2009 NRHA Derby a Great Success

Non-Pro Finals
The 2009 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby featured the $30,000 added Level 4 Non Pro; $15,000 added Level 3 Intermediate Non Pro; $7,500 added Level 2 Limited Non Pro; $5,000 added Level 1 Non Pro; $5,000 added Prime Time and Youth Non Pro division finals on Friday, June 26 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Skeets Little Annie (Skeets Peppy x Oaks Little Annie) and Frederick Christen cruised to the win in both the Level 4 Non Pro, Level 3 Intermediate Non Pro and Prime Time Derby divisions. Christen of Whitehouse, Ohio rode his five-year-old mare to a score of 220.5 for a total paycheck of $17,616. Christen also won the use of a three-horse Cimarron Trailer, two Pard's trophy saddles, two Montana Silversmiths trophy buckles, two Rios of Mercedes/Anderson Bean gift certificates, two Platinum Performance gift certificates, two Arenus gift certificates, two Purina gift certificates, two sets of Classic Equine Pro Tech boots, two Quarter Horse News jackets and two NRHA Lawson bronze trophies.

In the Level 2 Limited Non Pro and Level 1 Non Pro divisions, Kickit In The Bud (Nic It In The Bud x Peppys Little Orphan) and Marcia Cole Walker won the championship title with a score of 219.50. That score also earned them reserve honors in both the Level 4 Non Pro and Level 3 Intermediate Non Pro divisions. Walker earned two sets of prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners plus a total of $19,685 in prize money. Walker of Dandridge, Tenn. owns the six-year-old gelding.

Youth Non Pro rider Jordan Donnelly rode her five-year-old gelding Chexable (Inwhizable x Megarita Chex) to the win in the Youth Non Pro Derby division with a 218. Donnelly of Aubrey, Texas earned $716 for the win. Reserve honors went to another Aubrey, Texas resident Emily Winegar and Green Valley Ranch's Lil Ruf Sarah. The pair marked a 216 in the finals.

Open Finals
The Open finals of the 2009 NRHA Derby on Saturday, June 27 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Okla. After an impressive showing in the go with a 227, RC Fancy Step (Wimpys Little Step x Sonita Wilson) and Shawn Flarida brought another strong performance with a 232.5 in the finals to win the Level 4 Open division championship for owner Buffalo Ranch of Fort Worth, Texas.

RC Fancy Step and Flarida earned $50,000 for the win, plus the use of a three-horse Cimarron Trailer, a Pard's trophy saddle, a Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Rios of Mercedes/Anderson Bean Boots gift certificate, a Platinum Performance gift certificate, an Arenus gift certificate, a Purina gift certificate, a set of Classic Equine Pro Tech boots, a Quarter Horse News jacket and an NRHA Lawson bronze trophy.

Hollywoodtinseltown (Hollywood Dun It x Miss Tinseltown) and Marco Ricotta marked a 230.5 in the finals to earn the Level 3 Intermediate Open division championship, Level 4 Open division reserve championship and $44,840. David Silva, Sr. of Tolland, Connecticut owns the four-year-old stallion.

Wimpys Little Chic (Wimpys Little Step x Collena Chic Olena) and Shawn Flarida placed third in the Level 4 Open division for owner Arcese Quarter Horses USA. The four-year-old mare now has NRHA earnings in excess of $438,000.

In the Level 2 Limited Open division, Whizs Bronze Star (West Coast Whiz x The Bronze Star) and Pete Kyle marked a 220.5 to take the win in the division. Kaitlin Townsend of Argyle, Texas owns the three-year-old gelding.

Jerrys Fine Wine and Talmage Smedley of Ogden, Utah scored a 218 and earned championship honors in the Level 1 Open division. Smedley owns the five-year-old Jerrys Fine Wine stallion.

The Prime Time division championship was determined in the go early this week. Check Your Gun Lady (Dun Gotta Gun x Cee Blair lady) and Tim McQuay took top honors for owner Jerry Kimmel of Granbury, Texas.

Complete results for the NRHA Derby and ancillary classes can be found at NRHAderby.com.

Get frequent updates on the 2009 NRHA Derby at twitter.com/nrha, or visit the 'Blog' area on NRHAderby.com for fun news from the show.