After two days of the Non Pro preliminaries, the first champions at the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel were crowned, and the Colston Paving 4-Year-Old Non Pro Stakes Championship had Lane Colston’s name all over it. The 17-year-old rode to the win on Lil Ruf Whizkey after marking a 219.5.
“It’s exciting to have something else for young horses to show in,” Lane said. “It’s pretty cool!” Lane collected $7,228 for the win.
The Colston Paving Non Pro Stakes was sponsored by Lane’s parents, Kevin and Amy, who own Colston Paving, Inc. Kevin believed the division would benefit the reining industry as a whole.
“I really felt like it was something necessary so these 4-year-old horses would have something to go do. There are a lot of them that get parked all year, and this gives people a reason to get them out and keep working on them.
“We’re glad to be able to sponsor it and have the opportunity to do it,” Kevin added. “We want to support NRHA however we can. This is something that just needs to happen from now on.”
Lane praised Lil Ruf Whizkey (Whizkey N Diamonds x Lil Ruf Startime), who was bred and nominated by Terry Leffew, for his stellar performance during their winning run. ‘“Cowboy” is good at everything, especially his turnarounds,” Lane said. “The gelding is a true show horse. He is so talented and one of the top two or three horses I have ever had. I cannot say enough good things about him. He keeps getting better and better as he gets older.”
The duo will compete in Friday night’s Level 4 and Youth Non Pro finals, then Lane hopes to show again at the High Roller Reining Classic in September.
Addisyn Schmersal and Xtra Vintagemahogany (A Sparkling Vintage x Custom Mahogany) took Reserve in the Colston Paving Stakes, worth $4,399, with their score of 219. They also won the new GlycoGuard Novice Horse Non Pro division. The pair collected an additional $5,112 for the Novice Horse title and qualified for the Level 4 and Youth Non Pro finals.
The Non Pro preliminary round of the 2021 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel continued on Tuesday, June 22. In addition to record payouts in every level, Non Pro Levels entries (excluding the new Story Book Stables Amateur and Colston Paving Non Pro Stakes) hit an all-time high this year, with 1,013 total entries, up from 832 in 2020.
By Tuesday evening, the competitors were whittled down to the top 30 in the Non Pro Levels 4-1; top 20 in the Prime Time Non Pro and Youth Non Pro; and top 15 in the Masters Non Pro. Those riders will advance into the clean-slate finals, to be held Friday. There, the champions of each division will take home, for the first time, guaranteed payouts from the Four Sixes Ranch.
Unofficially the bubble for advancing to the finals are:
Level 4 – 215.5
Level 3 – 213.5
Level 2 – 212.5
Level 1 – 210
Prime Time – 214*
Masters – 212.5*
Youth – 210
*Includes handicap.
Winning each division of the Non Pro preliminaries were:
Level 4, Prime Time & Masters – Michael Garnett & Lil Patron (Lil Joe Cash x Miss Rey O Shine) – 221.5
Level 3, 2 & Prime Time – Shaunda Rai Blinzler & Smoke In Whizkey (Whizkey N Diamonds x Suga Suga) – 218.5
Youth – Lane Colston & Lil Ruf Whizkey (Whizkey N Diamonds x Lil Ruf Startime) – 219.5
The draw for the Non Pro finals will be held during the Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw and Welcome Party Wednesday evening, which will also feature Reiners Rope, a fundraiser benefitting the Reining Horse Foundation Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund.
Three championships were decided during the Non Pro preliminaries. Lauren Love and Rebelvintage (A Sparkling Vintage x Wimpys Got Action) won the inaugural Story Book Stables Amateur division, while Lane Colston topped the new Colston Paving Non Pro Stakes on Lil Ruf Whizkey (Whizkey N Diamonds x Lil Ruf Startime). Addisyn Schmersal was the victor in the GlycoGuard Novice Horse Non Pro on Xtra Vintagemahogany (A Sparkling Vintage x Custom Mahogany).
The preliminary round of the Open Derby kicks off on Wednesday. This round, which continues through Thursday, will determine the winners of the GlycoGuard Novice Horse Open Derby and the Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes, along with the finalists of the Open Derby. The Finals, slated for Saturday, June 26, features the Four Sixes guaranteed payouts to each Open champion.
Complete results, draws, news, and more can be found at NRHADerby.com.
First Slate of Novice Horse Open Champions Crowned at 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel
The first slate of Novice Horse Open classes took place Tuesday, June 22, during the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel. The champions received prizes, including NRHA bronzes, presented in the Adequan Arena.
Corona Tag & Trevor Dare – Novice Horse Open Levels 3 & 2 (1) Champions
Corona Tag is a special mare to a lot of people, said Trevor Dare after piloting the mare to the Novice Horse Open Levels 3 and 2 championships. The duo took the wins with a 148.5, netting $1,719 for owner Courtney Battison.
“She’s everyone’s favorite horse,” Dare said. “[Courtney] doesn’t even keep her in training anymore, just keeps her at home. I asked if I could steal her for a quick joy ride, and she said absolutely. I’m glad she let me. It was pretty neat.”
The talented mare, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Whiz N Tag Chex out of Kachina Oak Olena, battled some lamenesses when she was younger, so she didn’t have a chance at a big career as a limited-age horse. Dare said he took his time bringing the mare along so she could heal properly, resulting in a horse that is now sound and full of talent.
“She’s got a special mind,” Dare said. “You can go and show as hard as you want to show her, then turn around, go through the gate, and she’s there to give you 100% again. She’s a really big, stylish stopper, so that’s really fun when you’re showing.”
Dreaming Of Guns & Bobby Avila, Jr. – Novice Horse Open Level 1 (1) Co-Champions
With a score of 146.5, Dreaming Of Guns and Bobby Avila, Jr. tied for the win in the Novice Horse Open Level 1, placed second in Level 3 and took third in Level 2, garnering a total of $1,744. The mare, who is owned by Richard Louis Nelson, is by NRHA Seven Million Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of HH Steady Gun.
Avila has been showing Dreaming Of Guns since last fall. He said the mare has been slow coming along, but she has steadily improved.
“At one point, I thought she would just be a 72-type horse, but she’s been consistently marking 73s and 73.5s,” Avila said. “Her strength is definitely her circling, but she’s a big stopper. She can turn a [plus-] half, circle a [plus-] one and stop a [plus-] one. If we can put it all together, we can be really big.”
Avila plans to keep showing the mare to try and put more earnings on her. He thanked Nelson for giving him the opportunity to train and own the mare, who will eventually join her owner’s broodmare band.
“It’s great to tie with Doug and awesome to win here,” Avila said. “We took her to two shows in a row, gave her a couple weeks off and turned her out before we came here to freshen up. It really made a difference.”
After placing second in the AQHA Open on Saturday and taking top honors in Monday’s second slate of the Limited Open, Gunnatwistya and Doug Milholland earned top marks again, tying for the Novice Horse Open Level 1 with a 146.5. The stallion banked $547 for his owners, David and Lecleta Aitken.
Milholland knew “Ranger” was capable from the get-go, but the pair had some challenges to overcome when he started riding him a year ago.
“He’s a stallion, and he knows it,” Milholland said. “I knew he had talent, we just had to get on the same page and have an understanding. Yesterday and today, he started really feeling like a showhorse. I stepped him up a bit.”
Ranger is by NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya and out of Totally Dun Twistin. Milholland is looking forward to the stallion’s future now that the pair has synced up in the show pen.
“We’re not quite to the point where I can ask him for a lot in the show pen, but we’re almost there,” Milholland said. “The talent is definitely there.”
The Non Pro preliminary round of the 2021 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel kicked off on Monday, June 21. This year’s Non Pro entry numbers are record-breaking, with 304 runs spread across two days of competition. The staggering increase, up from 249 in 2020, is likely caused by the increase in added money in the new divisions, as well as the Four Sixes Ranch guaranteed champion payout.
The preliminary round not only determines who will compete in the clean-slate finals on Friday, June 25, it also decides the champions of the Story Book Stables Amateur, the GlycoGuard Non Pro Novice Horse Derby, and the Colston Paving, Inc. Non Pro Stakes.
The current high scores across the many divisions of the Non Pro preliminaries are:
Level 4, Prime Time & Masters – Michael Garnett & Lil Patron (Lil Joe Cash x Miss Rey O Shine) – 221.5
3, 2 & Prime Time – Shaunda Rai Blinzler & Smoke In Whizkey (Whizkey N Diamonds x Suga Suga) – 218.5
Level 1 – Justin Eddy & Xtra Wimpy Voodoo (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Wimpys New Pal) – 216.5
Level 1 – Allison Thorson & Gunner Be Custom (Gunner x Custom Made Dunit) – 216.5
Youth – Luca Fappani & Wimpy Pale Face (Pale Face Dunnit x Wimpys Lil Doll) – 217.5
Currently leading the Story Book Stables Amateur, the Colston Paving, Inc. Non Pro Stakes, and the GlycoGuard® Novice Horse Non Pro Derby, which will be awarded following the second section of the preliminary round on Tuesday, are:
Story Book Stables Amateur – Tabitha Sternberg Allen & Holly Trashya (Gunnatrashya x Hickorys Holly Cee) – 217.5
GlycoGuard Novice Horse Non Pro Derby – Charles Wiederholt & No Ask Kate (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Twisted Smoking Gun) – 214.5
Colston Paving, Inc. Non Pro Stakes – Tish Fappani & Joes Genes (Lil Joe Cash x Electric Genes) – 218.5
Non Pro preliminary competition continues Tuesday. The top 30 in the Non Pro Levels 4-1, the top 20 in the Prime Time Non Pro and Youth Non Pro, as well as the top 15 in the Masters Non Pro, will advance to the clean-slate finals on Friday. The draw for the finals will be decided during the Platinum Performance Non Pro Draw and Welcome Party on Wednesday evening. This welcome party also features Reiners Rope, a fundraiser that benefits the Reining Horse Foundation Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund.
The awards for the Story Book Stables Amateur, the GlycoGuard® Novice Horse Non Pro Derby, and the Colston Paving, Inc. Non Pro Stakes will be presented immediately at the conclusion of the Non Pro preliminaries on Tuesday evening.
For complete results and other information, visit NRHADerby.com.
Ancillary Competition Heats Up at 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel
Three days into the 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel, the event is in full swing. In addition to the great prizes presented in the Adequan® Arena, exhibitors have a chance to win circuit buckles, as well. The first circuit championships were awarded Monday afternoon.
Sumer Opinker
Sumer Opinker & Concealed Guns – Int. Open & Rookie Pro. (2) Champions & High Point/Ltd. Open High Point
Concealed Guns has raked in some cash while at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. On Monday, he added to the stash with wins in the second slate of the Intermediate Open and Rookie Pro, as well as second in the Limited Open. He and trainer Sumer Opinker also claimed the high point buckles for the Rookie Pro and Limited Open classes.
“He’s been doing really well. He’s been quiet, consistent, and great for me,” Opinker said of the gelding, by Guns R For Shootin out of Sweet Lena Shine. The pair marked a 146 in Monday’s competition, pocketing $1,495 across the three divisions. “It was a run-in pattern today. He ran in good for me and stopped and backed well. He turned great, and then his circles were the most fun for me because he was flying. The whole thing was really fun.”
Opinker has been riding Concealed Guns, owned by Mindy Gray, since the 2020 NRHA Futurity. “I thank his owner Mindy Gray, and Mirjam and Andrea Stillo, who have been great giving me the opportunities to show him. I really appreciate it,” she said.
Finishing second in the Intermediate Open was Christina Croston-Boyes on Golddiggin Whiz, owned by Phillip Boyes. Croston-Boyes and Golddiggin Whiz (Pale Face Dunnit x Whizzle For Me) marked a 144.5 to win $834.
Doug Milholland
Doug Milholland & Gunnatwistya – Ltd. Open (2) Champions
With a score of 146.5, Doug Milholland and Gunnatwistya took top honors in the second slate of the Limited Open with a 146.5. Owned by David and Lecleta Aitken, Gunnatwistya is by NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya and out of Totally Dun Twistin.
“He’s a really talented horse. I’ve had him just over a year. It took us some time to get on the same page, but we’re starting to come together now,” Milholland explained. “The owners are wonderful people, so it makes it even more fun when you have great customers with nice horses.”
Milholland and Gunnatwistya showed in the AQHA class over the weekend, finishing second. “I wanted to use these two classes as schooling runs, and just keep him quiet. He showed well for me. He’s getting to where I can ask him something and he’s there for me,” he said. “I thank Jesus for letting me be here. I thank my customers, too. It takes a village to get here.”
Milholland will stay busy during the Derby, not only showing but also helping his daughter, Brooke Culwell, who is competing in the Non Pro Derby as well as customers competing in the Non Pro classes.
Bo Van Duys
Bo Van Duys & Voodoo Smokin Annie – Ltd. Non Pro (2) & High Point Champions
Consistency paid off for Bo Van Duys. On Saturday she and her horse Voodoo Smokin Annie finished fourth in the first slate of the Limited Non Pro. On Monday, the duo marked a 141 to top the class and win the high point Montana Silversmiths buckle.
“She was a little skittish in the middle during the spins, but other than that she was good and calm. We still did well so I was happy with it,” Van Duys shared. “We were going to school today to get ready for the Maturity on Wednesday. I was just hoping to have a clean, good run and fix some things. Once I got in there I decided to just go for it because she was pretty good.”
Van Duys began riding the mare three years ago, after her mother, Holly Van Duys, purchased the mare from Sam Smith. The 8-year-old mare is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Caleys Smokin Peppy. She will hand over the reins to her mom in August when she leaves to attend Oklahoma State University. “I thank my parents and my trainer Shane Brown for all their help,” Van Duys said.
Finishing second in the Limited Non Pro was Anne Peters and Guns R Spooky with a 140.5. Guns R Spooky is by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook and out of Berry Yer Guns.
Complete results from the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel can be found at NRHADerby.com.
