary classes filled the Super Duty Arenas at the Ford Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Okla., on April 19 at the NRBC.
Rookie reiners paid no entry fees to compete, thanks to the Toyon Ranch Rookie Free-For-All. The Pilot Point, Texas-based premier reining breeding facility paid all entry fees and judges fees for Rookie contestants at the NRBC, the second year the incentive has been offered.
Returning to the Rookie slate is the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout, a special Finals on April 21. The first qualifying round for the Rookie Shootout took place in conjunction with the rest of the Rookie classes today, with the second round running Thursday.
Novice Horse Non Pro Level 3 & 2 Champion
Gavin Warren & Lil Ruf Maggie
Gavin Warren entered the Novice Horse Non Pro to work on his mare, Lil Ruf Maggie, after a penalty in their Non Pro Classic run, but the 7-year-old mare by Magnum Chic Dream and out of Ruf Lil Jessie had other plans. The pair topped the Level 3 and Level 2 divisions with a 144 to take home the wins.
“Last year was a learning year with us getting to know each other, but it worked out well and we placed in some derbies,” said the 20-year-old from Franktown, Colorado. “She has a habit of taking one foot out so we work on our stops a lot. The run was really, really good [today]. We minus-halfed a stop in the derby and that took us out of it, so I entered this to make another run.”
Though Warren didn’t plan to “run the wheels off” his mare, entering the class worked out in his favor.
“Her stops were there this time and she felt good in the circles. I was really happy about that,” he said. “Her turns and her circles are her strengths; she winds up and goes.”
With the NRBC’s move from Texas to Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Warren’s were finally able to enter the event.
“Before, it was too far of a drive for my horses to go down, and when it moved, it was a lot easier,” he said. “It was really nice to be able to have another class as a backup [to the Derby], and it worked out.”
Warren thanks his mom and his dad Devin Warren, who is his trainer, and everyone at the barn that has given him encouragement. Up next for Warren is the Best Little Derby in the West in Nampa, Idaho, as he and Lil Ruf Maggie continue to get together in the show pen.
Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 Champion
Adele Cunningham & Trash Enterprises
Adele Cunningham’s 146 to top the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 was two-and-a-half points higher than second place, and the 17-year-old from Weatherford, Texas, can chalk that up to trusting her horse in the pen. The 2018 mare Trash Enterprises (Gunnatrashya x Magnums Enterprise), called “Marla,” recently came back to Adele’s show string.
“I’ve had her since her 3-year-old year. I just started riding her again; I had given her to my sister,” she explained. “She was very calm and there with me today. I knew I could trust her on her circles, and she was with me the whole time. My plan was to be calm, trust her and don’t pick on her too much.”
Adele rides with trainer Josh Tishman, who she thanked, along with her mom and the entire Tishman barn, for their support. The NRBC’s supportive community is one of the reasons Adele likes to compete at the event.
“The NRBC is always a great show with a community of great people you can show with,” she said. “I’ll show Marla in the Youth and other slate of Novice here. My goal is to get through a run without being too picky on my horses.”
Rookie Level 1 & Level 2 Champion
Owen Deary & Gunnarickashay
Owen Deary and Gunnarickashay (Gunnatrashya x Rondas Tio), owned by Jody L Puno Puno Performance Horses LLC, have large shoes to fill. The pair proved they are up to the challenge after winning the Rookie Level 1 and Level 2 marking a 73.
“He is amazing, he has been in our program for a very long time. My dad showed him in the [NRHA] Futurity and the Derby, and did very well on him,” Owen said.
Owen has ridden “Ricky” since December of 2022 and has qualified for The Run For A Million. The winner’s circle is a familiar place for the duo; they are just coming from the Cactus Reining Classic with a win.
“I am hoping to go to The Run For A Million and show to the best of our ability,” Owen said.
Owen is set up for success with the help of the Puno’s and dad, Casey Deary, as well as Luca Fappani helping him prepare to show Ricky. Owen gives a special thank you to everyone involved with the success Owen and Ricky have had and all that are involved.
Prime Time Rookie Champion
Kent Ray Taylor & Xtra Wimpys Catalyst
When asked to describe Xtra Wimpys Catalyst, known as “Zorro” (Wimpys Little Step x Im Not Blonde), Kent Ray Taylor says the horse speeds up like a Ferrari and chills out like a Rolls Royce. The duo won the Prime Time Rookie marking a 72.5.
“I fell in love with Zorro and I bought way more horse than I probably should have bought for my first horse, but I love him and he has taken good care of me,” said Taylor.
He purchased the horse a year-and-a-half ago and Craig Schmersal helps the pair prepare for the reining, as Taylor also spends his time intensively competing in all-around AQHA events.
“I would absolutely like to thank the sponsors of the class, I think it is amazing, entry fees are paid by Toyon Ranch. Thank you to those folks, it was much appreciated,” Taylor said.
Taylor and Zorro qualified for The Run For A Million at the Cactus Reining Classic, which was his goal for the year. He plans to attend the NRHA Derby after the NRBC.
Both slates of the Rookie class are The Run For A Million qualifiers. The top five move on.
Congratulations to:
1. Morgan Rose Hobson riding Trendsetter (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Timed To Shine) owned by Ann Patridge marking a 71.5, the pair won The Run For A Million Rookie.
2. Joy Deary riding Chicadundreamin (Magnum Chic Dream x Goody Goody Dun Drop) owned by Nancy Stillwell marking a 71.
3. Lexi LaCoate riding Concealed Carry (Gunner x Miss Tinseltown) owned by David Silva, Sr. marking a 70.5.
4. Susannah Rose riding Xtra Gotta Step (Wimpys Little Step x Gotta Git Dun) owned by Susannah Rose marking a 70.
5. Lydia Menossi riding Wimpy Little Tejano (Wimpys Little Step x Tejana Chic) owned by Lydia Menossi marking a 70.
SG Frozen Enterprize Leads NRBC/Clark’s Pump N Shop Sire Awards
With the completion of the Classic Non Pro preliminaries, the first money earned in the 2023 NRBC was recorded and the Clarks Pump N Shop NRBC Top 10 Leading Sire Awards program is off and running.
Throughout the show, the foal earnings for each sire are being tracked, and the first Top 10 list of sires for the Classic has been tabulated.
Leading so far with $16,675 in earnings is SG Frozen Enterprize, owned by Silver Spurs Equine. SG Frozen Enterprize is the sire of In My Glory Days (out of Gunners Glory), who, with Kelsey Price, won the Novice Horse Non Pro division, finished third in the Level 4 Non Pro prelims, and topped the L3 and L2 prelims. He also sired Frozen Dancer (out of Pale Faced Dancer), who placed in the Novice Horse Non Pro with Sarah Cunningham.
Just behind is Spooks Gotta Whiz at $13,443. Spooks Gotta Whiz had 10 horses win money in the Non Pro preliminaries, including TR Baby Blues (out of Spooks N Sparks), ridden by Kim Muehlstaetter, who finished second in the Level 4.
Rounding out the list are:
3 – Gunnatrashya
4 – Gunners Special Nite
5 – ARC Gunna Sparkya
6 – Smart Spook
7 – Boom Shernic
8 – Shiners Voodoo Dr
9 – Whizkey N Diamonds
10 – Magnum Chic Dream
At the end of the show, the final Top 10 Sires will be recognized, and the representatives of the stallions will be presented with commemorative crystal trophies. The traditional blue crystal vases will continue to be awarded to the sires of the champions in all divisions.
Clark’s Pump-N-Shop, which operates nearly 70 stores in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Florida, was established in 1976 by John W. Clark. The convenience store chain is now co-owned by John’s sons, Rick Clark and Brent Clark.
Chrome Cash Co-Champion – Allison Thorson & Surprizedya
Allison Thorson and Surprizedya (Gunnatrashya x Dun With Surprizes), owned by Thorsport Inc., not only made the finals in the Non Pro Classic in Level 2 and 3, but also tied for first in the Chrome Cash.
“The Paint Horse Chrome Cash Incentive is a great incentive for people to register their horses that are capable,” Thorson said. “It is another division that people can enter in.”
Thorson has futurity horses coming up that she plans to double register in the American Quarter Horse Association as well as the American Paint Horse Association.
“We like to register whatever our horses are eligible for,” Thorson said. “It shows how diverse the breed is in paint horses. They’re not just rail horses, showmanship horses,or horses that can handle a trail obstacle, they can do reining as well.”
Thorson is a social person and loves trying new restaurants, but realizes reining horse shows are about riding, showing and having fun, as well as exploring new cities, like Tulsa. The added bonus of earning a check in this incentive is one benefit to enter.
“I thank American Paint Horse Association for offering the Chrome Cash Incentive and definitely the Schmersal team for all the hard work and thoughts and training, and also my family,” Thorson said.
Chrome Cash Co-Champion – Kim Muehlstaetter & TR Baby Blues
Kim Muehlstaetter purchased TR Baby Blues (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Spooks N Sparks) in the middle of his 3-year-old year, the now 4-year-old earned his keep tying to win the Chrome Cash Incentive here at the NRBC. The pair are also Level 4 Non Pro Classic finalist.
“I think it is so nice that the APHA is now adding money to the reining and I’ve noticed a lot of reiners are interested in their horses being double registered in the American Paint Horse Association, too,” Meuhlstaetter said.
Going into the finals Meuhlstaetter plans to keep everything the same for the 4-year-old, and to show him clean and keep him consistent.
“What I love most about that horse is that he has a great mind. He is very forgiving, very kind,” Muehlstaetter said. “He comes out and he tries to please you every day.”
The next show on the radar for Meuhlstaetter and TR Baby Blues includes the NRHA Derby and from there the 100x Tulsa Reining Classic in August.
By NRBC Press Release
