Roosters Pistolena and Lee Deacon. Primo Morales photo
The Snaffle Bit Futurity Open finalists have been determined in Reno, Nevada, and riders set their sights on preparing for the clean slate finals on Thursday, October 1 (Cinch Intermediate Open and Limited Open divisions) and Saturday, October 3 (Open). And the excitement about the Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales is building – see the details in the latest edition of the Reno Wrap Up:
| Chris Dawson and Shiney Sparklette. Primo Morales photo |
Futurity Open
It’s down to the top 25 who will compete for the $100,000 Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship. The prelims are over and each horse and rider start with a clean slate in the finals on Saturday, Oct. 3.
There was a tie at the top of the Open composite – the high score was a 659.5, shared between Cats Picasso (Metallic Cat x Playboys Vixen x Hickoryote), shown by John Swales for owner Robbie McKay; and Shiney Sparklette (Shining Spark x Docs Sulena x Doc O’Lena), shown by Chris Dawson for co-owners Carol Rose and Dickson Varner. It took a 647.5 to qualify for the Open finals.
Cinch Intermediate Open
Ashland, Kansas, professional Erin Taormino guided Plain Wright (Hes Wright On x Isabellena x Quejanaisalena) to the top score in the Cinch Intermediate Open prelims, a 653. Plain Wright is a gelding bred and owned by Garth and Amanda Gardiner. Twenty riders will advance to Thursday’s finals, and the minimum score to qualify was a 642.5.
Futurity Limited Open
The composite leader in the Futurity Limited Open, with a 652.5, was Shine Smarter (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Tari x Shining Spark), shown by Sarah Dawson and owned by her parents, Richard and Cheryl Winters.
Level 1 Limited Open Champion
The preliminary round also determined the Champion in the Level 1 Limited Open futurity – this is a division for riders with less than $15,000 in limited age event earnings. Roosters Pistolena (Gallo Del Cielo x Mss Boomerchex x Mr Boomerjac) scored a total 635.5 (208 herd/215 rein/212.5 cow) to win the Level 1 title, and earn a spot in the Limited Open finals. Roosters Pistolena is owned by CDJ Performance Horses and shown by Lee Deacon. He took home a check for $7,424, along with a CR Morrison trophy and Gist buckle from the NRCHA; a 30x hat from JW Brooks Custom Hats; a fleece cooler from Classic Equine; a monogrammed Cinch jacket from NRCHA; a $500 gift certificate from CR Ranchwear, and product from Platinum Performance.
Open Bridle/Limited Open Bridle
The last class on the Wednesday schedule in Reno was the Open Bridle prelims and Limited Open Bridle class. Leading the group of 12 finalists was CD Dee Vee Dee (CD Lights x Shiners Missy Jay x Shining Spark), shown by Jay McLaughlin and owned by Jay and his wife, Wendy, with a composite 438.5 score. It took a 431.5 or above to move on to Friday’s clean slate finals.
The Limited Open Bridle Champion was Morgan Cromer, riding Talkin Prize (Smokums Prize x Talkin Peppy Merada x Meradas Money Talks), owned by Stephen Silva, to a 435.5 composite. The win paid $1,275 and came with a Gist custom buckle and product from Platinum Performance.
