The 25th edition of the National Reining Breeders Classic is in the books, with a record-breaking number of horses competing in the three rings of the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas.
As the final results were tallied, it was NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook whose offspring had collected the most money in the Classic, including the preliminary rounds and finals of both the Open and Non Pro. Smart Spook foals were responsible for winning more than $95,366 during the week in Katy, Texas.
The 21-year-old stallion is owned by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Rosanne Sternberg, who was excited to get the news of the accomplishment. She said, “Smart Spook is a little older so it can be hard to compete with younger sires that have so many foals showing now. I’m thrilled that he is still producing winners at the NRBC.”
The stallion’s highest-earning foal was former NRBC Level 4 Open Co-Champion Patriot (out of Dunit A Lil Ruf), who was ridden to the Level 3 Open Reserve Championship and eighth in the Level 4 Open by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Nathan Piper. Patriot, owned by Shannon and Hershel Reid, earned $40,786.
“We didn’t know exactly what he had done because there are so many different divisions and so much going on, but we always enjoy the NRBC and plan to continue to support this event,” Sternberg said.
Smart Spook is by NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Chic Olena out of Sugarplum Spook, and has lifetime earnings of $403,149. With NRHA Six Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida at the reins, the stallion won the 2004 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Championship and the 2005 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open title. He also won numerous titles with Rudy Kronsteiner, Francesca Sternberg, and Sean Pulley.
For more information about Smart Spook, visit www.SterlingRanchUSA.com/smart-spook
Top 10 Sires for the NRBC Classic (Open and Non Pro Finals and Preliminaries)
- Smart Spook $95,366
- Gunnatrashya $89,891
- Walla Walla Whiz $87,002
- Yellow Jersey $82,610
- ARC Gunnabeeabigstar $69,101
- Lil Joe Cash $64,630
- Gunner $62,055
- Magnum Chic Dream $60,978
- Gunners Special Nite $48,225
- Inferno Sixty Six $44,931
The NRBC hosted two full slates of NRHA-approved classes, as well as the Classic Challenge classes, which are open to NRBC-enrolled foals ages eight and up. NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite was the top sire for both of those divisions.
Owned by Turnabout Farm, Inc., Gunners Special Nite is by NRHA $13 Million Sire Gunner out of Mifs Doll. The stallion, foaled in 2004, has lifetime earnings of $219,737, and include an NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Championship, and Level 3 Open Championship, with Marcy Starr. NRHA Million Dollar Rider Tom McCutcheon also rode the stallion to win the Individual Gold at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. For more information about Gunners Special Nite, visit www.GunnersSpecialNite.com.
Top 5 Sires for NRBC Classic Challenge
- Gunners Special Nite $12,347
- Smart Like Juice $9,373
- Gunner $9,341
- Gunnatrashya $7,946
- Smart Spook $6,644
Top 5 Sires for NRBC Ancillary Classes
- Gunners Special Nite $20,653
- Shiners Voodoo Dr $8,777
- Gunnatrashya $8,361
- Magnum Chic Dream $5,744
- Spooks Gotta Whiz $5,352