The National Reining Breeders Classic, held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, is a must-attend event, not only for the prestigious Classic but also for the two full slates of horse show classes that are held throughout the week.
The ancillary action kicked off Tuesday, April 20, in both the Wheless and Tellepsen Arenas, with more than 117 entries across the classes. Complete results can be found at www.NRBC.com.
Intermediate and Limited Open – Colin Fitzpatrick & Ruf Up My Jersey
In the Tellepsen Arena, Intermediate and Limited Open riders competed with the team of Colin Fitzpatrick and Ruf Up My Jersey winning both divisions. Sired by Yellow Jersey and out of Dunit A Lil Ruf, Ruf Up My Jersey is owned by Teresa Goforth, of Tioga, Texas. A combined paycheck of $1,341 was awarded thanks to Dunit A Lil Ruf’s 144.5.
Originally from Canada, Fitzpatrick lives in Whitesboro, Texas, where he works for Brian Bell at Bell Ranch. “We’ve got a really good group at Bell Ranch,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’ve got a great group of clients and a good team. Everyone supports each other and we have a lot of fun.”
Winning is always fun, and today that certainly proved to be the case for Fitzpatrick, who went into the competition with the goal of making a strong, confidence-building run with Dunit A Lil Ruf. “I showed him here in Katy in order to get some seasoning,” Fitzpatrick said. “I had shown him a little bit in Hamilton [Texas] a couple of weeks ago and found a few things I needed to work on there. When I got here, I had a plan to get him ready and it all worked out.”
Fitzpatrick intends to show Dunit A Lil Ruf more in the future in hopes of adding to the horse’s winning resume. “I’m going to show him a few more times here just to get a few more miles put on him, and the end goal will be to get him ready for his owner, Teresa Goforth, to show him,” he said.
Reserve champion in the Intermediate Open was Spin N Wimp, ridden by Joshua Crawley for owner Denise Ann Severson-Hobbs, with a 144 worth $801. Spin N Wimp is sired by NRHA $12 Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Lil Step and out of the mare Spinning Beauty.
Reserve in the Limited Open was Alpha Trashyanicki, ridden by Jeronimo Leal Lobo for owner Esteban Posada Olarte to a 143 worth $187. Alpha Trashyanicki is sired by NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya and out of Chexanicki.
Rookie Pro – Katie Davis and Chicsdundreamin
Chicsdundreamin and Katie Davis had a dream day in Katy, Texas, where they won the Rookie Pro division with a 141.5 to earn $241. The 2007 gelding by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of the mare Goody Goody Gum Drop is owned Nancy Stillwell, of Weatherford, Texas.
Davis, who resides in Weatherford, Texas, where she works for Deary Performance Horses, explained that family ties run deep with the horse she rode to victory today. “Chicsdundreamin belongs to Nancy and Allen Stillwell, who are Casey’s in-laws, and they’ve been very gracious to let me show him,” she said.
Davis, who says she had previously shown Chicsdundreamin mainly at smaller, local shows said that her run today was exhilarating. “He was showing like he was a young boy again,” Davis said. “He’s got a lot of talent; he’s got a lot of earnings and it’s all to the horse’s credit.”
In fact, Chicsdundreamin had NRHA lifetime earnings of $153,742 prior to arriving at the NRBC. Davis says she is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to show such a veteran performer.
“I especially thank Casey and Nicole Deary, and of course Nancy and Allen Stillwell, as well as all of my teammates at Deary Performance Horse because we couldn’t function as a farm without each and every one of us doing our part.”
Reserve in the Rookie Pro was Baileys Not Painted, ridden by Matheus Victor Vieiria for owner Kristen Cantacuzene. Baileys Not Painted is by NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite and out of Darlins Not Painted.