The competition continued at the National Reining Breeders Classic on Wednesday with the first section of the Open Classic Prelims. The tough competition featured high scores and smooth moves inside the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. The ancillary classes also say big scores with the Novice Horse Non Pro, Rookie and the start of the American Quarter Horse Association classes.

Tom McCutcheon riding Smart Little Dunnit (Smart Spook x Jan Van Bar B Dun It) is currently leading the Open Classic preliminary round after the first second with a score of 223.5 in the Level 4. The Level 3 leader is Dany Tremblay riding Magnums Guns R Reddy (Magnum Chic Dream x Guns R Reddy) to a score of 221.5. Bud Lyon rode Einsteins Top Whiz (Einsteins Revolution x Kr Samantha) to a score of 220 to take the lead in the Level 2 and Jeromy Lipps riding Revolutionary Jac (Einsteins Revolution x Kalliope Jac) scored a 217.5 to lead the Level 1. The Prime Time leader is Jamie Bissell riding DP Gunnaoutshinya (Gunnatrashya x Out Shinin Wimpy) to a score of 217.

The second section of the Open Classic Prelims will continue inside the Coliseum Arena Thursday at 8 a.m. After both preliminary sections the qualifiers from the first round will meet Saturday, April 22 inside the Coliseum Arena for the Open Classic Finals where champions will be crowned.

In the ancillary classes action, Jerry Davis topped the Novice Horse Non Pro with a score of 141.5 riding Hot Coded Shine (Shine Chic Shine x Hot Coded Candy). Davis admitted Hot Coded Shine didn’t have the best showing in Tuesday’s Non Pro Classic Prelims and decided to use this as an opportunity to better their previous showing.

“We had a few penalty points and bobbles [yesterday] and today he really seemed to come along,” Davis said. “I think he needed a few days to get into and now he was a little less stressed and felt good with me and everything was smooth.”

Robert Gattuso riding Chics Special Nite (Gunners Special Nite x This Chic Dun It) took second with a 141.

David McGee topped the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 riding Knaughtybyknature with a score of 145. Knaughtybyknature is by Magnum Chic Dream and out of Princess In Diamonds and has been in McGee’s barn since he was a yearling. McGee also felt the gelding need an extra day to work out the kinks and was happy with their showing in the Novice Horse Non Pro.

“He was supposed to have ridden like that in the [Non Pro Classic] yesterday, so we just came over here to try a little different plan getting him ready,” McGee said. “I changed his bridle and put a little smaller bit in and today he rode like he’s supposed to, and we didn’t run him too hard. He’s a nice horse. We were just kind of schooling, playing and showing at the same time.”

The Rookie Level 1 champion was Karla Leclair riding Codes Electric Step to a score of 70.5. Codes Electric Step is by Electric Code out of Nics Wimpy and has been with Leclair for only three months.

“He’s great minded and extremely talented, but he is able to come down to my level,” Leclair said. “I’m not nearly as talented as this horse, but he is great minded and awesome for me in the show pen and stays with me.”

The Rookie Level 2 champion was Jill Pfisthner riding Black N Boom (Boomshernic x Blazin In Black) to a score of 71. The Rookie Prime Time champion was James Belden riding Dun Git A Nicadual (Mister Nicadual x Gotta Git Ya Dun) to a score of 70.

In the AQHA classes, Jessica Sternberg took the win in the Amateur Reining riding Designed With Shine with a score of 72, and Loren Booth riding Taris Little Gunner topped the Amateur Select Reining with a score of 73. Another crowd-pleasing activity was the Markel Insurance Non Pro Draw Party, where the Non Pro finalists enjoyed an evening of camaraderie while they picked their draw for the finals. For information and complete results from the National Reining Breeders Classic, follow updates from NRBC on Facebook, Twitter and www.nrbc.com.