For Immediate Release – June 16, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The wait is over, and the finalists for the 2020 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Non Pro Derby presented by Markel have been decided. Over two exciting days, the field of 249 non pro entries was whittled down to the crème de la crème who get to compete in Friday’s clean slate finals.
There was a four-way tie at the top of the preliminary leaderboard. Mandy McCutcheon held two of the positions, while McKinnon Larcombe and Indy Roper also got a portion of the number one position. Each rode their horses to a 218.5. McCutcheon rode Party Nite (Gunners Special Nite x Topsail Survivor) and Tidal To The Buckles (Show Me The Buckles x Starlights Tidalwave), Larcombe was on Gunners Bar Fly (Gunner x Blonde At The Bar), and Roper rode Lil Patron (Lil Joe Cash x Miss Rey O Shine).
Larcombe and Gunners Bar Fly, owned by Shauna Larcombe, also finished in the top spot of the Level 3 Non Pro and Youth Non Pro divisions.
Harper Conner and Money Carlo put together a solid run, resulting in a 217.5, which placed them in the top spot of the Level 2 Non Pro. Money Carlo is a 5-year-old stallion by A Sparkling Vintage out of Chex Drive.
With a score of 215, Tabitha Sternberg Allen and Holly Trashya won the Level 1 Non Pro preliminary round. Holly Trashya, a 6-year-old mare owned by Francesca Sternberg, is by Gunnatrashya out of Hickorys Holly Cee.
Leading the Masters Non Pro division into the finals is Morris Kulmer and his standout gelding NVR What A Lucky Joe with a 218. The six-year-old reiner is by Lil Joe Cash out of What A Lucky Hit.
Winning the Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Non Pro Derby Championship was Adam Donahue on Not Ruf with a 216.5. Not Ruf is a 4-year-old gelding by Not Ruf At All out of Kays Freckles. The duo also topped the Prime Time Non Pro preliminaries with a 219.5 (includes handicap).
Look for the detailed recap of Donahue’s win on Not Ruf in the Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Horse Open Derby in Thursday’s event coverage.
The top 30 in the Non Pro Levels 4 – 1 will compete in the clean-slate finals on Friday, June 19, as well as the top 20 in the Prime Time and Youth divisions. The top 15 in the Master’s Non Pro will also earn a spot in the finals.
Unofficially, it took a 212.5 to make it back in the Non Pro Level 4 and 211.5 in the Non Pro Level 3. In the Non Pro Level 2, the magic number was a 211, and in the Non Pro Level 1, contestants needed a 208.5 or higher. Non Pro Prime Time competitors with a score of 211.5 (includes handicap), Masters riders with a 205.5 (includes handicap), and Youth riders with a 210, also earned finals’ berths.
Draw positions for the finals will be determined on Wednesday, June 17, during the virtual Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw Party. The Draw Party will be held at 5:30 p.m. and will be streamed via the live feed that can be found at NRHADerby.com.
The NRHA Derby presented by Markel continues Wednesday with the first set of Open Preliminaries in the Jim Norick Coliseum arena. Please visit www.NRHADerby.com for a complete schedule of events, as well as complete results from the show.