Contributed Courtesy SWRHA, Photography by Primo

Franco Bertolani piloted Inferno Sixty Six to more than $200,000 in lifetime earnings, and in 2020 began showing the flashy stallion’s first foal crop. On Saturday night during the Southwest Reining Horse Association Billingsley Ford Open Futurity, Bertolani won the Level 4 Championship – and $17,590 – on Gangsta Sixtysix.

“This is the first foal crop of Inferno Sixty Six to show,” he explained.
Gangsta Sixtysix, out of Rush N Cat, is owned by Helga Smith Quarter Horses. “He’s been a great horse all year. I showed him at Tulsa and he was a 17.5, and then I showed him at Vegas and had some bobbles, but he was still a 16.5,” Bertolani explained. “I know he has a lot of potential, so I just wanted to show him one time harder before the big futurity.”

Bertolani and Gangsta Sixtysix won the class with a 222.5. “He was awesome today. He gave me what I expected and I’m very proud of him. He turned nice one way and pretty big the other. He circled great and had three pretty nice stops. He ran and rolled back pretty good.” He added, “He gave me everything I wanted, and I am very proud of him.”

Bertolani also won the Toyon Ranch Open Mare Bonus and placed sixth in the Open Level 4 on his other entry, Blueyedgirl, worth $6,353. Blueyedgirl, owned by Bruce Bertolani, is by Gunners Tinseltown out of Shining Survivor..

Open L3 Champions

Gabriel Diano piloted MMB Colonels Chexi, owned by Margarita Buey Arietti, to a score of 222, not only winning the Open Level 3, but also earning reserve honors in the Level 4. That equated to a big paycheck of $20,603. It was an extra special win for Diano. “It means a lot for us because this horse was born and raised at our place, so to win a futurity is special,” he said. “Also, Margarita has always supported us and been with us for a long, long time, so I’m really happy.”

Diano added, “This horse is by Gunner and out of Foxynicki. Margarita bought the dam as a yearling, and this is her third baby. All of them have won money.”

MMB Colonels Chexi put together a solid run. “He was really good for me and was there everywhere. We had a bobble on one turn, but he stopped huge and was between my reins the whole time waiting. He gave me 110% and was very nice,” Diano said. “Tim McQuay has been helping me. We will come back here to school and try to get ready for the big futurity.”

Diano thanked his family, customers, and team, and added, “Thanks especially to my wife who is always there watching and taking care of all the horses and keeping them sound for me.”

Finishing Reserve in the Level 3, and also tying for third in the Level 4 was Pierre-Luc Phaneuf and HA Chic Trashya with a score of 221.5. Owned by Hector Garcia, HA Chic Trashya is by Gunnatrashya out of HA Chic A Tune. All totaled, the pair won $13,034.Open L1 & L2 Champions

When Ethan Wiley was presented with the opportunity to show Trashya Shine in the Open Futurity, he jumped at the chance. “My boss Dany Tremblay had shown him earlier in the year, and he asked if I wanted to show him here. It worked out really well,” Wiley said.

Wiley and the colt, by Gunnatrashya out of Lil Miss Shiney Chex, marked a 220.5 to win the Open Levels 1 & 2 for earnings totaling $5,568. “It was really good everywhere. I wasn’t sure how much we were going to do, I just asked him to go as much as I thought we could. It all felt good and worked out great,” he said.

Trashya Shine is owned by Carol Rose. “I thank Carol Rose for letting me show this horse, as well as Dany and Fred Tremblay. I also thank Mike Flarida who has helped me a lot especially at this horse show,” Wiley said. “I don’t know if I will get to show this horse again. We will have to let the bosses decide, but I hope so.”

Taking Reserve in both Levels 1 & 2 was Rodrigo Nieves on Tagin Stiletto Chics with a 219.5. Owned by Jennifer Marley, Tagin Stiletto Chics is by Gunners Special Nite out of Stiletto Tag. Nieves and Tagin Stiletto Chics won $3,389.

Open Prime Time Co-Champions

Longtime friends Tom McCutcheon and Duane Latimer tied to win the Prime Time division of the Open Futurity with scores of 219. While the men joked about being the “old guys,” they were still excited about the money they won. Not only did they win the Prime Time division, they each earned checks in Levels 3 and 4 totaling more than $4,500.

McCutcheon was entered on his mare Vintage Nites, by Gunners Special Nite out of Vintage Crome. “I was really happy with her. She’s super green and missed some time this summer, so I came here not really knowing if I was going to show her or not. She did really well in the warm-up class, so I decided to give it a shot. She went in there and did everything I asked of her,” he said. “Since I own her, she fell through the cracks. As soon as I started riding her, I liked her. Cade showed her dam in the Non Pro and won about $75,000 on her.”

Latimer rode CS Boomboomwalla, a gelding by Walla Walla Whiz out of Cheeky Boom. “This horse is owned and was raised at XCS Ranch. This is the second time I showed him, and I was really happy with him today. I showed him at Tulsa, and it wasn’t great, but today he was much better,” Latimer said. “We’re moving forward. He didn’t get turned really well, but the rest was solid.”

When asked how they felt about the Prime Time division, McCutcheon said, “None of us like being in it, but it’s a fact of life.”

Latimer laughed, adding, “But I don’t want to turn the money down. We will keep building off today,” prompting McCutcheon to reply, “I don’t want to agree with Duane about anything, but I agree on that. Plus, our horses were good, and that’s the main thing.”

Latimer said, “I thank my whole team, and of course the owner XCS Ranch.”
McCutcheon noted, “I own this horse, so I’m thanking myself, and thanking Duane for not being better than me today.”

Complete results can be found at www.SWRHA.com. 🎠