When the first round of the Open division of the National Reining Breeders Classic concluded on Thursday afternoon, Craig Schmersal had maintained his lead with a 226.5 on No Smoking Required (Colonels Smoking Gun x Icing Required). That win earned $13,839 for owner Wranglen Partnership, and the special oversized check was presented during the Tamarack Ranch Open Draw Party Thursday night.

The night was full of fun, with the announcement of 36 finalists in the Open, with a 220 needed to make the finals where the champion will earn $75,000. In the Open Level 3 Finals, the bubble was at 217.5, with a 214 needed to get a finals berth in the Level 2. The cuts for the Level 1 and Prime Time were 205 and 208.5, respectively.

Topping the Open Level 3 and Open Level 2 was Cade McCutcheon on Shes Got Good Guns with a 223. McCutcheon also qualified for the Level 4 finals, bringing his total preliminary earnings with Shes Got Good Guns, owned by Roxanne Koepsell, to $10,329. Shes Got Good Guns is a 6-year-old mare by Colonels Smoking Gun out of A Bueno Poco Dunit.

Finishing at the top of the Open Level 1 preliminary round was Erik Caddeo and Trashy Spookshow, owned by Koby Kempel. Caddeo and Trashy Spookshow, a 5-year-old stallion by Gunnatrashya out of Spook Off Sparks, also earned a spot in both the Level 2 and Level 3 finals. Their earnings for the preliminary round totaled $1,087.

Leading the field of Prime Time contestants earning a spot in the finals is Dean Brown and Einsteins Little Prize with a 220. The 4-year-old stallion, by Einsteins Revolution out of Smart Little Prize, is owned by Robert Santagata. Total preliminary earnings came to $1,079.

The Tamarack Ranch Open Draw Party was held upstairs in the Coliseum at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center and featured finalists choosing engraved wine glasses to find their finals draw position. Plus, a record-breaking Calcutta was held, with total bids nearing $50,000. The Calcutta benefits Rein In Cancer.