The National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) continued Saturday with the first go, third section of the $170,000 added NRHA Open Futurity at the 2010 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show being held now through December 4 at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

 With only four draws left in the third section, Shine Chic Shine, owned by Amabile & Strusiner of Grandview, Texas, kicked the competition up another notch. The three-year-old stallion by Smart Chic Olena marked a scorching 227 with NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida in the saddle. The duo now leads the Level 4 Open division by a four-point margin.

 Dell Hendricks moved into second in the Level 4 Open division. During the second section, the NRHA Million Dollar Rider from Tioga, Texas marked a 223 aboard Taris Little Whiz, a Topsail Whiz mare owned by Adair Reiners LLC of Mesa, Arizona.

 Leaders in the Level 3, 2 and 1 Open divisions remain unchanged. Brett Stone holds the top spot in Level 3 and 2 Open divisions with his 221.5 scoring run aboard Smoking Whiz, a stallion by Topsail Whiz owned by Silver Spurs Equine of Cave Creek, Arizona.

A 221 is still the top score in the Level 1 Open division. Billy Williams and Wimpys Lil Star, owned by the Wimpys Lil Star Partners of Murrieta, California, marked their 221 in Friday’s second section. Williams and the Wimpys Little Step gelding are also in second place in the Level 2 Open division and tied for second in the Level 3 Open with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Todd Sommers and This Cat Can Slide, owned by the Cat Can Slide Partnership of Whitesboro, Texas.

The first go round of the Open Futurity concludes Sunday. The NRHA Futurity then welcomes its first non pro competitors for the first go, first section of the $105,000 added NRHA / Cinch Non Pro Futurity.

Sunday also marks the start of the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) in the Adequan® Championship arena which features the top eight riders from NRHA Affiliates across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The show features the Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 4 when one entry is guaranteed a check for $125,000 as well as incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners and award sponsors. The NRHA / Cinch Non Pro Futurity offers an additional $105,000 in added money for non pro reiners, which will be awarded on Friday, December 3.

 Watch the live webcast, keep tabs on the leaders and find out about the latest news and upcoming events at www.nrhafuturity.com, www.facebook.com/nrhareining or www.twitter.com/nrha.

 The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the 2010 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show: Adequan®; Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cimarron Trailers; Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center; Classic Equine; Horse&Rider; John Deere; Kiser Arena Specialists; Markel Insurance Company; MD Barns; Montana Silversmiths; Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Pard’s Western Shop; Platinum Performance; Purina Mills; Quarter Horse News; Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company; Rocky Mountain Clothing Co.; SmartPak, and Wimpys Little Step.

 Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the standard setting body of the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition.

For more information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining, please visit www.nrha.com or call (405) 946-7400. 

 Place / Rider / Horse / Score / Owner / Hometown – 1st Go, Sections 1-3 Current Leaders Level 4 Open

1 / Shawn Flarida / Shine Chic Shine / 227.5 / Amabile & Strusiner / Grandview, TX

2 / Dell Hendricks / Taris Little Whiz / 223 / Adair Reiners LLC / Mesa, AZ

3 / Tim McQuay / Always Gotyer Gunsup / 222.5 / McQuay Stables / Tioga, TX

 Level 3 Open

1 / Brett Stone / Smoking Whiz / 221.5 / Silver Spurs Equine / Cave Creek, AZ

2 / Todd Sommers / This Cat Can Slide / 221 / Cat Can Slide Partnership / Whitesboro, TX

2 / Billy Williams / Wimpys Lil Star / 221 / Wimpys Lil Star Partners / Murrieta, CA

 Level 2 Open

1 / Brett Stone / Smoking Whiz / 221.5 / Silver Spurs Equine / Cave Creek, AZ

2 / Billy Williams / Wimpys Lil Star / 221 / Wimpys Lil Star Partners / Murrieta, CA

3 / Thiago Boechat / Shiners Voodoo Dr / 220.5 / Xtra Quarter Horses, LLC / Purcell, OK

 Level 1 Open

1 / Billy Williams / Wimpys Lil Star / 221 / Wimpys Lil Star Partners / Murrieta, CA

2 / Patrick Flaherty / Peekomacho Del Cielo / 218.5 / Jennifer Deweese / Carbondale, CO

3 / Sean McBurney / Chromer Simpson / 218 / CDR Farms / Arlington, WA

3 / Jonathan Gauthier / Hollys Electricspark / 218 / Loni Lapalme / Quebec, Canada