The field of entries vying for a $350,000 first place paycheck has been narrowed substantially, as the first round of the National Reining Horse Association Open Futurity wrapped up Saturday, November 27. The field of nearly 400 entries was whittled down to the top 75 in each level, which now advance to either the Level 1-3 Semi-Finals on Monday, November 30, or the Level 4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All on December 1.
Building on a record-breaking year in 2020, the NRHA Futurity has continued to grow. Total entries for the Open levels are up by 117, or more than 12 percent. The total Open purse, now above $1.8 million, is an increase over 2020 by more than 20 percent.
Former NRHA Open Futurity Champion and NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary piloted Ten Thirty to a 225, the high score of the round. By NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya out of Dainty Little Step, Ten Thirty is owned by Rancho El Fortin.
The talented colt wowed spectators will his relaxed but spectacular demeanor during his run. Bred by Reining Horse Foundation Board Member Brooke Wharton, Ten Thirty (then named Gunna Go Rogue) is an NRHA Markel Futurity Sale Graduate, having been through the sale ring in 2019 as part of the Select Yearling Sale.
More potential superstars like Ten Thirty can be found in the 2021 NRHA Markel Futurity Sales on December 2. Find out more information at Auctions.NRHA.com.
Dan Huss and This Joe Got A Gun, who competed on the first day of competition, held on to the top spot of the Level 3 and Open Prime Time. This Joe Got A Gun, owned by Jamie Walters, is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash out of This Girls Got A Gun.
Tying for the lead of the Level 2 Open with scores of 220 are Jesse Beckley on Trashinyurdreams and Joao Felipe Lacerda with Plain Genes. Trashinyurdreams, owned by Norma Siebert, is by Gunnatrashya out of This Chicsdundreamin. Plain Genes, owned by Andre Tripoloni, is by SG Frozen Enterprise out of Taris Designer Genes.
Linde Von Koeding and Dollys Inferno finished with the high score of the Level 1 with a 217.5, earning a spot in the semi-finals for all four levels of the Open. Dollys Inferno, by Inferno Sixty Six out of Wimpys Lil Doll, is owned by Patricia Ruemmler.
It took a 217.5 to advance to the Level 4 Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All, while a 214 was the magic number in the Level 3. Riders marking a 210 or higher earned a spot for Level 2, and Level 1 riders with a 200.5 also moved on.
Find complete results, news, and more at NRHAFuturity.com.