Smooth Classical and Todd Bergen
Video: Reno Wrap Up ~ September 24, 2014
The first leg of preliminary competition, the herd work, is complete at the 2014 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, Nev., with Smooth Classical (Smooth As A Cat x Classical CD x CD Olena) and Todd Bergen winning the round in the Open division with a 222. Smooth Classical, a stallion owned by Pam Bailey, Golden, Colo., earned $1,500 for the win, as well as a Gist buckle and a trophy sponsored by the National Cutting Horse Association.
Shiney Delight (CD Lights x Shinersdiamondjackie x Shining Spark), owned by Mark and Kelly Gowing, made a big impression in the herd work preliminaries. With Justin Wright in the saddle, Shiney D elight scored a 219.5 for second place in the Open, which paid $1,125. Wright and the mare won the Intermediate Open, earning another $1,400. Wright also had the second-high score in the Intermediate Open on another horse, CR Stylish Danny Rey (Dual Rey x Flyin Stylish), owned by Eric Freitas. They worked their way to a 219, earning $1,050, and took home another $625 for third place in the Open. All told, Wright’s two horses earned $4,200 in preliminary go-round money.
In the Limited Open, Seven S Boon (Rey Boon Lena x Seven S Valentina x Playgun), shown by Robert Forst, won the herd work prelims with a 217.5, earning $1,000. The home-raised gelding, bred and owned by RT Forst Ranch, earned another $700 for third place in the Intermediate Open division.
Cuttin Wright Up (Hes Wright On x Isabellena x Quejanaisalena), shown by Erin Taormino, claimed the top spot on the leader board in the Level 1 Limited Open with a 216.5. He earned $750 for winning the Level 1, and banked another $600 for finishing second in the Limited Open. Cuttin Wright Up is bred and owned by Garth and Amanda Gardiner, Ashland, Kans.
All the Futurity Non Pro competitors showed in the herd work prelims today – and Stacey Purzycki rose to the top of three divisions: the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro and Novice Non Pro. She scored a 216 aboard Autumnagical (Autumn Acre x Boons Pepto Roany x Peptoboonsmal). Purzycki won a trio of paychecks totaling $2,900, and a Gist buckle.
The Futurity Non Pro Limited division is a herd/rein/boxing class for riders who do not compete in the fence work. In the big class of 20, two riders earned a score of 211 to share first place and split the prize money, taking home $300 each.
The first 211 score came midway through the second set, when Cutter McLaughlin worked three cows aboard Sioux Wii (A Shiner Named Sioux x What A Time We Had x A Chic In Time). Then, two horses later, Marissa Greenberg and her grade mare, Minnie, also earned a 211.
