With five days of competition completed at State Fair Park, the finalists for the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity are closer to being determined. On Monday, November 30, the first section of the Open semi-finals was held, followed by the second section of the first go of the CINCH Non Pro Futurity.
With the first day of the semi-finals for Levels (L) 1, 2, and 3 of the Open Futurity in the books, the field of potential finalists is narrowing. The top 30 composite scores from the go-round and semi-finals, including ties, will advance to the clean-slate Finals on Saturday, December 5.
After the first day of semi-finals competition, Ruben Vandorp and Route Sixty 6 hold the top spot of the L3 Open with a 436 composite. Their score of 220 leads the semi-finals. Route Sixty 6, by Inferno Sixty Six and out of Fille Code, is owned and nominated by Heather Weisz.
Sitting first in L2 of the semi-finals and second in the composite is Stefano Calcagnini riding PL Trashyasparkler to a 219, which contributed to their 432.5 composite. PL Trashyasparkler, owned and nominated by Luigi Parise, is by Guns R For Shootin and out of Whiskeynrhinestones.
Josh Lyons and his horse CCR Marilyns Joe hold down the top spot in both the L2 and L1 composite rankings with a 433. CCR Marilyns Joe, by Lil Joe Cash and out of Magnum Marilynmonroe, was nominated by Center Cross Ranch LLC.
Mandy Faust rode CSR Just By Chance to a 217.5 to lead the L1 semi-finals. Sired by HF Mobster and out of Simply Paris, CSR Just By Chance is owned by Heritage Farms and nominated by Cutting S Ranch.
The high score of today’s Prime Time Open was a 218 (with handicap), which was posted by Michael McEntire riding Alpha Wimpy Walla. Alpha Wimpy Walla, by Wimpy Chic and out of Walla Whizinicki, is owned by Thales Rocha Bordignon and was nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses. This team also leads the Prime Time composite with a 435.5.
On Wednesday, December 2 the L4 Open semi-finals qualifiers will compete. The top 30, plus ties, from the L4 Open Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All and Tamarack Ranch earn a berth to the MS Diamonds TX L4 Open Finals where, for the first time in NRHA history, the champion will receive a check for $250,000.
Schumacher Leads CINCH NRHA Non Pro Level 4 Futurity Preliminary Round
The NRHA CINCH Non Pro Futurity preliminary round continued Monday with section two. The preliminary round is spread across three days of competition, with all entrants vying for a spot in the clean-slate finals on Friday, December 4.
Currently leading the L4 Non Pro preliminaries is Gina-Maria Schumacher and CS Tosmarttoberuff with a 219.5. Owned and nominated by XCS Ranch, CS Tosmarttoberuff is by Not Ruf At All and out of Smartest Sister.
Two teams currently share the top spot of the L3 leaderboard with identical scores of 218. Kelsey Price and Alpha Onespecialnite, owned by Kelsey and Kole Price, scored a 218. Alpha Onespecialnite is by Gunners Special Nite, a stallion that is unofficially the newest NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire, and out of One Last Corona. The gelding was nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses
George Lawrence rode Shes Big Timin, owned by Lawrence Ranch, to tie the L3 lead with a 218. Shes Big Timin is by Wimpys Littlecolonel and out of Plus Her Big Time. Lawrence also tops the L2 on the mare nominated by Tami Nelson.
Holding on to the high score of L1 is Hannah Mitchell. Mitchell rode Stars N Stripes, owned and nominated by Steven Mitchell, to a score of 217.5. Stars N Stripes is by Star Spangled Whiz and out of Chick N Squirt.
Kathy Thompson and Savethlastdanceforme hold on to the top spot of the Non Pro Prime Time with a 218.5 (includes handicap). Savethlastdanceforme is by In Like Flinn and out of ARC Gunna Mark Ya and was nominated by Neiberger Performance Horses.
Leading the field of youth competitors is Ariana Kate Dejong and her horse Whizkey Or What. Dejong and Whizkey Or What, by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Whizkey N Diamonds out of Crunchy Or Creamy, marked a 217. Her gelding was nominated by Rhodes River Ranch.
The CINCH Non Pro Futurity preliminaries continue through Tuesday, with the top 25 in Levels 1-4, as well as the top 20 in Prime Time and 10 in Youth, earning a spot in Friday’s finals. Those not making the finals in Levels 1-4 will have one more shot to make the finals during Wednesday’s Non Pro Futurity Consolation. The top 5 from each level will then advance to Friday’s finals.
For complete results, visit NRHAFuturity.com