The 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel continued Saturday, June 26, with tough competition in the Adequan® Arena at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.


Eduardo Ramirez and Jeweled Out Sweep Rookie 1 & 2

Boasting 87 entries, the Rookie 1 and 2 classes held Friday, June 25, inside the Adequan® Arena flowed into the evening. Awards were presented on Saturday where Eduardo Ramirez was crowned the Rookie 1 & 2 champion. Riding Jeweled Out (Cromed Out Mercedes x Whiz Jewels) Ramirez marked a 147 for the win.

Ramirez and Jeweled Out have been partners for two years and Ramirez says the 10-year-old has been a great mount for him.

“He’s a pretty good horse,” Ramirez said. “He’s pretty easy, he gets a little frightened in the pen, but after the first circle, he’s good. [In the Rookie], the right turn I had a little overturn, and then the left rollback wasn’t the best either, but it was a pretty good run. I was really happy for it and for myself, too.”

Ramirez has been reining for three years and he thanked Luke Gagnon for his support and coaching. Thus far in his rookie career, the 6666 NRHA Derby Rookie win marks his biggest win.  

“So far my biggest win is this one. It feels great,” he said.

Finishing second in both Rookie 1 & 2 was Kim Niven riding Cashing Black Chex (Big Chex To Cash x Blazing In Black) with a 145.5. 


Terry Saxton and MJG Hollywood Jersey Win Rookie Prime Time

Terry Saxton and MJG Hollywood Jersey claimed the Rookie Prime Time with a 144.5. Saxton didn’t find herself in reining industry through the traditional route, but in fact, spent most of her equine career in a different breed-specific discipline. A surprise Christmas present from her husband seven years ago quickly changed her outlook and future endeavors.

“I had been showing Arabians my whole life and [my husband] knew I was interested in reining and bought me one for a surprise through Ted (Chancey),” Saxton said.

Now, Saxton gets her thrills through big stops and smart maneuvers aboard MJG Hollywood Jersey, a 6-year-old mare by Yellow Jersey out of MJG Hollywood Dry. “Scarlet” has been with Saxton only a short time and they didn’t start out their partnership winning, but quickly made up for it on Friday.

“I bought her in December and I’ve shown her three times prior to this. My very first class, I zeroed every class,” Saxton said with a laugh. “Thank goodness I broke my streak last night. I’m just getting to know her, but I’m super happy with her.”

The mare’s willingness to work and easy-going behavior is one of the things that drew Saxton to her. She’s continued to exhibit those characteristics, which Saxton says helps to calm her in the show pen.

“She does everything calmly and I just love her,” she said. “I tend to get nervous before my classes, so she keeps me calm and she’s nice and relaxed and that helps me a lot.”

Saxton was pleased with her Prime Time win and looks forward to Sunday’s classes, where she plans to stay with the game plan and stay focused and relaxed in her runs.

“[My run] was really smooth,” Saxton said. “She went forward when I asked her, she did everything I asked, so I can’t complain.

Saxton thanked her trainer Ted Chancey of Chancey Farms.

Finishing second in the Rookie Prime Time was Shelley Rosenberger and Thatzwhatshesaid (Gunners Special Nite x A Shining Sidekick) with a 143.


Youth 14-18 Crowns Champs at 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel

Carlee McCutcheon and Lydia Bell shared the win in the Youth 14-18 with scores of 144.5. McCutcheon rode The Wizster while Bell piloted Chics Want My Number to the win.

McCutcheon brought The Wizster out of retirement to compete on this year. The gelding is by Gallo Del Cielo and out of Miss Whizard Jac and was trained and shown as a 3-year-old by Dany Tremblay and then in his derby years shown by McCutcheon’s dad, Tom McCutcheon.

“He’s 11 now, and he was retired for a little bit, but he’s coming out of retirement to let me show him,” Carlee said. “I started showing him at the NRBC in Tulsa last year. He’s taught me a lot. He’s definitely a lot better at this sport than I am, so he makes it really fun.”

While Carlee is an accomplished youth rider, she was quick to admit that having a veteran reiner as her partner has made a big difference in her showing and riding.

“He has definitely made me a little more of a smoother ride because he knows just to turn the corner and go, so you have to be really smooth, otherwise he will get ahead of you,” she said. “Other than that he’s so much fun to ride one that knows what they’re doing.”

Carlee and The Wizster also finished second in the Unrestricted Youth from their score of 144.5. The duo showed earlier in the week in the Non Pro and Carlee was hoping to polish up a few things in the pattern. That strategy proved successful.

“Today he was really good,” she said. “I was just trying to smooth it out a little bit from the Non Pro and make him run past the markers to his stops. He turned and circled good. He was just super honest.”

Lydia Bell and Chics Want My Number aka “Leroy” have been showing together for a few years and have made Bell’s last year in the Youth classes a memorable one.

“He’s a cool horse,” she said. “He’s super fun, I can’t tell you how blessed I am to have him.”

Bell recognizes Leroy as an important key to her success both today and over the years. Among making special winning memories Bell accredits Leroy for making important horsemanship and reining lessons, which have made her a better horseman overall.

“It was really good and really smooth, and just a fun run,” she said. “I’ve learned to sit deep in the saddle, because the deeper I sit the bigger he stops, just because he knows I’m there. He stops big. He’s easy to stop, so he always stops. He’s super cool, but it’s just learning to look pretty while also showing.”

In the fall Bell will be headed to Oklahoma State University where she’s signed with the OSU Equestrian Team.  

“I’d like to thank my parents and everybody all of the trainers that have helped me along the way, I’m so grateful for them,” Bell said.

Taylor Bagby and Our Major Nite Top Unrestricted Youth

Taylor Bagby and Our Major Nite won the Unrestricted Youth at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. Bagby and “Scarlet” are a brand-new team, with only two weeks together, and turned up the heat in Oklahoma City.

“This is my first show with her,” Bagby said. “She’s come a long way. I’d like to thank my trainer, Bobby Avila. I couldn’t do it without him, but she’s come a long way in two weeks.”

With the recency of their partnership Bagby was just working on staying correct throughout the pattern—a key component trainer Bobby Avila Jr. has been teaching Bagby over the years. In Saturday’s Youth class the duo turned in that smooth, precise run they’ve been working toward.

“She was good, my circles were very correct and smooth, what I needed,” she said. “The stops were good—I need to work on myself a little bit, the turns were good, but she tried her hardest. She’s so fun to stop.”

Bagby found Scarlet after her main mount was injured. Now, the duo has a bright future.

“My horse got hurt and so I was just really on the lookout, and she popped up and we looked at her, she looked great and we thought I could do big things with her.”

Bagby thanked her family, her grandparents and her trainer Bobby Avila Jr. 


Kynley Bell and Snap N Go Win Short Stirrup

Kynley Bell and Snap N Go (Master Snapper x Miss Jerry Cat) topped the Short Stirrup with a score of 144.5. Bell has been showing “Toad” for two years and the two have been having fun while putting their best first forward.

“I was really happy with what she did in some parts, but we still need some work on the circles,” she said. “I like that she listens and is very calm and waits for me and doesn’t just take off in the run-downs.”

Bell and Toad share a special bond together, which is seen through their connection in the show pen, but also in the clever nickname Snap N Go has earned over the years.

“She is a sweet mare. Her nickname is Toad because she gains weight easy and it’s really hard to get off. So, all the time she looks like she’s pregnant,” she said with a laugh.

Bell and Toad will try their efforts at another win on Sunday in the Youth and Short Stirrup classes.  

For the latest news, schedules, and more, visit NRHADerby.com.

The inaugural Story Book Stables Amateur Championship at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel was decided during the preliminary round of competition. Lauren Love was one of 138 amateurs that took advantage of that opportunity, and she came out on top, piloting Rebelvintage to a 218 for the win.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Love said. “It was a big class, so I just wanted to go in there, have a good run and try to make the Level 4 finals. Winning the Amateur was kind of the cherry on top.”

Love and “Rebel” collected $7,487. In addition to accomplishing their goal of qualifying for the Level 4 Non Pro finals, the pair also qualified for Level 3, and earned $6,632 in the finals. They also took Reserve in the GlycoGuard Novice Horse Non Pro for another $3,112, and placed fourth in the Colston Paving Stakes for an additional $2,829.

Love purchased Rebel, who is by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage and out of Wimpys Got Action, last year and picked up almost $4,000 throughout the course of 2020. She hasn’t shown the mare, who was bred and nominated by Linda Lacaille, much in 2021, but since Rebel was eligible for so many divisions at the Derby, she figured it would be worth going.

“She’s a show horse. Every time I go in the show pen with her, I know I can count on her,” Love said, thanking trainer Arnaud Ferret for doing a great job preparing Rebel. “She’s just a fun horse to show. She’s great at circling, and she’s a great stopper. She’s one that you can just sit there and really show off, so that’s always fun.”

Love was grateful to Story Book Stables’ owner Brenda Joyce for sponsoring the Amateur, saying it was a great idea.

“I think Brenda is going to do great things for the industry by offering this,” she said. “This kind of separates the playing field a little bit to where there’s more money added for everybody else that isn’t always maybe in the top five or the top 10 at the major events. It gives more opportunities, which I think is great for the sport and adds a little more diversity.”

Two riders tied for Reserve in the Amateur Derby. Tabitha Sterberg Allen, who was on board Holly Trashya (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya x Hickorys Holly Cee), along with Allana Vernon on Gunnersrufride (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite x Lil Ruf Showgirl), each marked a 217.5 and collected a check for $3,988.

Holly Trashya was nominated by her breeder, Arcese Quarter Horses USA, and is owned by Francesca Sternberg. Gunnersrufride belongs to White River Ag Products Inc. and was bred and nominated by Richard Vernon.

During the first section of the Green Reiner competition at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel competition heated up in the Adequan® Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The second slate of the Novice Horse Open classes went well into the night, and awards were presented the next day.
 

Natalie Vargo and Surpized — Green Reiner Levels 1&2

Natalie Vargo and Surpized (Hang Ten Surprize x Snow White Dun It) swept the Green Reiner Levels 1&2 with a 144.5. The talented reiner was first shown as an open horse and there was no denying his talents in Friday’s Green Reiner class, even though it was the first show for Vargo and Surprized together as a team.
 
“I haven’t been showing in the reining that much and it was the first time I ever showed him so I was kind of taken aback,” Vargo said with a laugh. “I didn’t know how it was going to go, because I’ve never shown him before and I knew I was going to go for it.”
 
Vargo’s family has owned the now-5-year-old since he was 2 and throughout his open career. When Vargo needed a horse to take to the reining shows this year Surprized got the call and it proved fruitful at their first show together.
 
“I’ve only ridden him a handful of times,” she said. “He’s been pretty easy to get with, he was an open horse, so he’s a little high strung and he’s very talented so it took me a second to get in a groove, but after that, it’s been pretty easy.”
 
Natalie Ellis and Xtra Sparkles N Town marked a 141 to take second place in the Green Reiner Level 1. Raegan Shepherd and Shining Spook Dancer marked a 143 to finish second in the Green Reiner Level 2.
 

Tate Wynn and Im A Dun It Twist — Para Reining

Tate Wynn and Im A Dun It Twist (Hollywood Dun It x Miss Boo Twist) earned the Para Reining win with a score of 134. The duo have been partners for about a year, but Wynn said the 16-year-old home-raised reiner got his chance to shine in the show pen this year. While it wasn’t a quick road to success, Wynn saw promise in his equine partner.
 
 “We never thought he had the potential to show, but after some consideration we thought that he might, so we gave him a chance,” Wynn said.
 
A month ago, Im A Dun It Twist got his opportunity to prove himself in the arena and demonstrated his abilities well, which gave them confidence coming into the NRHA Derby.
 
“That was mainly the test for him to see if he was ready and this one he was ready,” he said. “The run felt pretty good, he’s a little hyper, but that’s normal for him.”
 

Bobby Avila Jr. and Dreaming Of Guns – Novice Horse Open

Bobby Avila Jr. and Dreaming Of Guns (Magnum Chic Dream x HH Steady Gun) swept the Novice Horse Open Levels 1, 2 & 3 with a 146.5 for owners Richard Louis Nelson.
 
“She prepared really well, she went out there and was real focused,” Avila said. “This is our fifth run in row that we’ve marked 73.5 on her in a row, so she’s been getting really solid and consistent.”
 
Avila said the mare has progressively improved after each show they’ve been to together and is showing persistent talent in the show pen. 
 
“We’ve been to two shows in a row back-to-back, and then I took her and turned her out for a couple of weeks,” he said. “Not really turned her out in the pasture, but where during the day she could have a grass lot turn out, swish the flies and freshen up and it was really good for her. She came here to this show and the owner asked me how she felt and I said ‘She just feels better. She just feels more athletic.’” 
 
Todd Crawford and Whizkeybenthellbound (Whizkey N Diamonds x Desire A Chic) also shared the win in the Novice Horse Open Level 3 with a 146.5 for owners MC Performance Horses.
 

The Open preliminary round of the 2021 6666 National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel is in the books. The Derby has seen record payouts for Levels 4 through Level 1, Open Prime Time and the Level 4 Open Novice Horse. The Level 4 also saw record entries with 253, surpassing the previous record of 238 set in 2018. Levels 3 through 1 also saw high entries coming close to record numbers. Total entries across all levels and classes reached 2,059 and total payout of $1,238,449.

The large field of competitors were 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 26. The Open preliminaries also decided the champions of the Open Prime Time, the GlycoGuard Novice Horse Open Derby, and the inaugural Tamarack Ranch Open Stakes.

Unofficially the bubble for advancing to the finals were:
Level 4 – 218.5
Level 3 – 215.5
Level 2 – 212
Level 1 – 206

Winning each division of the Open preliminaries were:

• Level 4 – Dany Tremblay & Tinker With Dreams (Tinker With Guns x This Chicsdundreamin) – 224
• Level 3 – Justin Mathison & Shes Reddy On Line (Shine On Line x Guns R Reddy) – 222.5
• Level 2 & 1– Franky Vazquz & Whizin Off With Guns (Tinker With Guns x Whizin Off Sparks) – 217
• Open Prime Time – Casey Hinton & Mega Mag (Magnum Chic Dream x Big Gold Chex) – 220.5
• GlycoGuard Novice Horse Open Derby – Craig Schmersal & Xtra Vintagemahogany (A Sparkling Vintage x Custom Mahogany) – 219
• Tamarack Ranch Reiners Open Stakes – Kole Price & Trendsettter (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Timed To Shine) – 222

The draw for the Open finals was held during the Platinum Performance Virtual Open Draw Party. Jenny Redig of Platinum Performance, Frank Costantini of Markel Insurance, and NRHA President Rick Clark were on hand to help with the draw.

Complete results, draws, news and more can be found at NRHADerby.com.