The Rookie division got their chance to shine under the lights of the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel with the first slate of Rookie Level 1 and 2, and Prime Time showing after the Novice Horse Open Levels 3 through 1 wrapped their competition. High Point awards and class champions were named and crowned following an intense day of reining.
NRHA $1,000 Novice Horse Open Level 3 Slate 2 Champions: Jorge Puente and Lil Who Whiz Cash
| 2019G (Lil Joe Cash x Who Whiz That Chic) | Owner: Jorge Puente, Sarasota, FL |
| Score: 146.5 | Breeder: Clint Haverty, Krum, TX |
“He was really good today, he’s a really good horse. I just love him,” Puente said. “He’s six now, and I’ve shown him quite a while. I haven’t ridden anything close to him; he’s one of a kind. A lot of people like him when he’s working, he’s great-minded, a good stopper, a good mover and has presence. It’s hard to find one that has all those things and is so honest.”
NRHA $1,000 Novice Horse Open Level 2 and Level 1 Slate 2 Co-Champions, Level 1 High Point Champions: Jorge Puente and Whizin Off Platinum
| 2018M (Platinum Vintage x Whizin Off Spooks) | Owner: Paul and Sandra Kaskey, North Port, FL |
| Score: 144.5 | Breeder: Buckshot Farms, Lincoln, NE |
“I got this mare and they didn’t know what they were going to do with her, they had done some cow horse with her,” said Puente. “She had never been shown [in reining] and the owners told me to get on her one day. She really wanted to learn, and she’s a big stopper. At the beginning of this year, I told Paul and Sandra I thought she was going to be a good horse [in the reining] and that she could win it if we put everything together. The first time I showed her, I could tell she wanted to be a show horse. Today, she had a smoking go!”
NRHA $1,000 Novice Horse Open Level 2 and Level 1 Slate 2 Co-Champions: Cira Baeck and Phantomlicious RD
| 2021M (Phantom Face x Bubbalicious Gump BB) | Owner: Ruediger Diedenhofen, Noervenich, Germany |
| Score: 144.5 | Breeder: Ruediger Diedenhofen, Noervenich, Germany |
“I rode her mom and her grandma, and I am in the third generation and it is so fun to ride her,” said Baeck. “I rode her dad, Phantom Face, and he was my show horse in Europe. I know the whole family and she is special. She is so sweet and easy to ride. I showed her once last year and my rein broke. Then my boyfriend showed her, and her headstall broke. Then we showed her again, and she showed so fast that she couldn’t hold herself and zeroed. We had so much bad luck last year, and this is the first time I showed her this year, so I hope our bad luck is behind us! I had everyone double-check everything today.”
NRHA $1,000 Novice Horse Open Level 3 High Point Champions: Martin Padilla and Custom Jeweler
| 2018S (Pale Face Dunnit x Custom Fancy Bling) | Owner: Paula Daniela Martinez, Wilton, CA |
| Breeder: Chelsie McAllister, Glasgow, MT |
“He is very pleasant to ride and has a nice big stop, a smooth stop and lope,” Padilla said. “He is a ‘steady Eddie,’ consistent horse. Anytime you ask for any maneuver, he is right there for you and doesn’t require riding two or three times a day to get him ready. He’s a good soul and it is always fun to show him, no matter what pattern, because you know you can count on him if you control yourself. It’s a mental game and if you try too hard, your timing is off, but if you cruise around, it’s a big score and he babysits you.”
NRHA $1,000 Novice Horse Open Level 2 High Point Champions: Brian Bell and Dunitthemodernway
| 2021S (Modern Gun x Hollywoods Mae West) | Owner: Simon Investments, Mustang, OK |
| Breeder: MS Stables, Whitesboro, TX |
“I showed this horse as a 3-year-old and he had a small injury, so this is his first show back,” Bell said. “I showed in the Novice Horse to see where he is and show him where he’s supposed to be. I showed him at three-quarter speed both [runs] and he was a good boy both times. He did what I planned to do, have a nice, sweet run where I tried to plus-half everything, and he did what I asked him to do.”
Reining action continues Saturday in the Adequan® Arena with the remainder of the Rookie division and the first slate of youth classes. Follow the action at nrhaderby.com.
