Former National Reining Breeders Classic Champion Andrea Fappani is after another NRBC title, and he brought the big guns to the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. On the first day of Open preliminary competition, the National Reining Horse Association Million Dollar Rider piloted Tinker With Guns to a 227.5 – currently the high score of the round!

Tinker With Guns, owned by Rancho Oso Rio, is a former NRHA Futurity Top Five finisher. Tinker With Guns is by Gunner (Colonels Smoking Gun) and out of Tinker Nic.

Currently leading the Intermediate Open with a 224 is Peter DeFreitas and Conquistadors Sandy, owned by Double Run Farm LLC. Conquistadors Sandy is by Conquistador Whiz and out of Ritas San Jo.

Topping the Limited Open and Level 1 Open is David Zimmerman, who piloted Jacs Lil Spook to a 223.5. Jacs Lil Spook, owned by Newell Quarter Horses, is by Smart Spook out of Miss Whoa Jac.

Scott McCutcheon and Smart Like Valentino lead the Open Prime Time division with a 223.5. Smart Like Valentino, by Smart Like Juice out of Smart Little Jewell, is owned by Rosanne Sternberg.

The Open preliminary competition concludes Thursday, April 21, with the final 88 runs. The top 30 Open entries, as well as the top twenty in the Intermediate Open, Limited Open, Level 1 Open, and Open Prime Time, will advance to the clean-slate finals on Saturday, April 23.

Following the Open Preliminary competition, all Open Finalists, along with family and friends, will enjoy the Surpass Open Draw Party in the Texas Children’s Hospital Arena Club. The Draw Party begins at 7 p.m., and everyone is invited to join in the excitement.

The NRBC also features a full-slate of National Reining Horse Association-approved classes, which run in the East Arena while the Classic is held in the Coliseum. The National Reining Breeders Classic is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just fourteen years, the NRBC has grown to include nearly 200 subscribed stallions. Annually, the payout at the National Reining Breeders Classic exceeds $1.4 million. For information on the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.