Peter DeFreitas made it to the Open Finals of the National Reining Breeders Classic for the first time on Saturday, April 23 – an accomplishment that many trainers haven’t experienced. But by the end of the night, DeFreitas was more than a finalist – he was the Intermediate Open Champion!

He was riding Conquistadors Sandy, by Conquistador Whiz out of Ritas San Jo, owned by Double Run Farm. DeFreitas, the resident trainer for Double Run Farm, has been showing reining horses for 14 years, and said that winning a title at the world’s largest added-money reining is “awesome.” He added, “I have been dreaming about this stuff since I was a little kid. To win something like this is huge.”

DeFreitas and Conquistadors Sandy had a $31,130 payday in the Intermediate Open, and collected an additional $20,500 for a tenth place tie in the Open Level 4. “I’ve never made the Open finals here – this is by far the best horse show I’ve ever had.”

Not only did he win big checks, DeFreitas also received a custom saddle from Martin Saddlery, a Gist Silversmiths buckle, a Whisper Bit from M3 Products, a complete Tim McQuay Art of Reining DVD series, 25lbs of Resilience Omega 3, and the signature blue crystal trophy from the NRBC.

DeFreitas and the 4-year-old mare qualified for the Intermediate Open Finals at the National Reining Horse Association Futurity – but the NRBC is the first show for the pair in 2011. “She’s definitely gotten more broke and solid – she was just a little green at the Futurity, even though she was really good,” he said. “We’re entered in the Derby. We’re going to take her home and give her some time off.”

David Zimmerman not only won the Intermediate Open Reserve title, he also finished as the Champion of the Limited Open and Open Level 1 with Jacs Lil Spook. Zimmerman and the Smart Spook stallion, out of Miss Whoa Jac, marked a 225 to win $18,948 in the Intermediate Open. Zimmerman and Jacs Lil Spook, owned by Newell Quarter Horses, took home an additional $13,976 for the two Championships, and another $18,000 for a fourteenth place finish in the Open.