Contributed Courtesy NRBC, Photography by Waltenberry

The long-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the NRBC, which is annually held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. The event has become so important to the reining industry that the Global Reining Sports Group graciously allowed the NRBC to use the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square during the dates of the Tulsa Reining Classic. Recognizing the needs of riders at this time of the year, the NRBC Board elected to hold a slate of futurities to allow riders the opportunity to show their 3-year-olds.

Schloemer Wins Toyon Ranch Emerging Horse Futurity

The 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic kicked off on Wednesday, August 26, with the Toyon Ranch Emerging Horse Futurity. The 56-entry Futurity featured $4,999 in added money, and Champion Daniel Schloemer rode Recoded to a score of 220 to win $2,040.

Recoded, owned by Chandler Winard, is by Electric Code and out of Chocolate Lady Chic. Schloemer has a connection to the colt that began long before the horse was born. “We call him Oliver. Chandler showed his dam as a youth. I was working for Dan Huss and we had the horse there, and that’s why I was kind of familiar with the mom,” he explained. “When they asked me if I wanted to ride this colt, I was glad to be involved. I think it helps you as a trainer or a rider in general if you know the mom or dad of the one you’re riding.”

Finishing second was Pierre-Luc Phaneuf on Mindy Gray’s Concealed Guns. Phaneuf and Concealed Guns, by Guns R For Shootin out of Sweet Lena Shine, marked a 217 to win $1,241.

Tamarack Ranch Developing Horse Futurity at NRBC

The Tamarack Ranch Developing Horse Futurity featured $20,000 in added money, with the pros all attempting to claim big chunks of the purse.
It’s not often that Shawn Flarida leaves an event early, but with his son Cody set to get married this weekend, he had to make some changes. “I actually showed all my futurity horses today because I’m jumping on a plane in a few hours to go home for the wedding, so I can’t show tomorrow (in the Hollywoodstinseltown Open Futurity),” Flarida explained with a smile.

Flarida piloted PS Whizzen Colonel (Wimpys Littlecolonel x PS A Whizzen Chic) to the Level 4 win, and a check for $5,260, with a score of 220.5. “He turned really, really good. I didn’t run him as hard as I could have in the circles, but he stopped great. You can just point him down there, say the word ‘whoa,’ and he stops. He was really good,” Flarida said.

Taking second with a 219.5 was Fernando Salgado and Step Out N Rock It, owned by La Sierita. Step Out N Rock It, by Wimpys Little Step out of Miss Whiz Dunit, won $3,302.

Theoneyourelookinfor is extra special to Eduardo Salgado. He rode the mare’s sister in Brazil, winning numerous titles. When he moved to the United States, he purchased the mare’s dam, Jameen Olena and bred her to Shiners Voodoo Dr. “It’s special because I have her sister in Brazil, and she’s really similar to her sister. This is my first baby here in the United States,” Salgado shared. That cross paid off, as Salgado and Theoneyourelookinfor took the Championship of the Tamarack Ranch Developing Horse Futurity Open Levels 3 and 2 for checks worth $4,790.

Taking second in the Level 3 was Daniel Schloemer and Dirty Diamonds with a score of 219. Dirty Diamonds, by Whizkey N Diamonds out of Wimpys Cat Step, is owned by Big Dreams Investments. The pair also placed in the Level 4 to win a total of $4,282.

Finishing Reserve in the Open Level 2 was Stefano Calcagnini and PL Trashyasparkler with a score of 218. Owned by Luigi Parise, PL Trashyasparkler also placed in Levels 3 and 4 for total earnings of $3,717. PL Trashyasparkler is by Gunnatrashya out of Custom Sparkler.

Raphael Bourdeau purchased Chics Dig Sparkles a year ago as a two-year-old. The young mare, by A Sparkling Vintage out of Peppy Chic Finale, impressed him with her physical stops and good mind. Those traits paid off, as the pair earned the Tamarack Ranch Developing Horse Futurity Open Level 1 Championship marking a 216. The duo also tied for seventh in the Level 2, bringing their total earnings for the day to $1,127.

Garrett Gentry rode KB Wimpys Gunnrunner, owned by Gary Marsolais, to a score of 215.5 to win the Reserve title and place in the Top Ten of the Level 2, to win checks totaling more than $853. KB Wimpys Gunnrunner is by Wimpys Little Step and out of Dun Gotta Gunner.

Hollywoodstinseltown Open Futurity

The pinnacle of futurity competition at the NRBC was held Friday, August 28, with the incredible $61,000 added Hollywoodstinseltown Open Futurity. The 114-entry futurity featured top riders from all over, and when the last horse had left the arena, there was tie for the win.

Prior to the NRBC, Thischichasbigdreams was giving Abby Lengel a lot of confidence. The mare’s style and feel had her convinced she was special and ready to compete. That feeling started to leave, though, when Lengel arrived in Tulsa. “I felt like she was special early on, and then I got to this horse show and things didn’t feel like they do at home,” Lengel admitted. “It stressed me out a little bit because she didn’t act like herself.”

That all changed when the two walked into the Ford Truck Arena. “When she went in there she fired, and she was what I thought she was going to be. She can be a little looky, but she was with me. She really fired turning and was fantastic both ways. We had a small under-turn which was my fault, but everywhere she was with me,” Lengel said.

Lengel and Thischichasbigdreams, by Magnum Chic Dream out of Slide By Shiner, marked a 224 to tie for the Open Level 4 Championship, worth $12,720.

Over the years, Andrea Fappani has developed a distinctive style of riding and showing which has catapulted him to be one of the NRHA’s leading riders with more than $5 million in earnings. It was that style that lead NRBC Board Member Pete Kyle to contact him about a yearling colt.

“Pete and Tamara Kyle owned the dam. Pete called me and told me they had one that would fit my style. I’m not sure how they knew, but this horse definitely did. Morris Kulmer, my good friend, and client bought him as a late yearling, and he’s been in my program ever since. He’s been special from the beginning. We knew he was great-minded from the start,” Fappani shared.

That colt was Thee American Dream, by Magnum Chic Dream out of Gunner Git Ya Dun. With Fappani at the reins, the colt performed a picturesque pattern, resulting in a score of 224 to tie for the win of the Open Level 4, worth $12,720. “We didn’t know how tough he was going to be, but this was his first outing and it turned out pretty special,” he said.

Arno Honstetter and Gunnabetopdog (Gunnatrashya x Sparkle On Top) were the high money earners of the day, tying for the win of the Hollywoodstinseltown Open Futurity Level 3, winning the Open Level 2, and tying for third in the Open Level 4, bringing the day’s earnings to $13,415. Frederick Christen owns the colt.

“He was very nice. He looked around when we walked in, so I just stood there until he relaxed. He turned good the first way, and then he settled in. When he loped off, I knew he was with me. He guided for me and I could just let him do his job,” Honstetter explained.

Kole Price had a great day in the Futurity. His three entries showed well, with Gunnastrikeyaout tying for the Open Level 3 Championship and finishing tied for third in the Open Level 4 for an $11,170 payday.
Gunnastrikeyaout, nicknamed Yadi after St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, is owned by Todd and Angie Albers. “They’re huge Cardinal fans. I’m a Cubs fan, so I’ve had to adjust to that,” Price laughed.

Price started Gunnastrikeyaout, by Gunnatrashya and out of Strike A Star, as a two-year-old. “This was his first time to show. He’s a little lazy, so I was able to chase him out there pretty good. He showed exactly how I was hoping and how I had planned he would,” Price said.

Julia Roshelli’s game plan for showing Cee Mi Diablo in the Futurity for ownrs J & B Partnership was simple; show him smart. The pair competed at the Mid-Atlantic Reining Horse Association Futurity a few weeks ago. While they had done very well, Roshelli knew there were a few things she could have done differently.

In the Ford Truck Arena, Cee Mi Diablo, by Inferno 66 out of Brennas Cee, performed every maneuver asked of him, resulting in a score of 217 which clinched the Open Level 1 Co-Championship and tied for fifth in the Level 2 for a check for $1,549.

It was only the second time for Custom Made Voodoo to see the show pen, but the colt, by Shiners Voodoo Dr out of Custom Josie, put together a stellar run with Diego Gaona at the reins. The pair scored a 217 to tie for the Open Level 1 and fifth in the Level 2 divisions, collecting $1,549.

SmartPak Non Pro Futurity

The first week of the NRBC culminated with the SmartPak Non Pro Futurity on Saturday. Longtime NRBC and Tulsa Reining Classic sponsor, SmartPak opted for the sponsorship of the $27,000 added SmartPak Non Pro Futurity in this transition year.

Ryan Humphrey bred, raised, and trained Shots R Fired, and on Saturday afternoon, he showed the colt to his first futurity win. The pair marked a 219 to claim the Level 4 Championship.

Shots R Fired is by Humphrey’s stallion Guns R For Shootin, and the colt’s dam, Freckled Whiz, is one of his former show horses. “We did pretty good today. He went in and did everything he was supposed to. I was happy with his circles, turns, and stops. I felt like he was good across the board,” Humphrey shared.

Owner Shelley Brien piloted Dirty Diamonds to another big score – a 218.5 – and racked up several more titles. They tied for second in the Level 4, tied for the win of Levels 3 and 2, and won the Level 1 outright, racking up more than $6,747 in earnings.

Dirty Diamonds, by Whizkey N Diamonds, is out of Brien’s mare Wimpys Cat Step. “I showed this horse’s mom. This is her first foal, and I could not be more thrilled with him. He’s been a dream. He just wants to go in and be good and dependable, and that’s just what his mom was,” she said.

Shes Big Timin caught George Lawrence’s eye when the stunning mare was just a two-year-old, but it wasn’t only her good looks that got his attention. Her breeding also played a major role. “She’s by my stud Wimpys Littlecolonel, so I wanted to help prove the stud,” he said of the mare, who’s out of Plus Her Big Time. The mare marked a 218.5 to take Reserve in the Level 4 and tied for the win of Levels 3 and 2, earning a check for $6,145.

Although Tish Fappani has been to the Expo Square in Tulsa numerous times to watch her husband Andrea show, she herself hadn’t shown there. She remedied that on Saturday when she piloted Joes Genes (Lil Joe Cash x Electric Genes) to a score of 218.5 to tie for the Level 4 Co-Reserve, as well as a tie for the Level 3 Championship. All totaled, Fappani and Joes Genes won $5,054.

If you’ve watched Kelle Smith over the last several years, you’ll have noticed she has only been riding offspring of Spooks Gotta Whiz. “That’s the only thing I’ve had for the last five years or so. I must have something that is easy to train, and they’re perfect for me. I love them,” she said.
It looks like Smith has another good one, as she took top honors in the Prime Time division and finished in the Top 10 of the Level 4 on another Spooks Gotta Whiz; her horse Exit 21. The pair won more than $1,800 after marking a 217.

NRBC Open Championship

Casey Deary’s career sky-rocketed when he won the NRHA Futurity on Americasnextgunmodel. Deary and the incredible mare accumulated nearly $300,000 in earnings, so it was a poignant moment for the Weatherford, Texas, trainer when he rode one of her colts, Americasnexttopgun, owned by Jody Puno of Puno Performance Horses, to win the NRBC Open Championship.

The crowd was with Deary and Americasnexttopgun, by Walla Walla Whiz, from the first flawlessly executed stop. When the score was announced – a 226.5 – the crowd erupted. “I knew I had enough horse to win it, so I showed him for what I knew he could do and made sure to not overdo it,” Deary shared.

While elated about the win, and accompanying check of $75,000, Deary admitted he was exhausted as well.

“It was a very busy evening,” Deary said. “I have an exceptional group of people I work with.”

Deary and Americas Supermodel, owned by Whitmarsh Arcese Partnership, marked a 224.5 to tie for Reserve, worth $41,000. Also tying for reserve were Jason Vanlandingham and A Vintage Smoke. A Vintage Smoke, by A Sparkling Vintage out of Lady Smoke Peppy, is owned by Diane Mesmer.

Competing as the last rider in a finals as tough as the NRBC Open can be rather nerve-wracking. That’s why Ruben Vandorp only watched one other run. “I tried not to follow any of the class. I knew what was winning it, but I didn’t know how deep it was. I watched the very first horse go, and that’s the only one I watched all night,” he shared.

It must have been the right strategy, as Vandorp and his horse Spooks Gotta Crush (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Megas Sugar Baby) gave it their all. The result? A score of 224 which secured the Level 3 Championship and tied for fourth in the Level 4. All totaled, the night’s earnings came to $46,321.

Reining fans likely remember watching Not Ruf At All and Jason Vanlandingham compete at the major events, always wearing a signature red shirt and saddle pad. During the first section of the NRBC Open Finals on Saturday, when another Vanlandingham entered the pen wearing the same color scheme. Dalton Vanlandingham piloted Ruff Little Whiz, a colt by the memorable stallion and owned by his father, to a score of 220.5 to win the Championship of Levels 1 and 2.

“It’s actually the same shirt and pad,” the 21-year-old shared.

The ensemble apparently retained some of the good luck, as Dalton and Ruff Little Whiz earned checks totaling $11,402.

Ann Salmon-Anderman and her homegrown mare Ruf Lil Joe took home the Open Prime Time title of this year’s NRBC. Anderson and the mare, by Lil Joe Cash out of Dunit A Lil Ruf, marked a 221.5 (includes handicap) in the finals to take the title. They also finished tied for fourth in the Level 2, bringing total earnings for the night to $5,061.

The Development Division at the NRBC adds another opportunity to win money for those horses who might not have as much show experience. With $10,000 in added money, the division pays well, and for no additional entry fee. The Development Division is decided in the preliminary round, and Marie Kleiner and the four-year-old This Gun Works (Gunners Tinseltown x Reminic At Work) taking first in the division with a 217.5. The win was worth $6,101.

NRBC Non Pro Championship

Indy Roper is still glowing from her big win just months ago in Oklahoma City when she won the NRHA Derby Non Pro Level 4 Championship on her horse Spooks Show Time. The pair are on a roll, because on Friday afternoon, they added another line to their resume with the NRBC Non Pro Level 4 title.

“I’m over the moon,” she said following the awards ceremony.

Roper and Spooks Show Time (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Dolittle Lena) marked a 221.5 in the finals but had drawn up early and had to wait through many more runs. “I just got out of everyone’s way and went back to the trailer and just took a breath. There were so many nice horses in the finals, there was no way to know what could happen,” she said.

The score held, and Roper received a two-horse trailer from Twin Cities South, a saddle from Kyle Tack, and numerous other awards. She also was presented with a check for $30,000.

When a Schmersal shows Face The Attitude, big things happen. Three years ago, with Craig Schmersal at the reins, the mare won the NRHA Futurity Level 4 Championship.

After a three-year hiatus, the great mare returned to the show pen, this time with 14-year-old Addisyn Schmersal. They may not have been a team long, but they executed an awesome run to mark a 221 and win not only the Level 4 Reserve, but also the Championship of Levels 2 and 3. All totaled, Schmersal won $29,500 in the finals.

Caroline Buchanan had never competed at the NRBC prior to this year, but if Friday’s Non Pro finals are any indication, she’s already a fan. She and her horse Smokin Paleface (Pale Face Dunnit x Lost In Tinseltown) qualified for the finals of Non Pro Levels 1, 2, and 3, and when the day was done, had finished as the NRBC Non Pro Level 1 Champions. Their score of 214.5 was also good enough to place them in a tie for second in the Level 2, as well as part of a tie for third in the Level 3. All totaled, they won $7,077.

With a score of 215.5, David McGee and Knaughtybyknature (Magnum Chic Dream x Princess In Diamonds) won not only the NRBC Non Pro Prime Time title, they also finished reserve in the Level 3, taking home $9,312.

Friday’s finals was the last hoorah for David McGee and Knaughtybyknature. “This was his last big Derby, and my last ride on him. My wife has been wanting to ride him, so she’s going to start showing him in Memphis,” McGee shared. “She’s very excited.”

To watch videos of the runs and for full results, visit www.nrbc.com. 🎠