The 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel is in full swing and ancillary classes are heating up in the Adequan Arena at the Oklahoma State Fair Park. Champions were crowned and high point winners recognized on Thursday.
Three-Way Tie for Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1
Lisa Bricker and Lotta Mobster, Brianna Anthony and Boujee, and William Clutter and Shiney Spooky Whiz shared the win in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 with scores of 144.
Bricker also took home the Level 1 high point title added to her success at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. Lotta Mobster (HF Mobster x Alottachic N Lilwhiz) aka “Kevin” and Bricker have only been partners for about a year but have been proving themselves in Oklahoma City after taking home a win in Sunday’s first slate of the Novice Horse Non Pro.
“He was really good today,” she said. “We went in and started off with our circles, which are really fun to start off on him, just because he really lets you guide him through them and he really locks in on them, so it’s fun to start off with his circles. He’s always really focused going into his spins, and he always stops really hard, so it’s fun to run him down and stop him.”
Anthony and Boujee have been partners for about a year after trying the 4-year-old mare out at the 2020 NRHA Derby. Boujee is by $6 Millon Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of Chexanicki.
“It’s taken me a little while to get with her. We kind of had a rocky futurity year last year and we actually just went in this class to try to put something together and it all worked for us,” Anthony said. “It’s nice to be able to go home on a win.”
Also tying for the win was William Clutter and Shiney Spooky Whiz (Smart And Shiney x Spooky Whizabella x Smart Spook) in the Novice Horse Non Pro with a score of 144.
Jesse Asmussen and The Crowd Goes Wildd Win Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 2 & 3; Kyla Thrulow Wins High Point
Jesse Asmussen and The Crowd Goes Wildd (Not Ruf At All x Check Your Gun Lady x Dun It Gotta Gun) topped the Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 2&3 with a score of 146.5. Asmussen and The Crowd Goes Wildd have had a good season so far beginning with last year’s NRHA Futurity and moving into 2021. Asmussen admits the Novice Horse Non Pro win was redemption for them this week.
“She was really good, I had some bobbles in the Derby, so I showed her in the Non Pro and I had another bobble and I was like ‘Man, I have to get my act together,’” he said with a laugh. “So I showed her in the Novice and she was really good. I finally got shown clean with no penalties. It will make the trip going home a little bit better.”
Finishing second in the Level 2 and Level 3 was Kyla Thurlow and Kachina Olena Tag with a score of 146. Thurlow also claimed the Levels 2&3 high point award. Thurlow and the now-8-year-old gelding have been partners since his 4-year-old year and Thurlow says “Facebook” continues to impress.
“He’s a show horse through and through. He’s always there for me. His bad day is another horse’s good day,” Thurlow said. “This is a long pattern for a lazy horse, but he was with me everywhere today. I hit a little bit of bad ground on my second stop, but he was wonderful today. I couldn’t ask any more of him.”
Tristan Bagby Wins Non Pro High Point
Tristan Bagby and Shina Gun (Colonels Smoking Gun x Shiner Light) earned the ancillary Non Pro High Point award. Bagby said the win was memorable because of her connection and history with the 8-year-old stallion.
“We raised him, so we’ve had him since he was a baby and he’s so special to our family,” Bagby said. “So, it was cool to get the high point on him.”
Bagby had a consistent showing at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel in order to gain top honors in the high point, but she admits it’s been a long road to consistency with Shina Gun. With that in mind, Bagby didn’t come into Oklahoma City with any expectations but was thrilled with the results and her equine partner.
“He’s been difficult, it’s taken me a long time to finally figure him out, but now that I have he’s been really good for me,” she said. “We’ve got some things we still need to work on, but he was still pretty consistent in order to win the high point.”