The Tulsa Reining Classic, held at Expo Square Aug. 28 – Sept. 3 saw smart maneuvers and big stops during the SmartPak Non Pro Derby in the Ford Truck Arena.
It was an epic day for Mandy McCutcheon in Thursday’s SmartPak Non Pro Level 4 Derby when she tied for the win with herself aboard two standout horses. McCutcheon scored a 222.5 aboard both Hollywood Starburst and Baileys Not Painted for the dual championship.
Hollywood Starburst is a 4-year-old mare by Hollywood Dun It and out of Chic Olena Starbuck that recently led McCutcheon to the NRHA Non Pro Derby championship. The mare continues to be a force in McCutcheon’s arsenal.
“They are both really nice great minded horses. The buckskin mare I just recently won the NRHA Derby on, so there is always that nervous part of ‘I don’t want to make her look like a fool after a big win,'” McCutcheon said with a laugh.
The mare looked like anything but a fool turning in a stellar performance in Tulsa.
Baileys Not Painted, who is by Gunners Special Nite and out of Darlins Not Painted, has only been with McCutcheon for three days. Although the gelding has been in Tom and Mandy McCutcheon’s training program since the start Mandy bought him only recently.
“When the opportunity came up to buy him I jumped on it,” McCutcheon said of purchasing the gelding.
The decision proved successful when he turned in an equally impressive run as McCutcheon’s mare.
“They were both very similar [in their runs today],” McCutcheon said. “They were just easy and showed honest and pure and just tried to be good horses.”
The Level 3 saw another tie, this time between Kara Gray-Frye and Catherine Crandon with scores of 220.
Frye rode Juice N Silk (Smart Like Juice x Silk N Sable Pine) to the co-championship. He has been with Frye since he was 3. The now-6-year-old has been a great addition to Frye’s program.
“He’s definitely a special guy. He doesn’t take any training – you just keep him fit and get on him and go show,” she said. “He steps up and if I call on him he’s there.”
Crandon took home a plethora of prizes when she topped the Level 3, and the Level 2 and Prime Time with her score of 220.
The 5-year-old gelding RC Fashion Chic, who’s by RC Fancy Step and out of Shesa Fashion Chic has only been with his owner since March and stepped up in Tulsa to prove his worth in the reining pattern.
“This was kind of the first time we’ve shown and were penalty free,” she said. “That was quite an accomplishment for us today, so we’re pretty excited. I could not be happier. We just kept trying and trying and I knew we’d get it eventually so I was pretty happy.”
The Level 2 Non Pro reserve co-champions were Mark Blake riding Hot Hollywood Whizky and Laura Parker riding Shirley Your A Tag with scores of 219.
The Prime Time Non Pro reserve co-champions were Frye riding Juice N Silk and Nancy Murfin-Moxley riding Who Whiz Hot Choclat to scores of 221.5.
The TRC continues on Friday with the Turnabout Farms Non Pro Futurity and the 2017 USEF Reining Championship.
Get all the Action of the Tulsa Reining Classic. Watch the Live Feed at www.tulsareining.com!
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