The Open preliminary round of the 2023 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel is in the books. In 2022, it was a clean sweep for record-breaking Open Levels 1-4 payouts. With this year’s numbers finalized, the 2023 event once again broke records in all four levels!
The Level 4 also saw record entries with 280, surpassing the previous record of 270 set in 2022. The Level 2 Open and the Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes also had record entry numbers. Total entries across all levels and divisions reached 951, and the total payout for the Open Derby divisions rose to $906,136 – a 14 percent increase!
The large field of competitors was narrowed down to the top 30 in the Open Levels 4, 3, 2, and 1. Those entries advanced to the clean-slate finals, which will be held Saturday, June 24. The Open preliminaries also decided the champions of the $110,000-added Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes, the $15,000-added Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Open Derby, and the Open Prime Time.
Unofficially the bubble for advancing to the finals is:
Level 4 – 220
Level 3 – 217.5
Level 2 – 214.5
Level 1 – 209
Winning each division of the Open preliminaries were:
Level 4 – Jason Vanlandingham & Gunnabebigtime (Gunnatrashya x Big Time Jazzy) – 227.5
Owner & Nominator: Tami Nelson
Level 3 – Dany Tremblay & All Guns On Crush (PS Mega Shine Chic x All Guns On Deck) – 223
Owner: Fred Tremblay, Nominator: Adh-Mor Ranch
Level 2 – Gabriel Diano & Gunna Bet My Boon (Gunnatrashya x Flo N Blu Boon) – 220
Owner: Cabana RT La Aurora, Breeder & Nominator: Alpha Quarter Horses, LLC
Level 1 – Sumer Opinker & Always A Magnum (Magnum Chic Dream x Always A Dunit) – 216
Owner: Pamela Williams, Breeder: Petska Trinity Equine, LLC, Nominator: Jeffery Petska
Level 1 – Santiago Cilleruelo & Flinn Gunna Mark Ya (In Like Flinn x ARC Gunna Mark Ya) – 216
Owner: Justice Performance Horses, Breeder: Jody Puno, Nominator: Neiberger Performance Horses
Level 1 – Abby Kampmann & Lylith (A Sparkling Vintage x Dun It Got Lucky) – 216
Owner: Slide or Die LLC, Breeder: Cade McCutcheon, Nominator: Roxanne Koepsell
Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes & Open Prime Time – Shawn Flarida & Andiamoe (Gunnatrashya x Wimpys Little Chic) – 226.5
Owner, Breeder, & Nominator: Arcese Quarter Horses USA
Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Open Derby – Craig Schmersal & Rootin Tootin Nite (Gunners Special Nite x West Coast Bay) – 221.5
Owner: Wendy Elkins, Nominator: Linda Campbell
Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Novice Horse Open Derby – Fernando Salgado & Swooon (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Sheza Smart Wimpy) – 221.5
Owner: Coma Ranch, Breeder & Nominator: Loren Booth
The draw for the Open finals will be decided during the Platinum Performance Open Draw Party on Thursday, June 22, at 10 a.m. The Draw Party, open to everyone, will be held in the Platinum Zone in the Sale Arena.
Be sure to purchase tickets to cheer on your favorite finalists on Saturday, June 24, at 5 p.m.
Complete results, draws, news, and more can be found at NRHADerby.com.
Photo of Jason Vanlandingham & Gunnabebigtime by Chelsea Schneider Media.