For Immediate Release – June 19, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Thursday was a full day of competition in the Adequan® Arena at the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel. In addition to the class winners, there were several high point championships awarded in the Novice Horse Open and Novice Horse Non Pro classes.
Abigayle Mixon Wins Novice Horse Open Level 1 [2] on Thischicsdunwhizit
With a score of 144.5, Abigayle Mixon and Thischicsdunwhizit won the Novice Horse Open Level 1 [2], adding $788 to the horse’s lifetime earnings. “She was really good. She went in quiet, turned good, and circled great. She might be the funnest horse I’ve ever circled. Then she ran and stopped really well, so I was really happy with her,” Mixon said. “My last show before COVID-19 was Tulsa this spring, and then we came to the Redbud before this.”
Thischicsdunwhizit, owned by Deborah Thompson and Diane Witkin, is by Walla Walla Whiz and out of This Chic Dun It. “I got her last summer and rode her for a while. She needed some time off at the first of the year, but I’ve had her pretty steady recently,” Mixon said. “I thank the owners Diane and Deborah. They’re great. They give this mare anything she needs, which makes my job easier. I also have a great support system at home with my husband and family, and my staff is amazing.”
Rodrigo Nieves and Hesa Rockin Whiz Tie for Win of Nov. Horse Open Level 2 & 3 [2]
With a score of 144, Rodrigo Nieves and Hesa Rockin Whiz tied for the win of the Novice Horse Open Levels 2 and 3 and finished second in the Level 1. All totaled, the pair won $1,538. “Yesterday Duane Latimer gave me the opportunity to show this horse in the Novice Horse Open. Thank you Duane Latimer and XCS Ranch for the opportunity,” Nieves said.
“Duane showed this horse last year, and now I have the opportunity to show him. This was the first show I had with him, but the plan is to show at the NRBC this year together,” Nieves said.
Hesa Rockin Whiz is by NRHA 12 Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz and out of A Bueno Poco Dunit. The 4-year-old stallion is owned by Roxanne Koepsell.
Michelle Chapman and Reyny Day Dreamer Win Nov. Horse Open Level 2 & 3 [2] Co-Championship
Michelle Chapman and Reyny Day Dreamer claimed the co-championship of the Novice Horse Open Level 2 & 3 after marking a 144 in Thursday night’s competition. The wins were worth a cool $1,023. “He was really good. We tried some different warmup techniques for this run,” she shared.
Reyny Day Dreamer, by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of Reyny Chex, is owned by Carolyn Tracey Brose and Maron Neff. “He’s been a really special horse. He’s homegrown and home raised, so that has been super awesome for my customers Tracy and Maron,” Chapman said. “I started him as a baby and showed him here at the NRHA Futurity where we made the Level 1 finals. I’ve ridden him a long time and he’s been a joy to train and go show.”
Chapman is looking ahead to the next event, which will likely be the Summer Slide in Denver, Colorado. “We’re excited to go compete there and give it a try,” she said. “I thank God. He’s number one in my life. Thanks to Tracy and Maron who own the horse, my husband and family who support me, and all the people along the way who have been great to me.”
Trevor Dare and Ruffed Up Spooks Win Nov. Horse Open Level 1 & 3 High Point
Trevor Dare and Ruffed Up Spooks put together two consistent runs in the Novice Horse Open classes to win the high point buckle for Levels 1 and 3. “He’s a little greener but is a really good, strong horse. I thought we would try to show him in the novice horse classes here,” Dare shared.
Ruffed Up Spooks, a 4-year-old stallion, is by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Gun out of All Ruffed Up. “I’ve had him since the first of January. He was in training with Duane Latimer last year, and Duane got him really broke and feeling really good. It was fun to take over,” Dare said.
Dare made a couple minor tweaks between the two slates of classes. “The first day I trusted him a little too much in his stops. The ground was a little faster than he’s used to, so I didn’t want to pick up on him too much. The second run I got him stopped a little stronger, but he was similar on both runs. I think he will be a horse show horse,” Dare said. “He’s for sale so if someone buys him, that’s awesome, but if not I hope to continue to show him.”
Jared Leclair Wins Nov. Horse Open Level 2 High Point on Lime A Rita
Jared Leclair and Lime A Rita can constantly be found near the top of results, and on Thursday the duo clinched the Novice Horse Open Level 2 high point championship. Lime A Rita, owned by Susan Meyer, is by Custom Legend and out of She Slides Wright.
Kristen Avila and Xtra Voodoo Sinbar Win Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 2 and 3 [2]
Kristen Avila and Xtra Voodoo Sinbar had a little tough luck in the Non Pro Derby preliminary round, but the Novice Horse Non Pro class was the perfect opportunity to make some adjustments while in Oklahoma City. “We had two and a half points worth of penalties in the Derby, so I thought we would come back here and redeem ourselves,” Avila shared.
She and the 5-year-old mare did just that, winning Levels 2 and 3, as well as $2,252, with a 143. “Her run today was good. I just wanted to cruise her through the pattern. Since we were just coming off a run, I didn’t want to run her really hard today. We just scaled it back, took it easy, and cruised through,” she said.
Avila and her husband, Bobby Avila, Jr., have owned Xtra Voodoo Sinbar, since her yearling year. The mare is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Wimpy Little Sinbar. “I have done really well with her. She’s a really neat mare, and definitely my princess,” Avila admitted. “I thank my husband for always being there to coach and support me, and the rest of my family who is there for us.”
Avila is considering attending the Mid Atlantic Reining Classic in Lexington, Virginia, in July, and then the National Reining Breeders Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in late August.
Madison Rafacz Claims Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 2 and 3 High Point on Hezza Rowdy Whiz
Consistency is a key component of success, so there’s little doubt that young Madison Rafacz of Florida will be successful. On Thursday she claimed two more high point awards, this time in the Novice Horse Non Pro on her horse Hezza Rowdy Whiz. “I marked a 142 earlier this week. He was really good then, and so good for me today, so I’m really proud of him,” Rafacz shared.
Hezza Rowdy Whiz, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Conquistador Whiz out of CF Glad Rags, is owned by Madison’s parents Shannon and Mark Rafacz. “He’s a super fun horse. I have been showing him since last August and we’ve gotten along pretty well. My dad was showing him, but I took him over because he likes me more,” she said with a smile.
Rafacz isn’t done showing. She’ll compete in both slates of youth classes over the weekend on Hezza Rowdy Whiz and her other horse Whizenboonsmal. “I thank my parents and the whole MR team. I also thank my grandma, who I call Naynay. She always calls to cheer me on, so I want to thank her,” she shared.
Nicole Ellis and Xtra Sparkles N Town Win Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 High Point
Nicole Ellis and Xtra Sparkles N Town might have struggled their first couple years together, but the two had their chemistry right at the NRHA Derby presented by Markel. There the pair claimed the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 high point championship.
“The first two years were pretty bad, but it got better the end of last year, and this one has been the best yet. We had our best score ever and we’re starting to connect,” Ellis shared.
Xtra Sparkles N Town is by NHA Two Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown and out of Sparkling Radiance. “She’s about the weirdest horse I have ever ridden, but she’s so sweet. She’s going to show in the Green Reiner tomorrow with my 13-year-old sister. She is a show machine,” Ellis said. “She showed great both Sunday and today. She’s always the same.”
The high point buckle isn’t even the high point of Ellis’ time in Oklahoma City. She’ll be competing in the Level 1 Non Pro Finals on Friday! “It’s my very first finals ever,” she said. Ellis will compete in the first section of the Non Pro Finals on KR Lovetts Shine. “I thank my trainer Kelly Sapp, my whole barn family, my farrier Dan Yarbrough, and my mom Michel Ellis.”
Victoria Lambert and her horse Goodtime Tinseltown won the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 [2]. Goodtime Tinseltown, by Hollywoodstinseltown out of Good Time Whiz Girl, is owned by Lambert’s husband Carl. Lambert and Goodtime Tinseltown marked a 142.5 to win $883.