Andrea Fappani Leads Field of Open Finalists on Inferno Thirty Five
A competitive field of 3-year-old horses and their riders tested their skills Nov. 29 in the Jim Norick Coliseum for the Level 4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All, hoping to put together a second solid run that would earn them a trip to the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals on Dec. 2. All day, scores kept going up and up, as riders added the semifinal scores to their first-round scores for composites that indicate consistency as well as fiery talent.
The NRHA’s only Eight Million Dollar Rider, Andrea Fappani, rode Stephen Archer’s Inferno Thirty Five to the highest composite score of the Level 4 Open Semi-Finals, presented by Not Ruf At All, with a 443.5.
Inferno Thirty Five is a 2020 stallion sired by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six and out of Madeof Pure Spangled by Star Spangled Whiz. Mary A. Jansma nominated the horse bred by Cardinal Hill Training Center. The horse already has $100,000 in lifetime earnings thanks to a win at The Invitational at the 100X Reining Classic.
Luca Fappani took the top spot in Levels 2 and 3 on Playing With Da Boys, a 2020 mare sired by NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of the Gunner mare My Berry Best Gun. Neiberger-Camp Partnership owns Playing With Da Boys, who already has earnings of more than $3,800 through the 100X Reining Classic. The composite score was 442, and Fappani will advance in Level 4 also.
In Level 1, Maxime Morin set the pace on his own horse Magnum Wimpys Dream, with a 437 composite. The 2020 stallion is sired by NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of Wimpys Little Lassie by Wimpys Little Step. He was bred and nominated by Henry Knox. The horse has $4,776 in earnings through the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity and the Warm Up 3 Futurity sponsored by Snipers Smoking Gun.
NRHA Seven Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida received the top composite score of 442.5 in Prime Time on Spooks Gotta Homerun, a 2020 stallion sired by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of A Ruf Mistress by Lil Ruf Peppy. The horse was nominated by Tracy Cole and bred by Larry Weihing. He has lifetime earnings of more than $15,000 through the North American Reining Stakes Futurity and the High Roller Reining Classic Futurity.
Bubbles for Advancing to the Open Futurity Finals:
MS Diamonds TX Level 4 – 437
Level 3 – 433
Level 2 – 428
Level 1 – 419
Prime Time – 434.5 (with handicap)
Riders Advance from CINCH Non Pro Futurity Consolation
Although the NRHA CINCH Non Pro Futurity preliminary round concluded Monday, Nov. 27, riders who barely missed qualifying for the finals still had a chance to advance.
That’s because the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Consolation round gives entries that last chance needed to secure a spot in the Finals. In the consolation, the top five from each of the four Levels move on to Friday’s competition.
Topping the Level 4 were NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Mandy McCutcheon and Stephanie Porath, tying with an impressive 218.5. McCutcheon rode Arylosa, a mare she owns with NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider and Owner Tom McCutcheon, nominated by Euro-Vets Inc., by Arlosa Whiz and out of Spooky Lil Chex, while Porath was aboard Gunna Prosper, a stallion she owns and nominated with her husband, Jackson Porath. The stallion is by NRHA Ten Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya and out of Whizen Starlight.
In the Level 3, it was Robert Peterson and TR Ice On Fire who claimed the lead with a 214. TR Ice On Fire is a gelding owned by Goose Creek Ranch LLC and nominated by Tamarack Ranch, by NRHA Million Dollar Sire SG Frozen Enterprize and out of Wallawhizagun.
The Level 2 lead was secured by Kristen Avila, riding A Spook In Hollywood, a horse she owns and nominated herself. The stallion is by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown and out of Lucky Lil Spook, for a score of 211.
Taking the Level 1 was Delacy Hubbard, aboard HF Freeze Brand, for a 214. HF Freeze Brand is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire SG Frozen Enterprize and out of HF Mobscar, nominated by Heritage Farms.
Bubbles to Advance out of CINCH Non Pro Futurity Consolation:
Level 4 – 215
Level 3 – 211
Level 2 – 209
Level 1 – 209
November 28 – Mirko Midili and Red In Valentine Lead NRHA Open Futurity Level 3 Semi-Finals after Second Section
Athletic reining horses continued to show off their skills at the 2023 National Reining Horse Futurity and Adequan® North American Championships in Oklahoma City. On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the second section of the Open Semi-Finals was held in the historic Jim Norick Coliseum, and with more than $2 million up for grabs in the coming days, the field of potential winners is condensing daily.
At the end of the second section of the Semi-Finals, Mirko Midili and Red In Valentine lead the Level 3 with a composite score of 434, thanks to a 216 in the first round and 218 in the semi-finals.
The 2020 stallion already has more than $10,000 in lifetime earnings, thanks to an impressive showing at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity and Show.
Red In Valentine was bred by Luga Quarter Horses and nominated by the Luga QH and GD QH Partnership. He was sired by NRHA Million Dollar Sire SG Frozen Enterprise and is out of the Gunner mare La Marka De Gunner.
Raphael Bourdeau with Loaded With Spirit continued to lead Levels 2 and 1 with a 433.5 composite. Bourdeau owns the horse sired by NRHA 10 Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya out of Ima Sailors Gal (Wimpys Little Step). The colt was bred and nominated by Linda Campbell.
In Prime Time, Benjamin L. Gerst rode Moonlite Tonite to a 435.5 composite. The stallion was sired by Gunnatrashya and is out of Moonlite Chex (New Chex To Cash), and was bred and nominated by NRHA Million Dollar Owner Hilldale Farm.
The finalists for all levels of the Open will be determined during Wednesday’s Level 4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All. The top 30 composite scores in each level from the go-round and semifinals, including ties, will advance to the clean-slate finals on Saturday, Dec. 2. There, more than $2.1 million will be paid out, an increase of $122,478 from the record set in 2022.
November 27 – Kelsey Price and Let Err Rip Top NRHA CINCH Non Pro Futurity First Round
With just a few riders left to ride in the first section of the National Reining Horse Association CINCH Non Pro Futurity at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Ok., it was assumed that the long-standing leads would hold– until Kelsey Price entered the pen. Although the judges elected to review the run, Price took a decisive lead in the round with a 220 score in the end.
Price rode Let Err Rip, a 2020 gelding by NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of Gunner Be Custom, who she had previously ridden for high placing scores at the 100X Reining Classic Futurity, the High Roller Reining Classic Futurity, and the All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity. While this may only have been the first round, Price left the arena almost $3,000 richer.
In the NRHA CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals, riders in Levels 4 through 1 will be competing for a purse of approximately $760,000, a $30,000 increase from 2022. The lion’s share of that monstrous payout will be awarded on Friday, Dec. 1, during the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Finals.
An additional opportunity for riders piloting American Paint Horses to increase their horse’s lifetime earnings is the APHA Chrome Cash incentive. In the NRHA Cinch Non Pro Futurity, there was an added $6,500 up for grabs. Gina-Maria Schumacher, aboard Reining Royalty, claimed the purse with a score of 219.5.
The riders who did not secure a spot to try and earn their portion of that purse will still have a chance to advance through the Consolation Round, which will be Nov. 29. A specific number of horses who just missed that top-25 mark will compete in the Consolation Round, with the top five of each level then advancing to the clean-slate Finals.
CINCH Non Pro First Round High Scores:
Level 4, 3, & 2 High Score – Kelsey Price & Let Err Rip (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunner Be Custom)
Owned by Kelsey & Kole Price | Nominated by Rodion Cantacuzene Jr. | score of 220
APHA Chrome Cash Winner – Gina-Maria Schumacher & Reining Royalty (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Bella Della) – 219.5
Owned by XCS Ranch LLC | Nominated by Michell Anne Kimball | score of 219.5
Level 1 Co-High Score- Rylee Butler & SS Rock My World (Ruf Lil Magnum x Xtra Ruby Step) – 217.5
Owned by Rylee Butler | Nominated by Silver Spurs Equine | score of 217.5
Level 1 Co-High Score- Dani Latimer & Snap My Crush (PS Mega Shine Chic x Snapbacks) – 217.5
Owned and nominated by Dean Latimer | score of 217.5
Youth High Score – Addisyn Schmersal & Vintage Attitude (A Sparkling Vintage x Face The Attitude)
Owned by Hickory Creek Ranch LLC | Nominated by Ginger Schmersal | score of 219
Prime Time High Score – Adam Donahue & SS Play With Guns (Tinker With Guns x Play For Chic)
Owned by Adam and Darla Donahue | Nominated by Silver Spurs Equine | score of 219.5 (includes handicap)
CINCH Non Pro Finals Bubbles
Level 4 – 215
Level 3 – 213
Level 2 – 212
Level 1 – 208.5
Prime Time – 210.5 (includes handicap)
Youth – All Entered
Scores Needed to Advance to CINCH Non Pro Consolation
Level 4 – 212
Level 3 – 211.5
Level 2 – 209.5
Level 1 – 205.5
November 25 – Gina Schumacher & Reining Royalty Take First Round Lead of NRHA CINCH Non Pro Futurity
The final week of the 2023 National Reining Horse Association Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships has officially begun, with the second section of the first round of the CINCH Non Pro Futurity being held Sunday, Nov. 26. The action in the renowned Jim Norrick arena continued, as Gina-Maria Schumacher topped her own previously leading score by a whopping two points aboard Reining Royalty.
At the end of the second section, the NRHA Million Dollar Rider and Reining Royalty topped the leaderboard with a 219.5. Reining Royalty is a 2020 stallion sired by NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of the Shining Spark mare Bella Della. He was bred by Michell Anne Kimball and is owned by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner XCS Ranch.
In the CINCH Non Pro Futurity, the top 25 from each level will automatically advance to the finals at the end of the preliminary go-round on Nov. 27. The finals will be held on Dec. 1 in the Norrick Coliseum, and the Level 4 Non Pro Champion will be presented with a check for $75,000.
The riders who did not secure a spot in CINCH Non Pro Futurity during the first round will still have a chance to advance through the Consolation Round, which will be Nov. 29. A specific number of horses who just missed that top-25 mark will compete in the Consolation Round, with the top five of each level then advancing to the finals.
Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 2, are:
Level 4 & Chrome Cash – Gina-Maria Schumacher & Reining Royalty (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Bella Della) – 219.5
Nominated by Michell Anne Kimball | Owned by XCS Ranch LLC
Level 3, 2, 1 & Youth – Rylee Butler & SS Rock My World (Ruf Lil Magnum x Xtra Ruby Step) – 217.5
Owned by Rylee Butler | Nominated by Silver Spurs Equine
Level 3, 2 & 1- Dani Latimer & Snap My Crush (PS Mega Shine Chic x Snapbacks) – 217.5
Owned and nominated by Dean Latimer
Prime Time – Lance Griffin & Heza Wimpy Chic (Wimpy Chic x Sheza Shiney Chic) – 217.5
Nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses | Owned by Lance Griffin
November 24 – Open Semi-Finalists Decided at NRHA Futurity
The first round began Tuesday, Nov. 21, and that day, NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dany Tremblay piloted Pawn Stars to an impressive 225. The talented colt, owned by Cooper Smith, is by PS Mega Shine Chic out of All Guns On Deck. The score held through the next three sections, and the two punched their spot to the Level 4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All, which will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 29.
Once again, the preeminent event of the NRHA is making history. In addition to the record number of Open Futurity entries, the show will best the payout record that was set in 2022, increasing by more than $120,000 to total $2,231,518. In fact, the total purse has increased for each Open Level, with each growing by percentages ranging from five to 12 percent!
Semi-Finals Qualification Protocol
The semi-finals qualifiers will be those with the top 30 percent of the first go scores in Levels 4-1; however, no more than 75 entries in each division will advance. If fewer than 50 qualifiers are in the top 30 percent in a division, then 50 will advance to the semifinals. Only Prime Time Open entries already advancing in other levels will qualify for the semifinals.
That means 75 will advance in Levels 4, 3, and 2, and 53 will move on from Level 1.
Level 4 qualifiers will compete in the L4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on Wednesday, Nov. 29, while those in Levels 3, 2, and 1 will compete in the Semi-Finals on Monday, Nov. 27 and Tuesday, Nov. 28.
Bubble Scores Needed for Advancement:
Level 4 – 217
Level 3 – 214
Level 2 – 211
Level 1 – 207
Open First Round High Scores by Level:
Level 4 & 3, & APHA Open Chrome Cash – Dany Tremblay & Pawn Stars (PS Mega Shine Chic x All Guns On Deck) – 225
Owned by Cooper Smith | Nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch
Level 2 – Luca Fappani & Playing With Day Boys (Spooks Gotta Whiz x My Berry Best Gun) – 223
Owned by Neiberger-Camp Partnership | Nominated by Sergio Elia
Level 1 – Maxime Morin & Magnum Wimpys Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Wimpys Little Lassie) – 219
Owned by Maxime Morin | Nominated by Henry Knox
Open Prime Time – Shauna Larcombe & Steppin Thruthe Nite (Steppin On Sparks x Spooks Night Time) – 223 (with handicap)
Owned by Karon Murff | Nominated by Karon Murff
Dany Tremblay & Pawn Stars Lead NRHA Futurity Open First Round Following Third Section
November 22 – Thanksgiving Day is special to reiners, and not just for the delicious food and camaraderie amongst friends and family. It typically means the start of the most storied reining event in the world – the National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships.
While the start of the Futurity was moved up a couple of days, there was much to be thankful for on Nov. 23. According to NRHA Chief Financial Officer John Foy, the 2023 Futurity is a record-breaker in numerous ways. Foy shared that total Open entries were up by 8.5 percent over the prior year. He also noted that 2022 was a record year for added money, but 2023 raised the bar, increasing by $66,200 to $1,163,529.
Another noteworthy record is that the Level 2 purse surpassed $200,000 for the first time in NRHA history!
Taking home a piece of that payout is a three-tier process, with the first being advancing out of the first round, which wraps up Friday, Nov. 24. Riders who qualify in Levels 1, 2, or 3 compete in the Semi-Finals rounds on Nov. 27 and 28, with the Level 4 qualifiers moving to the Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on Nov. 29.
From there, the top 30 in each level advance to the Open Finals, with finalists in Levels 1, 2, and 3 competing Saturday morning, Dec. 2. That evening, the Level 4 Open qualifiers will vie for a $350,000 championship prize in the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals.
Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 3, are:
Level 4 & 3, & APHA Open Chrome Cash – Dany Tremblay & Pawn Stars (PS Mega Shine Chic x All Guns On Deck) – 225
Owned by Cooper Smith | Nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch
Level 2 Co-Leader & Prime Time – Shauna Larcombe & Steppin Thruthe Nite (Steppin On Sparks x Spooks Night Time) – 220
Owned by Karon Murff | Nominated by Karon Murff
Level 2 Co-Leader – Daniel Martins Cruz & Wimpys Inferno (Inferno Sixty Six x Wimpys Pinesail) – 220
Owned by Ixtul Quarter Horses | Nominated by Ubere Agropecuaria Eireli
Level 2 Co-Leader – Robin Schoeller & Shine OH Shine (Shine Chic Shine x Miz Whizconsin)
Owned by Ruoff Dietter Reining Horses, Inc. | Bred by Ruoff Dietter Reining Horses, Inc.
Level 1 – Maxime Morin & Magnum Wimpys Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Wimmpys Little Lassie) – 219
Owned by Maxime Morin | Nominated by Henry Knox
Complete results, draws, and more for the NRHA Futurity are at NRHAFuturity.com.
Dany Tremblay & Pawn Stars Lead NRHA Open Futurity First Round Following Second Section
November 22 – Although more than 100 entries took their shot, none could oust National Reining Horse Association Million Dollar Rider Dany Tremblay and Pawn Stars from the top spot in the first round of the Open Futurity. Competing at the end of the first day, the duo marked a 225 to take the lead, which remained in the lead through the second section.
The first step to making it to the Finals on Saturday, Dec. 2, is to advance out of the first round and make it to the Semi-Finals. With just two sections left to go in the first round, Tremblay and Pawn Stars have all but secured their spot in the Level 4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on Wednesday, Nov. 29.
Pawn Stars, sired by PS Mega Shine Chic and out of the mare All Guns On Deck, already boasts lifetime earnings exceeding $50,000, thanks to a third-place finish at The Invitational Futurity this fall. The colt, owned by Cooper Smith, was nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch.
This is the first year that the NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships haven’t started on Thanksgiving Day, a change required by the explosive growth of the event. The extended time will allow young horses more time for recovery between competition rounds.
Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 2, are:
Level 4 & 3, & APHA Open Chrome Cash – Dany Tremblay & Pawn Stars (PS Mega Shine Chic x All Guns On Deck) – 225
Owned by Cooper Smith | Nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch
Open Level 2 Co-Leader & Prime Time – Shauna Larcombe & Steppin Thruthe Nite (Steppin On Sparks x Spooks Night Time) – 220
Owned by Karon Murff | Nominated by Karon Murff
Open Level 2 Co-Leader – Daniel Martins Cruz & Wimpys Inferno (Inferno Sixty Six x Wimpys Pinesail) – 220
Owned by Ixtul Quarter Horses | Nominated by Ubere Agropecuaria Eireli
Open Level 1 – Maxime Morin & Magnum Wimpys Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Wimmpys Little Lassie) – 219
Owned by Maxime Morin | Nominated by Henry Knox
Complete results, draws, and more for the NRHA Futurity can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.
Dany Tremblay & Pawn Stars Lead NRHA Open Futurity First Round Following First Section
November 21 – For years, the National Reining Horse Association Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships has been bursting at the seams as the popularity of reining has continued to experience dramatic growth. In 2023, thanks to an agreement with the American Quarter Horse Association, the event was able to add to its schedule, expanding to 12 days of competition.
On Nov. 21, competition commenced, with the first section of the first round of Open Futurity. With more than 440 entries in the Open Futurity alone, the competition should be formidable, and the scores posted on the first day reflect that.
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dany Tremblay drew up near the end of the day on Pawn Stars, and it was worth the wait. Tremblay and the stallion, owned by Cooper Smith and nominated by Adh-Mor Ranch, took the lead in the round with a 225.
Pawn Stars, by PS Mega Shine Chic out of All Guns On Deck, already boasts lifetime earnings exceeding $50,000, thanks to a third-place finish at The Invitational Futurity this fall.
Thanks to efforts from both the Board of the NRHA and members of the Futurity Challenge, the Open Futurity will, for the third year, award the Level 4 Champion a check for $350,000, and the Level 3 Champion is guaranteed $70,000. The first step to making it to the Finals on Saturday, Dec. 2, is to advance out of the first round, and Tremblay and Pawn Stars have all but secured their spot.
The Futurity First Round continues Wednesday, Nov. 22, with the second section and will wrap up with the fourth section on Friday, Nov. 24.
Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 1, are:
– Level 4 & 3, & APHA Open Chrome Cash – Dany Tremblay & Pawn Stars (PS Mega Shine Chic x All Guns On Deck) – 225
Owned by Cooper Smith | Nominated by Adj-Mor Ranch
– Level 2 & Prime Time – Shauna Larcombe & Steppin Thruthe Nite (Steppin On Sparks x Spooks Night Time) – 220
Owned by Karon Murff | Nominated by Karon Murff
– Level 1 – Anne Grether & Dejavu All Overagain (Smart Spook x Dun Its Deja Vu) – 217.5
Owned by RS Reininghorses BV | Nominated by Toyon Ranch
Protocol for Advancing in Open Futurity Semi-Finals
The Open Semi-Finals qualifiers will be those who mark in the top 30 percent of the first-go scores in Levels 4-1; however, no more than 75 entries in each division will advance. If fewer than 50 qualifiers are in the top 30 percent in a division, then 50 will advance to the Semi-Finals.
Brian Bell and Clemerson Barbalho Win Adequan® NAAC Titles on First Day of NRHA Futurity
While the Futurity takes place in the Jim Norick Coliseum, the NAACs are contested in the Adequan® Arena. The NAAC competition spotlights various members and horses from across North America who qualify to compete in Oklahoma City.
In addition to incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners, the champion of each NAAC class will be recognized the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.
Adequan® NAAC Open & Ancillary Open Champion – Brian Bell on Gunna Whoa
Five months ago, Catherine and David Crandon asked NRHA Professional Brian Bell which horse was the nicest at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel.
Without hesitating, Bell said, “Gunna Whoa,” a 2017 stallion in training with NRHA Professional and Million Dollar Rider Todd Sommers. The Crandons purchased the palomino, and at the Adequan® NAAC, Bell and Gunna Whoa were the champions in Open NAAC and ancillary classes. The two wins added $6,042 to the horse’s lifetime earnings of $41,040.
“This horse, I felt like I owed him to have a bigger, better run on him,” said Bell, an NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider. “I’ve marked a 221 on him, a 223 on him, and a 221.5, and I just hadn’t jumped into that higher gear like I needed to. And today, I marked a 226.5. He’s such a nice horse that he deserved to have a run like that.”
The stallion’s run was good from top to bottom, Bell said.
“My first stop was huge,” Bell said. “My backup could have been a little smoother, so I knew I had to make up a little ground after that. I asked him to turn as fast as he could, and he gave 100 percent and shut off on the money both times. My first small slow (circle), he looked like a western pleasure horse, real pretty, and then went wide open, two large fasts, changed leads, and went like a western pleasure horse again. And then two large fasts and then three big stops on the side. And my last stop was probably the biggest off of them all.”
Gunna Whoa, bred by Doug Milholland, was sired by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six and out of Whozwhiz.
Adequan® NAAC Int. Open & Ancillary Int. Open Champion – Clemerson Barbalho on Spooks Gotta Outfire
Clemerson Barbalho and Spooks Gotta Outfire have shared a lifetime together – the horse’s lifetime, at least.
Barbalho bought an interest in the 2016 stallion when he was a weanling. When he was a yearling, he suffered a snakebite that left a wound in his muscles. To ensure the stallion was ready for the tough competition in the Adequan® Arena, Barbalho had a veterinarian give him a check-up and formulated a plan for the event.
“In the warmup, I tried to be as quick and soft as possible, and I just trusted him,” Barbalho said. “He’s honest to me always. He was super good everywhere. I knew that he was good, but I didn’t know how good it was. And I was very happy about that. More happy when I heard the score! It was very cool.”
The judges marked Barbaho and Spooks Gotta Outfire a 223.5, which gave him the win in the NAAC and ancillary Intermediate Open classes. He also was reserve champion in Open NAAC and third in Open Ancillary. The wins added $6,272 to the stallion’s lifetime earnings of $84,415.
Barbalho had encouraged breeder Tiago Coleto to cross his mare Black Custom Chex with Spooks Gotta Whiz. Coleto sold a half-interest in the resulting foal, Spooks Gotta Outfire, to Barbalho, then later the full interest. Barbalho eventually sold a half-interest to his friend Mark Weissman.
From the beginning, Barbahlo said, he knew the horse was special.
“He’s a complete horse,” Barbalho said. “He has all the parts. He’s beautiful, he’s super talented, and he has a very good personality. He’s always trying to please you. He’s like always since he was little. It’s just amazing how we are connected.”
The win qualified Barbalho and Spooks Gotta Outfire for the Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown on Thursday, Nov. 30, in the Jim Norick Coliseum. There, the pair will compete for an additional monetary prize, with the winner taking home $5,000!
“I’m super excited about that because more money,” Barbalho said. “I need a new saddle, and more money is always good.”
Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown Qualifiers
The top 10 finishers of the Adequan® NAAC Intermediate Open earn a spot in the clean-slate Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown, which will be held Thursday, Nov. 30. All qualifiers must check-in and confirm their spot in the Showdown no later than noon Nov. 22, or they will be removed from the draw, and the next place entry will be invited.
Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Open Showdown Qualifiers:
• Clemerson Barbalho & Spooks Gotta Outfire
• Justin Mathison & Alpha Taris Chic
• Rhea Pole & Gunners Town
• Justin Mathison & Shes Reddy On Line
• David Hanson & Xtra Needs A Drink
• Randall Dooley & Platinum Knight
• Derek Heitland & Settingthetownonfire
• Liam Sykes & Hope N A Prayer
• Josiah Haaby & GH Chromed Mercedes
• Josiah Haaby & Prescribe Me Bud
Adequan® NAAC competition continues Friday with the Limited Non Pro.
Complete results, draws, and more for the NRHA Futurity can be found at NRHAFuturity.com
By NRHA Press Release
