Todd Bergen and Smart Luck Lead 2010 NRCHA Open Derby Preliminaries following Rein Work/Tammy Jo Hays Marks High Score in Non Pro

June 18, 2010 Off By Roberta Johnston

The second leg of preliminary competition – the rein work – was completed Thursday, June 17. Now, entries in the 2010 National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby have a good idea of what they will need to score in the final phase of competition – the cow work – to claim one of the coveted spots in Sunday’s clean-slate finals. The Open Derby Champion will receive a check for $41,002, while the Non Pro Champion will be awarded $11,825.

Taking the top spot in the Open Rein Work was NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Todd Bergen, who piloted Smart Luck to a high score of 223. Fast spins and hard stops helped Bergen and the Very Smart Remedy stallion, owned by Cable Creek Ranch, located in Aurora, Oregon, climb to the top of the preliminary composite with a 441.

In the Intermediate Open Derby rein work, Brad Barkemeyer and Dulce Smart Boomer tied Shadd Parkinson and Deal Me A Winner with a score of 216.5. Deal Me A Winner (Dealin Dirty x Just Plain N Taffi) is owned by Copper Springs Ranch.

Barkemeyer and Dulce Smart Boomer (Dulces Smart Lena x Boomerita), who is owned by Steven and Trish Greenberg, also had the high score of the Limited Open. Those high scores pushed the pair to the high composite score for both divisions.

The Open Novice Horse – which is decided through the preliminary competition – is currently led by Jake Telford and Nabisco Roan, owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses. Telford and Nabisco Roan, by Boonlight Dancer and out of Crackin, currently boast an 8-point lead in the division with a 427.5.

Brandon Staebler and Get A Mister, by Mister Dual Pep and out of Get A Master, have a 2-point edge in the Intermediate Novice Horse with a 421.5. Get A Mister is owned by Whitneys Wild Oak Ranch.

Tammy Jo Hays, riding Nics Get Smart, had the high score of the Non Pro rein work with a 219. That pushed the Nocona, Texas, Non Pro to eighth in the composite. Nics Get Smart is by Nic It In The Bud and out of Chelsea Lena.

In the Intermediate Non Pro division, Patty Ralls of Gainesville, Texas, piloted Triple Nic L to tie with Kylie Knight of Peoria, Arizona, and Dualin With Nitro. Both Non Pros marked a 218. Triple Nic L is by Pepto Taz and out of Lady Reminic, while Dualin With Nitro is by Nitro Dual Doc and out of Shootin Poo.

Jo Anne Carollo and AR Splash Of Pep (Hickorys Indian Pep x Splashnround) currently lead the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro composite with a 434.

Sandra Austin marked a 217 on her horse Nic It Night (Nic It In The Bud x Shiney Pants) to top the Amateur division rein work. That score catapulted her into a 3-way tie for the composite lead. Going into the fence work, Austin and Nic It Night, Deborah Wise and Wearingonlydiamonds (Mister Dual Pep x Whose Your Papa), and Kirk Druey and Peppy Plain Jane (Mister Dual Pep x Miss Plain Plain) all have a 418 composite.

The preliminary competition concludes Friday, June 18, following the fence work. The Amateur Championship will also be decided during the preliminary competition. A live webcast of the event is available for free by visiting the NRCHA website, thanks to NRCHA Official Videographers Galloping Video.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, now in its 61st year, is the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Markel Insurance Company, Wide World of Horses, John Deere, AdequanR, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Pfizer Animal Health, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Running W Designs, and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103492423623&s=40&e=001El51eC8vhsd-f8EdLF5REg URcqUymIslS6lmpy7ChV4r_TWcS558p9hjLDuIWuNwFzf1cUBQySZtCGlP0-Ag6a0LxDLDpcB8yI frGrtmdGQ=> .