For Immediate Release – June 17, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel has reached the half-way point. On Wednesday, June 17, the first section of the Open Derby preliminaries was held in the Jim Norick Coliseum at State Fair Park.
To lead the pack of the first section of Open Derby preliminaries, it took a score of 222.5. Two riders shared that spot—Arno Honstetter riding Carol Rose’s Shine Yur Gun and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jason Vanlandingham astride Diane Mesmer’s A Vintage Smoke. Vanlandingham and his mount, a 5-year-old stallion by A Sparkling Vintage and out of Lady Smoke Peppy, showed later in the day to tie with Honstetter’s ride on Shine Yur Gun.
Honstetter and Shine Yur Gun, a 6-year-old stallion by NRHA 11 Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of Lil Miss Shiney Chex, are also entered in the Level 3 and Level 2 Open, and leading those divisions.
Topping the Level 1 is Dalton Vanlandingham and Staring Shine with a 214.5. Owned by Vaughn Zimmerman, the 6-year-old gelding is by Shine Chic Shine and out of Staring Amie.
The Bob’s Custom Saddles Novice Horse Open Championship will be decided at the conclusion of the preliminary round and is currently led by Fernando Salgado and Gotta Shiney Peso. The 4-year-old stallion by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Cee Bee Shine is owned by Pedro Pastor Hernandez.
The top 30 from the Open Levels 4 -1 will compete on Saturday in the clean-slate finals. Draw positions will be determined at 10 a.m., CDT, on Friday during the virtual Platinum Performance Open Draw Party.
For complete results and information, visit NRHADerby.com.