McCutcheon On Top After Day 1 and 2 of 2018 NRHA Non Pro Derby

Day 2

The arena lights dimmed as the second day of non pro competition ended at the 2018 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby. With 663 entries across Levels (L)1-4, the non pro competition featured many talented horse and rider combinations. This year’s Non Pro Derby entries are the largest in history – nearly 13% percent larger than the previous record-setting edition in 2017.

Scoring a 218 ½ in the first day of competition was enough for Cade McCutcheon and Dual Reality (Mister Nicadual x Snip O Chex) to stay on top of the leaderboard in both the L4 and Youth divisions. Owned by Tom and Mandy McCutcheon, the 5-year-old gelding was bred and nominated by Cinder Lakes Ranch. McCutcheon was surprised his score held throughout day two but credited the judges for remaining consistent across both days. “I feel pretty good about how I rode, so I am sticking to the same plan during the finals,” said McCutcheon.

McCutcheon also posted the day’s third highest score on Customized Dually (Mister Nicadual x Customized Gunner), a 4-year-old stallion bred, owned and nominated by McQuay Stables. Together, the pair earned a 217 and a spot in the L4 and Youth Non Pro Derby finals.

Only a half point behind was McCutcheon’s mom, Mandy, and her mount, Hollywood Starburst. By NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire and Hall of Fame inductee Hollywood Dun It and out of Chic Olena Starbuck, the dun mare was bred and nominated by Turnabout Farm Inc and is no stranger to the spotlight. With Mandy aboard, the duo was crowned the 2017 NRHA Non Pro Derby Champions and are looking for a repeat win this year.

Also scoring a 218 was Smart Like Juice Inc’s Wimpy Little Tejano and Mariana Vazquez. Bred by Brent Loseke and nominated by Gilberto Leal, Wimpy Little Tejano is by NRHA Eleven Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz and out of Tejana Chic. Together, she and Vazquez have had much success this year – placing second behind her dad, Jose, in the Carolina Classic L4 Non Pro Final. The father/daughter duo will have their chance to duke it out in the L4 Non Pro final once again on Friday night as Jose qualified on his mount, Like Shiner (NRHA Hall of Fame inductee Smart Like Juice x Wind Er Up Shiner).

With the preliminary non pro go round completed, the following scores were needed to advance to the nearly $200,000-added finals:

Level 4 Non Pro Top 30 horses (plus ties):  Bubble 213 1/2
Level 3 Non Pro Top 25 horses (plus ties):  Bubble 212 1/2
Level 2 Non Pro Top 20 horses (plus ties):  Bubble 212
Level 1 Non Pro Top 20 horses (plus ties):  Bubble 212
Prime Time Non Pro Top 15 horses (plus ties):  Bubble 214
Masters Non Pro Top 15 horses (plus ties):  Bubble 195 1/2
Youth Non Pro Top 15 horses (plus ties):  Bubble 212 1/2

During the NRHA Derby, the world’s best 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old reining horses and competitors come to Oklahoma City to compete for an estimated total purse and cash prizes of more than $1 million. The weekend features the NRHA Non Pro Derby finals starting at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, June 29 and the NRHA Open Derby finals at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 30. For more information on schedules, live video coverage, hotel accommodations, sponsors and more visit nrhaderby.com.

Day 1

The Jim Norick Arena was filled with excitement as competition for the 2018 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Non Pro Derby began. With 118 horse and rider combinations on the day’s draw, the crowd watched as each rider left it all on the dirt – fighting for their chance to compete in the non pro finals later this week.

Finishing with a 218 ½ and the top score of the day was Cade McCutcheon and his mount, Dual Reality, a 2013 gelding by Mister Nicadual and out of Snip O Chex. Bred and nominated by Cinder Lakes Ranch and owned by Tom and Mandy McCutcheon, Dual Reality and McCutcheon held their lead in the Level (L)4 and Youth divisions throughout the day after a successful run in the first half of the draw.

Sandy Bentien bred, nominated and rode her own Gotta Twist It Up (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Make It With A Twist), landing in a tie for the second highest score of the day with a 217 ½. The score was also enough to earn Bentien the top spot in the L3. The pair has had much success in Oklahoma City winning the L2 and L3 non pro divisions at the 2016 NRHA Futurity and a reserve co-championship in the L4 non pro at the 2017 NRHA Derby.

Matching Bentien’s score and sharing second in the L4 was NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jose Vasquez aboard Like Shiner (NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire and Hall of Fame inductee Smart Like Juice x Wind Her Up Shiner), a 2012 mare bred and nominated by Smart Like Juice Inc. – the talented horse’s owner. The team has racked up more than $76,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) including a recent win at the 2018 National Reining Breeders Classic L4 Non Pro.

Ronny Lane Colston and Baileys Not Painted claimed the top spot in both L2 and 1 divisions with 216. By NRHA Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite and out of Darlins Not Painted, the sorrel gelding with more than $48,000 NRHA LTE is owned by Kevin Colston and was bred and nominated by Turnabout Farm Inc.

The first go of the 2018 NRHA Non Pro Derby continued with second section yesterday, June 26 at 8 a.m. at Oklahoma State Fair Park.

During the NRHA Derby, the world’s best 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old reining horses and competitors come to Oklahoma City to compete for an estimated total purse and cash prizes of more than $1 million. For more information on schedules, live video coverage, hotel accommodations, sponsors and more visit nrhaderby.com.

Founded in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is a nonprofit association dedicated to promoting and encouraging the development of and public interest in the sport of reining. The focus is on developing and maintaining suitable standards of performance and judging and in providing a fun filled, family-oriented atmosphere.