2016 NRHA Futurity: Fappani, McCutcheon, Medows
2016 NRHA Open Futurity
Fappani Steers Spooky Whiz to the 2016 NRHA Open Futurity Championship
In 1997, Andrea Fappani left his mark in the NRHA history books by winning the Limited Non Pro Futurity championship riding Best By Tari (Taris Catalyst x Pocono Annie). He was the first European to conquer a Futurity championship in the most coveted reining show pen in the world!
In 2001, Fappani came back to write yet another important chapter by claiming the NRHA Open Futurity Championship riding RR Star (Like A Diamond x RL Miss Kitty), owned by Lundin Farm, and then went on to claim the title in 2011 aboard Lil Joe Cash (Nu Chex To Cash x RS Lilly Starlight) for Russel Giles.
Last night, with only one contestant left to go, the NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider once again proved his worth by reining Spooky Whiz, an own son of Spooks Gotta Whiz out of Myo Starlight, owned by Rancho Oso Rio LLC, to top honors.
The score to beat, when Fappani rode in the pen, was a 221 posted by All American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity champions Franco Bertolani and Dun It For Whizkey (Topsail Whiz x Dun It For Chex), owned by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC and by NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida riding Whiz Gata Prize (Topsail Whiz x Smart Little Prize) for owner Alberto Casasco of Argentina.
Fappani was determined to take home his third Futurity championship and rode the bay gelding through NRHA pattern #10 performing deep stops, fast spins and controlled transitions and his third title with a 225.5 score! “This is a pretty special horse. He’s pretty solid, we changed our program a little bit with him, and I went pretty easy in the go-rounds even though I knew we had a horse that could do well in the finals even though I did not know how much he would step up. I asked him and he did step up!” said Andrea who took home the guaranteed champion paycheck of $150,000 aboard the gelding bred and nominated by Spence Bell.
Bertolani and Flarida settled for reserve honors and each added $109,854.78 to their earnings.
Honstetter and Whizkey Chaser are Level 3 Open Champions
With a 222, Arno Honstetter rode Marilyn Overgaard’s Whizkey Chaser (Whizkey N Diamonds x Sparklin Chic), owned by Marilyn Overgaard and nominated and bred by Matthew Armenta, to a 222. “It was a good ride!” said Honstetter who added $29,538.24 to his earnings for the win. “I made a few mistakes in the go rounds, which kept me out of the Level 4, and since I did not show much last year, I went back to the Level 3. I’m really happy with my ride tonight, he’s a lot of horse and really talented.”
With a 219, reserve honors went to Nathan Piper riding Toyon Ranch LLC’s Dun Gotyer Guns Up (Gunner x Always A Dunit), nominated and bred by John and Nancy Tague, and by Gabriel Diano riding AC Quarter Horses LLC’s Oops Itsa Spooks (Spooks Gotta Gun x Tejons Finally Dunit), nominated by Michelle Miola and bred by Silver Spurs Equine. The co-reserve champions won $19,866.15 each.
Claiming the Level 2 Futurity Championship and a paycheck worth $19,261.05, with a 218.5, was Pedro Baiao riding Michael Garnett’s Hollywood Nites (Gunners Special Nite x Dun It For Chex), a palomino stallion owned by Michael Garnett, nominated by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC and bred by Oldenburg Farm LLC. “I work for Martin Muehlstaetter and, since I was without a horse to show, he felt I could ride this one. Most of the work done on him is thanks to Martin and I cannot thank him enough!”
Reserve honors with a 218 score went to Fernando Salgado and Loveya (Gunnatrashya x Love Em N Lena), owned and nominated by Camela Essick. The duo added $13,934.66 to their earnings.
It was a special night for Josh Murphy who rode his Got That Iowa Shine (Smart And Shiney x SLJ This Is My Juice), nominated by Mark Mahaffey, to a 215 and the Level 1 championship. The NRHA Professional also reined CBK Hang A Wright (Hang Ten Surprize x HR Wright On Cash), owned and nominated by William & Corliss Kellogg, to reserve honors with a 214.5. Murphy won $15,736.79.
NRHA Professional Scott McCutcheon earned the Prime Time Open Championship, along with $1,736.36, riding Special Mi (Gunners Special Nite x Mi Mega), a stallion nominated and owned by Jack Covington.
Oklahoma City, December 2 – The first Futurity champions were crowned today in an exciting finals which filled the day in Oklahoma City. With an impressive ride, Jack Medows piloted Chicsdreamofdiamonds (Magnum Chic Dream x Princess In Diamonds) as draw 31 out of a field of 32 to a score of 218.5. The duo claimed the title of Cinch NRHA Non Pro Level (L)4 Champion as well as the Youth Non Pro Championship. 
“I can’t thank this horse enough…she is a one-in-a-lifetime horse. She was with me every step and I can’t thank her enough. I knew she was capable of it, but I had to get her shown. We bought her over a year ago and she’s been great every single ride,” said the 19-year-old rider. “I won over $80,000 on her half sister, Surprizentheprincess (Jerry Lees Surprise x Princess In Diamonds), and this horse is her equal. She has her looks, her mind and her talent!”
Before arriving in OKC, Medows boasted $136,952.67 LTE. His L4 championship win added $43,984.63 to his earnings and he also took home $1,416 for the Youth Non Pro Futurity championship.
Cade McCutcheon rode Duallin Guns (Mister Nicadual x Always Gotyer Gunsup), a stallion bred, owned and nominated by McQuay Stables Inc. to the reserve championship in the Youth Futurity after posting a 213.
Mandy McCutcheon is the L4 Non Pro Futurity Reserve Champion and is the newest NRHA Million Dollar Owner
In the second section of the finals, NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Mandy McCutcheon set the stage as draw one scoring a 218 aboard Customized My Gun (Gunner x Custom Made Dunit), which secured her the Reserve in the Non Pro L4 Futurity and a paycheck of $29,873.60. Customized My Gun is owned, bred and nominated by McQuay Stables Inc. of Tioga, Texas. Mandy also took home third place honors and a check worth $23,862.82 after posting a 215 aboard Special At Nite (Gunners Special Nite x Royal Chic Solano), a stallion nominated by Teresa Putman and owned by Mandy and Tom McCutcheon. Mandy also made history tonight by surpassing the Million Dollar Mark as an owner. Her earnings and Lindsey McCutcheon’s $5,501 earned in the L4 and $4,018.68 won in the L3 riding Mandy and Tom McCutcheon’s Stars At Midnite (Gunners Special Nite x Chic Olena Starbuck), nominated by Turnabout Farm Inc. pushed her over the coveted mark.
Bentien and Gotta Twist It Up sweep the L3 and L2 Non Pro Futurity Championships
Taylor Zimmerman and Wimpys Little Jessie win the L2 Non Pro Futurity
Sandra Bentien (right) and her Gotta Twist It Up (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Make It With A Twist), a Sire & Dam Offspring, scored a 215 to sweep the Non Pro L3 and L2 Futurity Championships. “This has been four years in the making and you pray you get something like this,” said the rider from Auburn, California. “When Spooks Gotta Whiz won the Open Futurity for owner Michell (Kimball), Michell and I said that we would have to make some babies so that we could become proud grandmas! I bred, raised and trained this horse myself even though I received a lot of assistance from Casey Deary in the last 4 weeks and I am thrilled!”
The Reserve in L3 and L2 divisions, with a 214 score, went to Ginger Schmersal riding Gold Digging Dunnit (Pale Face Dunnit x Dun It Reining). Gold Digging Dunnit is owned and bred by B S Syndicate and was nominated and bred by Hickory Creek Ranch LLC.
Taylor Zimmerman (right) and Wimpys Little Jessie (Wimpys Little Step x Jessie Dot Tari) scored a 213 to win the Non Pro L1 Championship. Wimpys Little Jessie is owned, bred and nominated by Vaughn Zimmerman. “This is the first time that I have made the Level 4 finals and its just where I wanted to be!” said the young rider.
Her grandfather, Vaughn, added: “Taylor had a horse that was not working for her so, when Bobby Avila Jr. recommended this horse, and my granddaughter told me she wanted her, you got to give it to her, that’s what it is all about!”
Earning the Championship in the Prime Time Non Pro was James Morgan DVM (right) riding his own horse, Shiney Workboots (Smart And Shiney x Reminic At Work), nominated and bred by David Silva, Sr., to a score of 212.5.
Congratulations to Wimpys Little Step!
Another major milestone was reached by Wimpys Little Step who crossed the NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire mark. The impressive stallion’s offspring earnings prior to the 2016 NRHA Futurity & NAAC Championship Show was $8,981,037.25!
Oklahoma City, Okla., Dec. 3—The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) continued a year-long celebration marking its 50th anniversary year with a special presentation of past Non Pro Futurity champions. Billed as a showcase, the presentation on Dec. 1 included a red-carpet tribute to each of the 24 individuals who have won the Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity title since the competition was established in 1976.
From left to right: Mandy McCutcheon, Jim Morgan DVM, Randy Alderson, Charlie Wiederholt, Keith Crawford, Kelle Smith, Jesse Asmussen, Tish Fappani, Lee Vincent, Tom Krshka;, Kristi Rose, Joshua Hattig, Samantha Griffin, Veronica Deans
Held during the NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., the showcase attracted past champions from across North America. Fifteen winners were on hand to watch a video tribute and walk the red carpet to receive a red rose bouquet and pair of custom spurs created by NRHA Corporate Partner Montana Silversmiths. The gifts and flowers were presented by NRHA President Rick Clark and NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter.
Participating champions included Veronica Deans, who won in 2011; Samantha Griffin, 2004; Josh Hattig, 2001; Kristi Rose, 1998; Tom Krshka, 1992; and Lee Vincent, 1979. Two-time Non Pro Futurity champions walking the red carpet included Tish Fappani, 2010 and 2015; Jesse Asmussen, 2012 and 2014; Kelle Smith, 2003 and 2006; Keith Crawford, 1997 and 1999; Charlie Wiederholt, 1991 and 1998; and Randy Alderson, 1976 and 1977.
Also on hand was three-time champion Jim Morgan, DVM, the 1984, 1985 and 1986 winner. The program concluded with 8-time champion Mandy McCutcheon in the spotlight. Her titles span three decades and were won in 1993, 1994, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013. Both Morgan and McCutcheon also are members of the NRHA Hall of Fame. Several of the champions remain active in competition and qualified horses for the 2016 Cinch NRHA Non Pro Futurity Finals.
Past champions unable to attend include three-time champion Richard Greenberg, 1978,1982 and 1983; Chad Clark, 2002; Nancy Flathers, 2000; Stephanie Blair, 1996; Chad Howard, 1990; the late Craig Howard, 1989; Jim Robin, 1987; Christian Tremblay, 1981 and Jim Dudley 1980.
A special thank you to the NRHA Partners:
Adequan®, Anderson Bean Boot Company, Bluebonnet Feeds, Cardinal Reining Horses, Cinch, Classic Equine, Downunder Horsemanship, John Deere, Kiser Arena Specialist, Lucas Oil, MS Diamonds, Texas, Protect the Harvest, Markel Insurance Company, Merial, Montana Silversmiths, Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau, Platinum Performance, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes, Santa Hill Ranch, Silver Spurs Equine, Silver Spurs Saddles, SmartPak, Trailguard and Xtra Quarter Horses.
NRHA Event Sponsors: RAM, Sandbur, Not Ruf At All, Twin Cities South Trailers, Twin Cities South Sundowner Trailers, Story Book Stables, Star Spangled Whiz, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, Continental Saddlery, Equine Oasis, Bob’s Custom Saddles, KO Trading, Elite Stall Mat Rentals, Scott Cleaners, Avila’s Proshop, Brandt Blankets, Mr. Electric Spark, Old Sorrel Western Sports Apparel, John Vance Autogroup, Boot Barn
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. The NRHA would like to continue the celebration of our 50th anniversary with our corporate partners, members and supporters for making this association a true success.
