Wind Her Up Chic is 2022 NRBC Leading Dam

Wind Her Up Chic won more than $102,000 with Todd Bergen (pictured) and Jordan Larson.

Although the National Reining Breeders Classic is a stallion-based program, everyone knows that you can’t have great reining horses without great mares.

One of the National Reining Horse Association’s all-time leading dams, Wind Her Up Chic, produced two NRBC Open Champions at this year’s event. The mare, owned by Tim Anderson, is the dam of both Open Level 4 Champion Jerseys Baby Driver (by Yellow Jersey), and Open Level 1 Champion Starfire Sixtysix (Inferno Sixty Six).

Those two foals added an additional $85,530 to the mare’s record, bringing her total offspring earnings to $839,422 and moving her from 10th to seventh on the list of NRHA’s All-Time Leading Dams.

Wind Her Up Chic, by NRHA Seven Million Dollar Sire Smart Chic Olena out of Wind Her Up Doc, earned more than $102,000 in her show career with NRHA Two Million Dollar Riders Jordan Larson and Todd Bergen. Big wins include a seventh-place finish at the NRHA Futurity, a fourth-place finish at the NRBC, and a third-place win at the NRHA Derby.

“She is a delight to own – a dream come true for me. She is such a great breeder and crosses well with any sire. I think she has had foals by over a dozen sires and they’ve all been money earners except one,” Anderson shared. “The NRBC is one of our favorite shows. It is always fun and pays so well. Besides enjoying the show, we nominate all our foals to the program.”

Wind Her Up Chic, born in 2003, now sits right behind Wind Her Up Shiner, on NRHA’s All-Time Leading Dam standings. Wind Her Up Shiner, by NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Shining Spark, also had earnings added during the 2022 NRBC. Her foals, SLJ Corazon Valiente and Like Shiner, both by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Smart Like Juice, won $22,740 in Katy.

Wind Her Up Chic is the dam of 2022 NRBC Level 4 Open Champion Jerseys Baby Driver.

Wind Her Up Chic’s Top Money Earners (not including NRBC earnings):

  • Winding Inferno (by Inferno Sixty Six) $191,256
  • Jerseys Baby Driver (by Yellow Jersey) $157,237
  • Wimpys Slidewinder (by Wimpys Little Step) $66,739
  • Gunners Chic Magnet (by Gunner) $60,925
  • Starfire Sixtysix (by Inferno Sixty Six) $53,746

Owned by Tim Anderson and Kim Niven, Wind Her Up Chic lives a life of luxury at John and Nancy Tague’s Toyon Ranch.

Show News

NRBC Announces Smart Spook as 2022 Leading Sire

Smart Spook. (Facebook.com/SmartSpookSR

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.

Smart Spook’s leading foal at the NRBC is former NRBC Level 4 Co-Champion Patriot. (Photo courtesy of NRBC)

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

Show News

Trevor Dare Earns First NRBC Open Championship on Jerseys Baby Driver

On Saturday night, crowd favorites Trevor Dare and Jerseys Baby Driver added another line to their resume, winning the Level 4 Open Championship at the National Reining Breeders Classic.

Dare and Jerseys Baby Driver, by Yellow Jersey out of Wind Her Up Chic, were first on the ground in the last set of horses on Open Finals night. From the moment they ran into the pen, the roar of the audience was deafening, and those cheers built to a crescendo when the score – a 228 – was announced.

“Everyone works really hard to get to the Finals,” Dare said. “For me, I have wondered, ‘Can I ever win it? Is it even possible?’ So to win it is awesome. I feel amazing.”

Jerseys Baby Driver, known to his fan base as Hercules, is known for his in-the-ground stops, and taking advantage of that talent is always part of Dare’s plan.

“I always try to nail that first stop. In the past, I haven’t always hit that first stop as strong as I know he’s capable of, but I said ‘Whoa’ and it just felt right. I backed up, and then another area I might not have shown him to the best of his ability before is his turns, but he turned hard both ways tonight,” Dare recalled. “I remember sitting in the middle thinking, ‘Holy smokes! This might work!’”

According to Dare, Hercules just got better and better the whole run.

For the win, Dare, Jerseys Baby Driver, and owner Janice Laney, were presented with an incredible array of prizes plus a check for $75,000. Adding that to the stallion’s list of accomplishments, which includes the 2021 National Reining Horse Association Derby Open Level 4 Championship, pushes his lifetime earnings to more than $225,000!

But for Dare, it’s not about the money that Jerseys Baby Driver has won, or what he’s done for his career. “We post all the time on social media about how he is with my little boy who is only a year-and-a-half old. That horse is a big, strong man, and my boy will walk up to him and this horse will put his head down and his little ears up. My kid doesn’t know how to really feed treats, but he will and this horse won’t bite his fingers,” Dare said. “This horse is so good to my family, both inside and out of the arena.”

There were numerous people on the list to thank. “I thank my wife. She organizes and manages my whole life, every single day. Without her, I’m pretty much worthless. I thank my whole team, family, and friends. I have a great support system that I can call on any time,” he said.

So what does this win mean for the new champion? “It’s awesome to win for sure, but tomorrow morning is going to be another day, and we’ll be trying to get ready for the next one,” he said. “As for this horse, I’m just going to enjoy every ride I get to have on him.”

Former Champion Casey Deary tied himself for Reserve on two great horses – Down Right Amazing and Americasnexttopgun, with each marking a 226.5 to win $45,000.

Down Right Amazing, owned by DAG Ventures LLC, is by Gunner out of Shesouttayourleague. Deary and Down Right Amazing, whose lifetime earnings were nearing $125,000 prior to the NRBC, won the preliminary round as well.

In 2020, Deary and Americasnexttopgun, by Walla Walla Whiz out of Americasnextgunmodel, won the 2020 NRBC Championship. Deary and the stallion, owned by Puno Performance Horses, have won more than $203,000, not including what they’ve collected at this year’s NRBC.  

Level 3 Open Champions – Fernando Salgado & Gunnabeabrightstar

Saturday night in the Open Finals, it was Fernando Salgado’s score of 225.5 on Gunnabeabrightstar that would seal the deal on the Level 3 Open Championship. That score would also put Salgado fourth in the Level 4 Open with the six-year-old stallion by ARC Gunnabeabigstar out of Abbie Be Tuff.

“This horse is for sure special to us,” Salgado said. “I started him and made all the Level 4 finals as a three-year-old and was second in Tulsa and second in Ardmore. He’s always been great for me. Then when we bought our place, I sold him to the Neibergers so he went to Casey Deary, and he was very successful with Casey as well.”

The horse ended up in Salgado’s string after an injury in 2021 sidelined him for a bit. By the time he was ready to show again, Deary already had a solid string. “They thought about me when they were looking for someone to show this horse, so I was over-the-moon happy,” Salgado shared.

The pair’s run was almost perfect. “I had a little bobble on the left rollback, which was 100 percent my fault, but he did everything I asked of him and a little more. I am so thankful to my team, my customers, the Neibergers, and Casey for sharing this horse.” Salgado laughed, and joked, “If I was Casey I don’t know that I would share a horse as nice as this!”

The NRBC was only the pair’s second event since reuniting. “I ran him first at the Run For A Million Qualifier at the Cactus Classic, and we qualified for the Million there,” Salgado said.

With almost $65,000 credited to his name before the NRBC, Gunnabeabrightstar has always been a winner.

“I have been coming here for 10 years to compete, and this is the first time I’ve been that close and on the same level as all those guys I’ve been trying to learn from,” Salgado said. “Next up for this horse is to give him some time off, take care of him, and then go to Las Vegas for the Run for the Million.”

Level 2 Open Champions – Jimmy Van der Hoeven & Onecoolchic

It has been a long road for Jimmy Van der Hoeven to get to where he is today. Originally from the Netherlands, Van der Hoeven qualified for the NRBC Open Finals 10 years ago, and walked away with the Level 2 win. Fast forward to the 2022 NRBC, and Van der Hoeven won the Level 2 for the second time.

“There’s a little bit of a goofy side to her,” he said of Onecoolchic, a five-year-old mare by Magnum Chic Dream, now unofficially an $8 Million Sire, and out of Skeets Red Dunit. “I think that gives them grit and makes them good.”

Van der Hoeven has had a lot of success with the Magnum Chic Dream lineage, and said when that line of breeding is trained and ready to go, they last a long time.

“They ride the same outside as they do inside,” he said. “They never change their ways of doing things.”

 Onecoolchic will be rebred this year at Cedar Ridge Stallion Station, in Whitesboro, Texas, where Van der Hoeven trains under Casey Hinton. At the same time she will get ready to show at the NRHA Derby.

“Reining is exciting to me,” he explained. “Everything is fast, but precise, and I can be just as satisfied when something works whether I’m riding at home or in the show pen.”

Van der Hoeven thanked the Hinton family and the entire team behind him.

Level 1 Open

Katie Davis & Starfire Sixtysix

Winning the Level 1 Open Classic Finals at the NRBC is every young trainer’s dream, and for Katie Davis that dream came true on Saturday. She rode Starfire Sixtysix to the win with a score of 219.5.

“It’s wonderful every time I get to ride that mare,” she said. “I have a really good support system, and everybody cheering definitely moves you along. It makes a difference when you hear everybody cheering, you want to keep doing well for them.”

Davis explained her plan was to run hard on the five year old mare who is by Inferno Sixty Six and out of Wind It Up Chic.

“I squeaked into the Level 1 Finals, and I was out for a redemption run,” Davis said. “My favorite thing to do on that mare is run and stop, so I was grinning ear to ear.”

Owned by Kevin Corcoran, Davis started the mare as a two year old and could tell from the beginning she had something special.

“We knew from the first time I ran her down as a two year old and asked for her to stop with shoes on. She was always so good with her front end. I’ve always had confidence in her.”

The mare Davis calls Fire, will enjoy some pasture time before it is time to tune up for the next show.

“I think today really helped my chances of getting to show her in the Derby,” Davis laughed.

Davis is an assistant trainer for Deary Performance Horses and thanked the Deary family, the Corcorans, farrier Glen Spalding, and veterinarian Frank Fluitt.

Prime Time Open Champions – Cody Sapergia & Chicowhiz

Chicowhiz’s huge stops and pretty appearance in the show pen impressed the judges during the first section of the Open Finals. Cody Sapergia rode the seven-year-old stallion, by Smart Chic Olena out of Whizicle, to a score of 222 (includes handicap) to win the Prime Time Open title.

“For me, it felt very good,” Sapergia explained. “He ran in and stopped great, backed up really good. The turns were on the money, too. They were really clean, and he was just with me the whole time.”

The Gainesville, Texas, trainer calls the horse Jimmy and has ridden him since he was a four-year-old. Jimmy came from Canada through Andre De Bellefeuille’s breeding program and is owned by Larizza Rizzi.

“At the NRBC, it’s always a great event to be a part of,” Sapergia said. “It’s been a great show all these years, and I’m really happy to win something here. I thank Garth Brown and Francesco Martinotti who have both been very helpful. I always think back to when I rode with Duane Latimer, and I try to remember what he told me at that time. Of course, I thank Larizza Rizzi, the owner, for giving me the opportunity to show this horse.”

Show News

Taylor Zimmerman Claims First L4 Non Pro Championship on Shining On Ruf

The atmosphere during the 2022 National Reining Breeders Classic Non Pro Finals, held Friday, April 22, was full of anticipation.
When Taylor Zimmerman rode into the Great Southwest Equestrian Center Coliseum on Shining On Ruf, the excitement of the crowd built, and the whoops, hollers, and whistles hit their crescendo when the pair’s score – a 222 – was announced. “The crowd was electric. I was really focused and trying to zone in as much as possible, but I did hear and feel the energy from the crowd,” Zimmerman shared following the Finals.
Competing as draw 23 in the second section of the Non Pro Finals, Zimmerman had to wait out eight more impressive teams to know if she’d win her first NRBC Level 4 Championship.
The score held. Zimmerman was presented with a bevy of prizes, plus a big check to the tune of $30,000!
“I don’t even really know what to feel right now. It’s unbelievable. Earlier I was pinching myself thinking, ‘Is this even real?’” she admitted. “This is a dream come true.”
It’s hard to believe that such and impressive performance could come from a new team, but the NRBC was the pair’s first time to compete together! “This is my first show with him. He was trained by Jason Vanlandingham, and Cade (McCutcheon) has been helping me with him since the start of this year,” she said of the six-year-old stallion. “This horse is just so fun, and there’s nothing like him. He’s a breeze to ride.”
Shining On Ruf, owned by Taylor’s grandfather Vaughn Zimmerman, is by Zimmerman’s stallion Not Ruf At All and out of Boom Shine Sally. In fact, Jason Vanlandingham piloted Not Ruf At All, now an NRHA Million Dollar Sire, to the NRBC Open Championship in 2016.
With no experience in the show pen together, Zimmerman executed a very conservative plan in the preliminary round. “I didn’t know if he was going to have my back – I just didn’t know what to expect. When I went in there, though, he was 100 percent there for me,” she said of the preliminary run which resulted in a score of 216. “He was amazing then, so I knew that I could go in and show him hard today.”
Zimmerman has lifetime earnings exceeding a quarter million dollars, but she admits to feeling a bit of nervousness prior to the Finals. “All day long I was nervous, but as soon as I ran into the pen I relaxed. There’s nothing like showing in this arena. It’s so big and so fun to run and stop when you have the horsepower to do it. You know it can be great,” she said.
Next up for Zimmerman and Shining On Ruf is the 6666 Ranch NRHA Derby presented by Markel. “He’s six, so I’ll probably show him next year as well,” she said. “I thank Jason for maintaining this horse like he did, and the entire McCutcheon crew. I thank my grandfather and my dad for these great horses that I get to show, and everyone who was cheering for me.”
Finishing as Reserve Champions in the Level 4 Non Pro were Gina-Maria Schumacher and Gunnastepya with a 220.5. Schumacher and Gunnastepya, by Gunnatrashya out of SDP A Lasting Step, won $20,000.

Level 3 Non Pro Champions
Samantha Smith & Smokin 66
Samantha Smith scored a 218 aboard Smokin 66 to claim the title of Level 3 Non Pro Classic Champion and $12,500. The week of the NRBC is always a special one, but it was extra special to Smith this year.
“I feel amazing. It’s been a heck of a road to get here,” she said, explaining she had two back surgeries and was unable to ride for eight months.
“It was very difficult, so right now means a lot,” she shared.
From thinking she would never be able to ride again, to putting the five-year-old mare, who is by Inferno Sixty Six and out of Nuthin Chic, up for sale, this win for Smith is one of those meant-to-be-type moments.
“My plan was just to go out there and show her for what she is,” Smith said. “I was so proud of myself for not getting in the way. She was a Level 4 Open Futurity Finalist (in 2020), but last year I was in so much pain I couldn’t even make the finals.”
Owned by Smith’s father, Lance Griffin, Smokin 66, by Inferno Sixty Six out of Nuthin Chic, was trained by Martin Larcombe, then ridden by Trevor Dare while Smith was recovering.
Following the pair’s Level 3 Championship, the mare was shown in the Leadline class for a friend.
“She’s not going anywhere now,” Smith said.
Smith is looking forward to offspring out of Smokin 66, and hopes to continue the mare’s legacy. Smith is now almost 100 percent pain free, and with all of the obstacles she has had to overcome, the NRBC win is that much sweeter.
Level 2 & Level 1 Champions
Chandler Winard & Whoz Joe Daddy
In 2015, Chandler Winard piloted a palomino horse to win the NRBC Non Pro Level 2 & 1 Championships while also finishing reserve in the Level 3 and fifth in the Level 4.
It felt like déjà vu in 2022, as Winard placed identically, once again on a yellow reining horse. This year’s partner was Whoz Joe Daddy, a four-year-old stallion by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Lil Joe Cash out of Miss Sunshine Annie.
“I won it seven years ago with my really special horse, so it has been six years in the making to have a horse that is good enough to come here and win,” Winard said. “It means a lot.”
That special horse came into Winard’s life last fall during the Best of the West. “We bought him from Gunny Mathison, and it was just an instant connection. I loved him from the start,” she said. “He’s very close to my horse I won with in the past.”
Winard added that Whoz Joe Daddy has a big personality and can be a little quirky, but, “He’s really sweet.”
Although she was relatively calm most of the day, Winard began to battle some nerves when she moved to the indoor warm-up pen – the last stop before moving on to the Coliseum Arena. “It was his first finals, his first run in, and only our second derby together,” she explained. “I was a little hesitant on the run in, but he just carried it all the way through. Half-way through the pattern I was thinking he is really fun to show – more fun than anything. He’s a true show horse.”
Winard rides with Dan Huss. “Dan told me to keep it clean and have a good, positive ride because my horse is only four and it needed to be a confidence builder for both of us,” she said. “I thank Dan and Wendy Huss and the entire Huss team. Without them we would not be here, and I appreciate all their help immensely. I thank my parents for buying him and giving me this opportunity, and Gunny for selling him to us.”
So what’s it like showing in a pen like NRBC? “It’s my favorite arena ever because it’s so big and kind of has a magical feeling about it. Honestly, it’s different than anything else,” she said.
Prime Time Non Pro Champions
Francesca Sternberg &
Red Dirt Paleface
Francesca Sternberg and Red Dirt Paleface made their long trip to the NRBC worth it. Sternberg and her team traveled from overseas to compete at the prestigious event.
The Prime Time Non Pro winner arrived from Great Britain ready to compete with the best of the best on her six-year-old gelding by Pale Face Dunnit out of Lost In Tinseltown. Sternberg has also ridden Red Dirt Paleface’s full brother.
“They’re very different,” she said. “His brother is a bit of a blonde bombshell, where this one is more of the let’s-get-to-it (types). I love the Pale Faces.”
The team competed at the NRBC two years ago, but, as the saying goes, fell in the crying hole, and that was the end of that year’s event. Sternberg only gets to show the gelding a few times a year, and she took advantage of her time in the arena so far in 2022. Together, Sternberg and Red Dirt Paleface scored a 219 (including handicap) in the Prime Time Non Pro Finals, and their 217.5 in Levels 4 and 3 tied for fifth in Level 4 and tied for second in Level 3. All totaled, Sternberg and Red Dirt Paleface won $20,250.
“I promised myself I would run in and do a proper stop, and as a result I wanted to pat my horse. I thought to myself I must not pat anything – I need to get on with it,” she said with a laugh.
Sternberg noted how tough the competition is at the NRBC. “You have to try, because you’re with the best. We started with more than 200 of the best, and if you don’t try to be the best you can be, then you might as well go home,” she said.
The large Coliseum arena at the NRBC differs from most in Europe that Sternberg is used to. That, coupled with the electric atmosphere, did not stop her from performing at the top of her game. “I look at all the others and think I’m never going to be as good as them, I’ll never make finals,” she admitted. “Then I make the finals and think I want to do that again.”
They say it takes a village, and Sternberg is happy hers includes her family. Sharing her passion with her family is what she loves about reining. “It’s a family thing. I love being here with my family and friends,” she said. “And I love my horse. I’m really lucky to have a horse like this.”
There was a tie for reserve in the Prime Time Non Pro between Lisa Neiberger and Jose Vazquez. Each had scores of 217 (including handicap).
Neiberger and her horse, All About Business, were the very first horses to compete in the Finals, as they drew the first draw position of the first section.
The pair also placed in Levels 1, 2, and 3, pocketing a cool $4,875. All About Business is by Smart And Shiney out of Anne Get Your Gunner.
Vazquez, a National Reining Horse Association Hall of Famer and former NRBC Champion, rode SLJ Corazon Valiente, by Smart Like Juice out of Wind Her Up Shiner. The pair also finished seventh in the Level 4 Finals, bringing their earnings for the evening to $9,125.

Show News Uncategorized

Matt Mills Sponsors Open Draw Party

The night before finals competition is slated to begin is always an exciting time. With the Open preliminary rounds concluding just an hour before, attendees gathered for the Open Draw Party, sponsored by Matt Mills Reining Horses upstairs in the Sponsor Area.
Mills and his wife, Karen, are not only longtime sponsors of the NRBC, they’re both avid competitors. Both have seen much success inside the Coliseum, and Matt is an NRHA Million Dollar Rider.
At the Open Draw Party, finalists were invited to come pick up their commemorative 25th NRBC wine glass, which held each finals draw position on the base of the glasses. Contestants were also able to pick up their first go checks.
Being presented with the biggest check of the night, worth $15,663, was Level 4 first round winner, NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary. Deary topped the first round of the Open preliminaries with a score of 225.5 on Down Right Amazing. Owned by DAG Ventures LLC, Down Right Amazing is by Gunner out of Shesouttayourleague.
The Open Finals will be held Saturday, with the first section beginning at 8 a.m., and the Level 4 Finals kicking off at 5 p.m.

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Casey Deary & Down Right Amazing
Win NRBC Open Preliminary Round

The Open field is set for the Saturday finals at the 2022 National Reining Breeders Classic. Held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, the NRBC is one of the National Reining Horse Association’s largest events, and at the end of this year’s event, the 25th, will have paid out more than $25 million.
The first step to getting a piece of the big money is advancing past the preliminary round, and Casey Deary and Down Right Amazing took a big one. The pair marked a 225.5 to win the round, worth an incredible $15,663.
The five-year-old stallion, owned by DAG Ventures LLC, is by NRHA $13 Million Sire Gunner and out of Shesouttayourleague. Deary actually rode Shesouttayourleague to earnings of more than $250,000, including the 2015 NRHA Futurity Open Championship and the 2017 NRHA Derby Championship.
In the Level 3 Open, Fernando Salgado piloted Gunnabeabrightstar to a 222.5 for the top spot. Owned by Neiberger Performance Horses, the six-year-old stallion is by NRHA $7 Million Sire Smart Spook and out of Abbie Be Tuff.
Kari Ann Klingenberg and Peace Love N Jewels won the Level 2 Open preliminary round for owners Tulare Trust. The five-year-old mare, also by Smart Spook, is out of Whiz Jewels.
In the Level 1 Open Classic, Neiberger Performance Horses repeated with a win when Hannah L McCullough scored a 218.5 on All About Business. The seven-year-old mare is by Smart And Shiney and out of Anne Get Your Gunner.
Duane Latimer rode Hesa Rockin Whiz for Roxanne Koepsell and scored a 222.5 (including handicap). The six-year-old stallion is by NRHA $12 Million Sire Topsail Whiz and out of Bueno Poco Dunit.
Last but not least, Redhot Vintage scored a 220.5 in the Development Division to take the top spot. Trevor Elliot Dare rode the four-year-old stallion by Platinum Vintage out of Redhot Walla for Sandy Vargo.
In the Level 4, a score of 220 was needed to advance to the Finals, while in the Level 3 the magic number was a 218. Riders in the Level 2 marking a 214 or better advanced, as did Level 1 riders with a 206.5 or higher. Prime Time exhibitors who scored above a 213 (including handicap) also earned a spot in the Finals.
The Open Finalists were celebrated during the Matt Mills Reining Horses Open Draw Party Thursday evening. The event provided the opportunity to enjoy lots of laughs and camaraderie before the high-stakes finals weekend began.
The first section of the Open Finals, featuring finalists in Levels 3, 2, 1, and Prime Time, kicks off at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. The Level 4 Open Finals will begin at 5 p.m. Find a complete schedule at www.NRBC.com.

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Finalists’ Positions Set at NRBC Markel Insurance Non Pro Draw Party

Markel Insurance threw one heck of a celebration with the Non Pro Draw Party at the 25th National Reining Breeders Classic.
“The non pros play a huge role in the industry,” said Frank Costantini, director of Western disciplines at Markel Insurance and past NRHA President. “Reining today at the highest level has gotten so tough. The horses, the horsemen and women, have reached unparalleled heights in what they are able to accomplish. Consequently, so have our non pros. If the pros are the soul of our industry, the non pros are our heart. Their success, at whatever level they are comfortable, is paramount to the future of our industry. Markel’s support of non pro activity is a given, and we are excited to celebrate their accomplishments here at the NRBC.”
There’s extra excitement building around the Non Pro Finals this year with seven contestants qualified to the Finals in all four levels. The last—and only—person in NRBC history to sweep all four levels of the Non Pro Classic was Shaunda Ruckman (now Blinzler) and her black stallion Rufanicki (Lil Ruf Peppy x Chexanicki), accomplishing the incredible feat in 2011.
“For Markel and for me, that’s important for those people to find their way as Level 1 participants to step up to the Level 4,” Costantini said. “It’s important to recognize that as an industry, and especially as a company like Markel, because it’s nice for us to have consistent clients. The repeat clients allow us to be successful in the business and continue to sponsor a lot of these events and support these competitors.”
NRHA $1 Million Owner Bob Santagata of Santa Hill Ranch in New York was also honored with the Markel NRBC Commitment Award for his contributions to the reining industry.
“Bob was a Non Pro back in the day too, and he’s been supporting reining events all around the world. He wants the industry to grow,” Costantini said. “He’s had a show at his place for the Non Pros in his area for probably the last 10 years, and he has sponsored shows in Europe and South America. You can always call Bob Santagata.”

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Seven Non Pro NRBC Finalists Poised to Make History

The last—and only—person in National Reining Breeders Classic history to sweep all four levels of the Non Pro Classic was Shaunda Ruckman (now Blinzler) and her black stallion Rufanicki (Lil Ruf Peppy x Chexanicki), accomplishing the incredible feat in 2011. The pair’s impressive score of 224 was worth more than $60,000!

In 2022, at the 25th NRBC, an incredible seven Non Pro contestants have qualified to the Finals in all four levels, and will take their shot April 22 at making history again.

The competition was tough across the board in the prelims, with a score of 215.5 as the bubble for the Level 4 Finals. The top seven in the Level 1 all qualified for the Level 4 Finals as well, led by Monica (Hicks) Mathison’s 218.5 on Girlz On Fire (Inferno Sixty Six x Fabulous Guns), which also topped the Level 2 prelims.

The Level 1 Qualifiers also advancing to the Level 4 Finals are:

1) Monica Mathison, Girlz On Fire, 218.5

2) Veronica Williams, Humble And Kind, 217.5

3) Christine Trautman, Smart Whizard Spook, 216.5

4) Addie Shelton McNeel, Smart As Hail, 216

5) Megan Elaine Waldron, Nosmokinintinseltown, 215.5

5) Kelsey Flessner, Chics Guna Dream, 215.5

5) Chandler Winard, Whoz Joe Daddy, 215.5

The Non Pro Classic Finals kicks off at 8 a.m. Friday. Watch live and find results at www.nrbc.com.

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2022 NRBC Non Pro Finalists Decided

It’s been a salty two days of non pro reining at the 25th NRBC. Two sections of Non Pro Classic contestants gave it their best inside the Coliseum, and as the preliminary action wrapped up tonight, a bevy of riders secured a place in the Finals on April 22.
Two scores of 220 are on top in the Level 4 preliminaries. Tish Fappani and Joes Genes (Lil Joe Cash x Electric Genes) won Level 3 and tied for first in Level 4 with Gina-Maria Schumacher and Gunnastepya (Gunnatrashya x SDP A Lasting Step). Mandy McCutcheon and JLosa (Arlosa Whiz x Spook N Jessie) finished third in the Level 4 with a 219.5.
Monica Mathison on Girlz On Fire (Inferno Sixty Six x Fabulous Guns) won Levels 1 and 2 with a 218.5. She and Girlz On Fire also finished second in the Level 3 and fourth in the Level 4.
Francesca Sternberg held onto the top spot in the Prime Time on Red Dirt Paleface (Pale Face Dunit x Lost In Tinseltown) with a 219.5 (includes handicap). The pair will also advance to the Level 4 and Level 3 Finals on Friday.
The top 30 overall Non Pro horses in Levels 4, 3, 2 and 1 plus ties and the top 20 Prime Time horses moved on to the Finals on Friday, which kicks off at 8 a.m.
It took a score of 215.5 to make the Finals in Level 4 and a 214 for Level 3. The bubble score for Level 2 was a 212.5, and it took a 210 to make the Level 1 Finals. In the Prime Time, a score of 213 or better moved on to the Finals.
Draw positions will be determined at the Markel Insurance Non Pro Draw Party tomorrow at 7 p.m.

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