2014 NRHA Futurity Conclusion: Open Co-Champions Are Flarida and Larson in Spectacular Finish!

NRHA press release by: Christa Morris – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Open finals, including the Lucas Oil Level (L) 4, closed out the 2014 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Saturday, December 6. A total of 64 riders were mounted on world-class reining horses all aiming for the $150,000 L4 open championship purse and their share of NRHA Corporate Partner and Futurity Sponsor awards.

The 2014 NRHA Open Futurity finals gave the packed house just what they were craving – the best of the best in a dramatic finish, right until the end of the second section.

Shine N Spook (Smart Spook x Ebony Shines) and NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida landed in draw 23 in the second section. They earned a 224.5 to jump ahead of the previous leader Wimpy Chic (Wimpys Little Step x Chics Fancy Lady) and Gabriel Diano who had marked a 224. Shine N Spook and Flarida held the lead until the last run of the finals when ARC Gunnabeabigstar (Gunnatrashya x Wimpys Little Chic) and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jordan Larson met the challenge and lit the board with a 224.5 of their own. They decide to share the title and stand as Lucas Oil L4 Open Co-Champions.

Shine N Spook, owned by Clark Reining Horses, LLC and nominated by Rosanne Sternberg, previously placed fifth at this year’s All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity.

ARC Gunnabeabigstar, owned by HDC Quarter Horses and nominated by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, also placed eighth at this year’s All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity.

The co-championship paid $132,600 each to the owners and $6,980 each to the nominators. Both co-champions were consignments at the 2012 NRHA / Markel Insurance Futurity Sales.

Wimpy Chic, owned by Thales Rocha Bordignon, and Diano placed third in the L4 open division and claimed championships in both the L3 and L2 open divisions. The team has earned $15,444 to date taking reserve championships in the L2 open division at the High Roller Reining Classic Futurity and Hollywoodstinseltown Futurity. Tonight, they added another $134,820 for the owner Bordignon and $7,100 nominator Ericka Smith.

Winning the L1 open division (222) was FM Shine N Tag Chex (Whiz N Tag Chex x Shine With Wanda) and Jordan Kole Price for owner Tricia Jaeger. FM Shine N Tag Chex was sold in 2012 at the NRHA / Markel Insurance Futurity Sales. Tonight the stallion, nominated by Fausto Mattioli, won $40,400 for the owner and $2,100 for the nominator.

All open champions received a custom Montana Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Jerry Kimmel Reining Horses, a Bob’s Custom Saddle, Rios of Mercedes boots, a Center Back pad, a Classic Equine Contour Pedic Reiner pad, Platinum Performance CJ, Purina feed, a SmartPak gift card, $100 Pard’s Western Shop gift card, Equine Oasis Gift card, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery certificate and a $100 Kyle Tack gift card. Each open champion was presented with a KO Trading Saddle Stand sponsored by the following proud supporters: L4 – Lucas Oil, L3 – NRHA Inside Reining, L2 – Dubarry of Ireland and L1 – Tinsel Jac. The L4 champion also received a four-horse slant gooseneck trailer with living quarters for one-year of use courtesy of Twister Trailer. Twister Trailer certificates went to the remaining champions.

NRHA / Markel Insurance Futurity Prospect Sale Results

“We made great improvements with the presentation of the sale, and the committee and staff have received a lot of positive feedback from people attending this year. I am extremely pleased with the results we saw Friday night,” said NRHA Sale Committee Chair Fred Thomsson

Futurity Prospect Sale (unofficial)

Through Ring: 51 (48 in 2013)

Sold: 38 (37 in 2013)

Gross: $2.4 million ($1.81 million)

Net: $1.83 million ($1.56 million)

Average Sold: $48,263 ($42,120)

High Seller: $225,000 – Buena Spook (Smart Spook x Chex Drive) – Consigned by Prospects Unlimited, LLC – Purchased by Geir and Jill Ramleth

Select Yearling (New sale) (unofficial)

Through ring: 70

Sold: 63

Gross: $1.38 million

Net: $1.26 million

Average Sold: $19,430

High Seller: $112,000 – Pearlly Pistols – 2013 sorrel filly (Colonels Smoking Gun x Pearlly Handles) – Consigned by Darling 888 Ranch – Purchased by Andrew Fox, agent

Marketplace Sale (unofficial)

Through ring: 87 (69 in 2013)

Sold: 71 (63 in 2013)

Gross: $705,900 ($522,200 in 2013)

Net: $430,200 ($577,500 in 2013)

Average Sold: $6,060 ($8,290 in 2013)

High Seller: $23,000 – HF Dirtsurfer – 2013 red dun colt (Jerry Lees Surprise x Dun It With Flair) – Consigned by Heritage Farms – Purchased by Ted Kuczynski

More About the NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show

Relive the excitement at nrhafuturity.com where you can find the top three runs from each day, news and results.

SHOW SUPPORTERS

The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show: Adequan, Anderson Bean Boot Company, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cardinal Reining Horses, Center Back Pads, Classic Equine, Darling 888 Ranch, Downunder Horsemanship, Horse&Rider, John Deere, Kiser Arena Specialists, Kyle Tack, Markel Insurance Company, Merial, Miller International – Cinch / Cruel Girl, Montana Silversmiths, NFuelN Local, Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau, Pard’s Western Shop, Platinum Performance, Purina, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes, Santa Hill Ranch, Silver Spurs Equine, SmartPak, Schmersal Reining Horses, Twister Trailer and Xtra Quarter Horses.

In addition, NRHA thanks NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show Event Sponsors:

Platinum Futurity Sponsors: Ram, Scott Cleaners, KO Trading, Sandbur Productions, Protect the Harvest and Lucas Oil

Gold Futurity Sponsors: Shorty’s Caboy Hattery and Equine Oasis

Silver Futurity Sponsors: Avila’s Pro Shop, Forewheeler Golf Cars, E-Z Go and Arenus