By Katie Hendrickson – NRHA Reiner Assistant Editor

The 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby slid into its second day of competition with the first go, first section of the $87,500-added Non Pro Derby and completed the go-round in the $155,000-added Open Derby. The Oklahoma City, Okla. show also welcomed 12 ancillary classes in the AdequanR Championship Arena.

In the $155,000-added Open Derby, the lowest score to qualify for the finals, also known as “the bubble,” in the Level 4 was 221, Level 3 was 218, Level 2 was 216 and Level 1 was 214.

When the dirt settled in the State Fair Arena Coliseum, Shawn Flarida riding Quistador and Jordan Larson aboard Spooks Gotta Whiz tied for the top spot on the open leader board with a 229.

As the 2010 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champions and co-leaders after the go-round, Spooks Gotta Gun (Spooks Gotta Gun x Prettywhizprettydoes) and Larson are the team to watch. The four-year-old stallion has over $169,000 in NRHA earnings and is owned by Michell Kimball of Encinita, Calif.

Quistador (Conquistador Whiz x Miss N Becky) is owned by Augustine and Gaynia Revenberg of Ontario, Canada. Flarida rode the four-year-old stallion to over $112,000 in NRHA earnings last year, including third place at the 2010 NRHA Futurity.

Yesterday’s leaders in the remaining open divisions continue to hold their top positions going into the finals: Jay McLauglin and A Shiner Named Sioux (Level 3 Open), Robert Avila, Jr. and Skeets Peppy Dot Com (Level 2 Open) and Melanie Wilhelm aboard Chexy Whiz (Level 1 Open).

Dan Huss and Charisma N Chrome (Custom Crome x Miss Sissy Gun) won the $5,000 Prime Time Open championship, as determined by the go-round score. Marc Gordon of Elgin, Ill., owns the six-year-old mare and will cheer the duo on again as their go-round score of 222 also qualified them for the Open Level 4 and 3 finals on Saturday.

In the first section of the $87,500-added NRHA Non Pro Derby, Jessica Sternberg, a 21-year-old from the United Kingdom, set the bar by scoring a 221.5 aboard Smart Like Valentino (Smart Like Juice x Smart Little Jewel). Sternberg and the four-year-old stallion owned by her mother Rosanne Sternberg currently lead all four non pro divisions.

Glen Reed of Bald Knob, Ark., rode his six-year-old mare Its West Coast Cash (West Coast Whiz x Its All About Cash) to the go-round lead in the $5,000-added Prime Time Non Pro division with a 217.

In the Youth Non Pro division, Brook Boyle and Lil Joe Tag (Whiz N Tag Chex x Katie Jo Fritz) are holding first after posting a 217.5. They’re also sitting second in the Non Pro Level 2 and Level 1 divisions. The six-year-old gelding is owned by Mike and Barbi Boyle of Princeton, Ky.

The Non Pro go-round continues on Wednesday along with the inaugural 7 & Up Open Derby, 13 ancillary classes, an NRHA Town Talk Meeting and the Platinum Performance Draw Party for NRHA Open Derby finalist owners and riders.

Stay Up-To-Date – For the latest news from the NRHA Derby Show, be sure to follow NRHA on Facebook and Twitter. Score updates, event reminders and video will be posted daily to keep reiners around the world informed as the news develops. In addition, NRHA will post the top three runs of the day from the NRHA Open Derby and NRHA Non Pro Derby go-rounds and finals. Complete results for the NRHA Derby and ancillary classes can be found at nrhaderby.com.

The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support: AdequanR; Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cimarron Trailers; Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center; Classic Equine; Darling 888 Ranch; Horse&Rider; John Deere; Kiser Arena Specialists; Markel Insurance Company; MD Barns; Merial; 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 Company; Silver Spurs Equine; SmartPak and Xtra Quarter Horses, plus Event Sponsors Back on Track, Cool-A-Zone, Fowler Dodge, Scott Cleaners, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery and Metro Golf Cars.

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. To learn more about the NRHA, its programs and family of corporate partners, visit www.nrha.com.