The APHA Platinum Non-Pro Weanling Breeders’ Trust classes brought big excitement and even bigger prizes to the Watt Arena September 21. Five classes paid $118,690 to eligible foals led by non-pro exhibitors.
Reformatted in 2016, the Platinum Breeders’ Trust program saw 150 percent growth in entry payments for 2018 from 2017.
“You can’t help but get excited to show when there is such a big payout on the line,” APHA Director of Breeders’ Trust Matt Arias said. “Investing in our non-professional exhibitors has truly helped bring new faces and renewed enthusiasm to our halter community and Platinum competition. Judging from the enrollments and interest we already have, 2019 is looking to be even bigger.”
Platinum Non-Pro Weanling Mares Breeders’ Futurity—$38,882*
Adam Matthews’ lucky charm is hard to miss—his flashy 2018 palomino overo mare Brooks Golden Charm stood out in a tough field of weanling mares while competing for their share of the Platinum Breeders’ Futurity purse.
“She’s a good filly, and she showed well today,” the Gordonville, Texas, horseman said. “She’s pretty, and I like pretty.”
Bred by Donna Ashby of Crossroads, Texas, the filly is by Brooks Or Dunn and out of Obvimiss (QH). Ultimately, the duo took home $12,442 for their whirlwind win.
“Once you get that first judge, you just sail; it was a great feeling to mark so high on so many cards,” Adam said. “It was fun so win so much—it helps pay the way! Us non-pros spend a lot of money doing this, so [the Platinum classes] are a great incentive to come out and show.”
Platinum Non-Pro Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Mares—$35,132*
Anastasia Kull had to wipe away some proud tears before she led KR Need A Sugardaddy to accept her awards. They had, after all, just claimed $11,944 for a strong showing in the Platinum Non-Pro Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Mares class.
“She’s the first one that I’ve bred who is out of one of the mares we have raised, so I’m pretty proud,” Anastasia said. “The ranch management liked her from the very beginning; we’ve known she was special.”
KR Need A Sugardaddy is a 2018 sorrel solid mare by Execute and out of Chocolate Kande (QH); she was bred and is owned by Terry and Anastasia Kull of Pilot Point, Texas. Anastasia says she strives to bring an entry for the Platinum division each year, citing the hefty purses as a lucrative incentive.
“It draws people to come,” she said. “We all want to take a little bit of the money home.”
Platinum Non-Pro Weanling Stallions Breeders Futurity—$29,909*
After seeing the big-money payouts awarded as part of the 2017 Platinum Breeders’ Futurity halter classes, Christopher Page knew he needed to get in on the action. So when he spotted the flashy 2018 bay overo colt Stayin In Style for sale by Jodi Finkenbinder of Valley View, Texas, Christopher wasted no time in making the colt his own.
“Last year we were down here and didn’t have anything in the Platinum, and it looked like it was a good futurity,” Christopher said. “We were super excited to get down here and try to win some money with some quality horses.”
Sired by Hes Stylin and out of Lady Is An All Star, “Chill” rocked his first outing at the APHA World Championship Show, winning the Platinum Non-Pro Weanling Stallions Breeders Futurity and snagging a check for $10,169.
“Before the Breeders Halter Futurity, before this Platinum program and the WCHA, there wasn’t much out there to take your baby and win this kind of money. The market was in a low spot. These programs picked it up for sure,” Christopher said. “And it always feels good to get your name called out as the champion.”
Platinum Non-Pro Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Stallions & Geldings—$8,783*
Showing his homebred 2018 bay solid colt Hes Styled, Kevin Williams of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, was over-the-moon excited when he walked out of the Watt Arena with a paycheck worth nearly $9,000 after Hes Styled won the 2018 Platinum Non-Pro Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Stallions & Geldings Breeders’ Futurity.
“APHA is such a fantastic organization, and to win one of their premier contests means everything to me,” Kevin said.
Sired by Hes Stylin, the colt is out of The Last Heiress (QH), owned by Edie Williams. The win came easy to the well-built colt, Kevin says, thanks to good preparation by trainer Kelley Stone.
“We couldn’t be happier with him. His conformation is really strong; he’s grown fast, and we’ve had to manage that, but with Kelley Stone’s help we’ve been able to do that effectively,” Kevin explained. “He’s really good minded and understands where his feet go. Once you get him there, he just stands there and looks pretty. He makes it easy.”
Platinum Non-Pro Weanling Geldings Breeders Futurity—$5,981*
Owned by the Smith family for only about 10 days prior to showing at the 2018 APHA World Championship Show, Giorgio wasted no time earning his keep for his new owners. The gelding captured cash at the recent Breeders Halter Futurity and then tacked on another $5,981 in his first class of the APHA World Show—the Platinum Non-Pro Weanling Geldings Breeders’ Futurity—with several more showing opportunities to come.
“We appreciate all the opportunities APHA has given for this young colt,” exhibitor Cooper Smith said. “He’s up for a lot of trophies and a lot of money in a short time.”
Bred by Lawrence Armstrong of Cushing, Oklahoma, the 2018 sorrel overo gelding is by Hes Stylin and out of Kids Gucci Girl. He was purchased by Jason Smith of Whitesboro, Texas, in mid-September.
“He’s really balanced, really straight and not been pushed on too much so he’ll go on and make an older horse, too,” Cooper said. “The Platinum program has opened up a lot of opportunities for young horses and paid out a lot of money for breeders and showers—it’s created a new avenue for horses to go on and show.”
