The final section of the Non Pro Derby Go-Round concluded today, rounding out a competitive field. Riders in every level left it all in the arena, setting the stage for an unforgettable Finals Friday at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. Today, four divisions saw champions crowned: the Elementa Amateur Derby, Novice Horse Non Pro Derby, Colston Paving Inc. Non Pro Stakes, and the American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash.

Only two divisions saw changes at the top of the leaderboard after the third round of Non Pro preliminary competition. Kim Muehlstaetter and Smoky Mountain Rein remained on top in the Level 4 and Prime Time Non Pro Derby with a 223.5. In the Level 2 Non Pro Derby, the 220 Eduardo Christians and My Moneys In Brass laid down in section two stayed at the top spot, and the 218 that Kylie Schreibvogel and Dunitona Specialnite put up in section one at the top of the Level 1 Non Pro leaderboard, though she now splits the lead with Laura Fourre Honstetter. In the Masters Derby, no one topped the 221.5 Charles Wiederholt and Ima Magnum Survivor rode to on Tuesday. Likewise, Madison Rafacz and Who Whiz Brandon’s 220.5 couldn’t be overcome in the Youth Derby.

Level 3 Non Pro Derby Leaders: Gunna Be First and Jesse Boyd

In the third section of the 2025 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, Jesse Boyd of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Unhitched Partners LLC’s Gunna Be First laid down a sizzling 222.5 to take the lead in the Level 3 Non Pro Derby. Boyd is looking to add the champion purse to his more than $82,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings. He and the 2018 stallion by ARC Gunnabeabigstar and out of ARC Wallas First already brought home $15,000 at the National Reining Breeders Classic in the Level 3 Intermediate Non Pro earlier this year. Gunna Be First was bred by William Newman Jr. and nominated by NRHA Professional Trent Harvey.

Level 1 Non Pro Derby Co-Leaders: Laura Fourre Honstetter and J Jameson

With a 218, Laura Fourre Honstetter piloted J Jameson, owned and bred by husband NRHA Million Dollar Rider Arno Honstetter, to the co-leader position in Level 1. J Jameson, a 2018 mare sired by Star Spangled Whiz and out of Lime A Rita, has earned more than $23,000 in the show pen. Fourre Honstetter, of Scottsdale, Arizona, competed as a Youth and joined NRHA as a Non Pro member in 2015, and looks to add to her more than $14,000 in lifetime earnings with a Finals berth in the Levels 1 through 4 Non Pro Derby Finals.

Congratulations to the following champions:

Elementa Amateur Non Pro Derby Champions and Level 2 Non Pro Derby Leaders: Eduardo Christians and My Moneys In Brass

Eduardo Christians and his own My Moneys In Brass marked a 220 to secure the Elementa Non Pro Amateur Derby. The 5-year-old gelding by NRHA Hall of Famer Smart Spook and out of A Poco Bueno Dunit was bred and nominated by Nathan Piper Performance Horses LLC.

“That was a great run. It feels awesome,” said Christians. “He was good all week riding, and the night before he was great, and then we went in and he was perfect with me, so that was good.”

“He’s the first horse I bought here in the United States. I bought him for my son, and then I started to ride him, and then I felt great things on him, so I think he’s good enough for me to show.”

The family moved from Brazil just over a year ago. Christians looked into the OG&E Coliseum, overwhelmed with emotion, standing next to his wife and son.

“There’s no way to explain that,” Christians said. “It’s a big change in our life, moving to the United States, leaving our family in Brazil, but it was a big dream to live here in the United States—to work here and to compete in the NRHA. There are no words to explain that. It’s a very, very good feeling.

“Thank you very much to Thiago and Isabell Boechat,” he said. “They’re more than friends, they are brothers who change our lives; they’re special.”

Colston Paving 4-Year-Old Non Pro Stakes and Novice Horse Non Pro Champion: Mariana Vazquez and SLJ Plus One

Riding to a commanding 221, Mariana Vazquez and SLJ Plus One, bred, nominated and owned by Smart Like Juice, Inc., took the lead and the championship in both the Colston Paving 4-Year-Old Non Pro Stakes and the Novice Horse Non Pro Derby at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. For Vazquez, it was an exciting and emotional run.

“Her circling was my favorite part,” she said. “I haven’t ridden her that much because I am primarily in Mexico and she is in Chicago. I had some difficulties before we went in, so I was really nervous, but she was honest and is just such a show mare. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Vazquez splits time between her family’s home in Mexico and Markham, Illinois. Earlier this year, she claimed the ANECR Clásico Stakes win from the NRHA’s Mexican affiliate, adding to her more than $334,000 in lifetime reining earnings. This week, she and SLJ Plus One look to pile on to that total, and have a good start with two wins.

For Vazquez, the paycheck and the titles are secondary to her and the mare continuing to build the legacy her father, NRHA Hall of Famer Jose Vazquez, started as a breeder.

“My dad won the National Reining Breeders Classic on her mom [Like Shiner] and was second at the NRHA Derby, and I got to show her as a 9-year-old. I am really happy [Reyna] and I are doing well together because she was originally for my dad, but he got really sick; so I am grateful for the opportunity he gave me,” she explained. “My dad showed her grandma and her mom, so being able to show her really showcases the bloodline my dad put his trust in. Her grandma is an [NRHA] Million Dollar Dam and, hopefully, her mom can get to that point one day and continue the legacy my dad has tried to build over the years.”

The 2021 mare by NRHA Hall of Famer Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Like Shiner, truly kick-starts her NRHA earnings with this win. The pair will be back in the OG&E Coliseum to compete in the Non Pro Derby Level 4 Finals on Friday, June 20.

APHA Chrome Cash Incentive Champion: Kim Muehlstaetter and Smoky Mountain Rein

NRHA Million Dollar Owner and Rider Kim Muehlstaetter added APHA Chrome Cash Incentive Champion to her resume following the preliminary competition at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. Riding the reigning NRHA Derby Champion, Smoky Mountain Rein, sired by NRHA Hall of Famer Spooks Gotta Whiz, Muehlstaetter scored a 223.5 to take a dominating lead in the Level 4 Non Pro Derby prelims, and win the incentive.

“It feels good to have this, to know that I didn’t push him all the way and I have a lot left,” she said. “He’s so stylish, he can grab the points by just being clean. It really is easy for him.”

The pair made it look easy, earning the top preliminary spot and earlier this year, nabbing the National Reining Breeders Classic Non Pro Derby Level 4 Champion title. Muehlstaetter has her sights set on keeping him dialed in for Friday’s Non Pro Derby Level 4 Finals.

“My plan is to do the same thing I did before the prelims, keep him in the loop but fresh,” she said. “It’s been hot and humid, so I just want to keep him healthy and happy and, hopefully, we can do it again. He is a great horse. I’ve always said that horse fit me like a glove from the first day I rode him. He’s always been special to me. I knew if we could click together, it would work. In the middle of his 4-year-old year, he really hooked up and has been really consistent ever since. I know anything can go on in the Finals, especially when you add that degree of difficulty, but he’s been right with me the whole way.”

Muehlstaetter was quick to note that this win—and Finals berth—didn’t come through her efforts alone.

“I would like to thank [my husband] Martin and Sydney, even my parents who got me into [reining horses],” she said. “Our whole team at Muehlstetter Performance Horses because there is so much that goes on behind the scenes and you really can’t do it without all the hard work that goes on.”

The main arena goes quiet tomorrow—until the Freestyle Reining presented by Visit OKC Thursday evening, followed by the Para Reining Championships sponsored by Dechra and NRHA Corporate Partner Hart Trailers. Expect creativity, crowd energy, and classic NRHA entertainment! However, the action doesn’t slow down in the Adequan^® Arena, so be sure to follow along with the scores at nrhaderby.com.