The stage is set. The cast is decided. The preliminary rounds of the National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel Insurance are in the books. The open preliminaries were held June 19 – 20 and featured 206 talented entries.
The top 30 from each division advance to the clean-slate finals on Saturday, and draw positions will be decided on Friday, June 21, at the Platinum Performance Open Draw Party.
Franco Bertolani and Dun It For Whizkey wowed the judges with a flawless run, securing the go-round win with a 229, worth $2,000. Originally from Brazil, Bertolani is an NRHA Professional and a Million Dollar Rider.
Dun It For Whizkey, owned by Cardinal Hill Training Center, is by Topsail Whiz out of Dun It For Chex. A finalist at every major reining event, the talented stallion is also a former NRHA Futurity Co-Reserve Champion.
Topping the Open Level 3 was Trevor Dare and Xtra Dun Step with a 226.5. Xtra Dun Step, by Wimpys Little Step and out of All Thats Dun, is owned by Silver Spurs Equine. The pair took home $2,617 for the Go-Round win.
Cade McCutcheon and Shes Got Good Guns, owned by Roxanne Koepsell, lead the Open Level 2. McCutcheon and Shes Got Good Guns, by Gunner and out of A Bueno Poco Dunit, scored a 225.5, worth $1,842 in go-round money.
Winning the preliminary round of the Open Level 1 and pocketing $486 was Thiago Sobral and ARC Wimpysgottagun with a 222. ARC Wimpysgottagun, by Gunnatrashya and out of Wimpys Little Chic, is owned by Janice Dickson.
Winning the Open Prime Time and collecting $2,271 was Dean Brown and Gunnatrashtheplace with a 223. Gunnatrashtheplace, owned by Jeffrey Levine, is by Gunnatrashya out of All Chic N Shiny.
Unofficially a 222 was the magical number for Level 4 finals hopefuls, and Open Level 3 riders were shooting for a 219. It took a 216.5 to make it back for the Level 2 finals, and the bubble score in the Open Level 1 was a 211.5. The Open Finals begin Saturday, June 22, at 11am, with the Open Level 4 finalists competing at 5pm.
For more information and complete results, visit www.NRHADerby.com.