When Karl Roberts Jr. didn’t make it back to the Non Pro finals in the National Reining Breeders Classic on Tivitos Top Starlet, he decided to take the 5-year-old mare to the East Arena for the National Reining Horse Association Ancillary Limited Non Pro (2) class. It was a wise decision.

Marking a 143.5, the Broomsfield, Colorado, rider beat a class of 57 entries on Friday, April 16, winning $162.

“When I didn’t make it back, everybody kept telling me, ‘Go show your horse and just have fun,’ and that’s what I did today,” Karl said. “I said, ‘What the heck! I’ll go show some place else.’ We entered up and it was a good day.”

By Tivitos Sugar Bar and out of Spanky Mae, “Starlet” was started by Karl’s trainer NRHA $2 million Rider Craig Schmersal. She has more than $2,000 in earnings and Karl has been riding her since she was a 3-year-old and showed her at the 2008 NRHA Futurity.

Although some bad luck kept Karl and Starlet out of the NRBC Non Pro finals, the pair are heading to Oklahoma City in June for the NRHA Derby.

“Hopefully we’ll make the finals there,” he said.

Winning the Gist Silversmiths high-point trophy buckle for the division was Josie Coverdale of Bryan, Texas, and her 9-year-old gelding, Twice The Scamp. The pair marked a 140.5 to win the first Limited Non Pro Ancillary class on Tuesday, April 13, and were third with a 140.5 in the April 16 class. Each Ancillary class high-point Champion receives a Gist buckle.

Reserve in the Limited Non Pro (2) was Juan Carlos Leon of Rio Grand, Texas, marking a 141.5 on Whizs Diamond, who is by Topsail Whiz and out of Shiners Diamond Girl. They earned $106.

The National Reining Breeders Classic, celebrating its tenth anniversary at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just thirteen years, the NRBC has grown to include upwards of 230 subscribed stallions and in 2009, there were over 2,800 enrolled foals. Annually, the payout at the National Reining Breeders Classic exceeds $1.3 million. For information on the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.