The final section of the Open Derby preliminary competition delivered drama and high stakes as the last contenders chased their spots in the finals. Awards capped off a thrilling day, recognizing champions in the Prime Time Open, American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash, Novice Horse Open, and Tamarack Ranch 4-Year-Old Stakes divisions.
APHA Chrome Cash Champions and Open Preliminary Round Winners: Casey Deary and Custom Dreams
NRHA $5 Million Rider Casey Deary and Custom Dreams (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunna Be Custom) held onto their lead from section two to win the APHA Chrome Cash incentive and the high score of the Open preliminary round.
The 5-year-old stallion, owned by Custom Dreams Brazil, came into the show with more than $300,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings, all with Deary and NRHA Professional Devin Warren at the reins.
“Custom Dreams was a horse that Devin Warren raised and rode until August of his 3-year-old year, and then he gave him to me,” said Deary. “We made the [2023] NRHA Futurity finals on him, and that horse is just kind of matured and grown and finished out to be an excellent individual.”
It is no surprise that Deary and the stallion find continued success in the show pen, as Custom Dreams is a full sibling to Customize My Dream, who won the 2022 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Reserve Championship with Deary at the reins. Both stallions were bred and nominated by Warren.
“The whole family’s [of horses] been good too,” he said. “They are great-minded, have lots of ability, and are really smooth and fun to show. Joy [Deary’s daughter] loped him for me today, and he will have a very light week. Towards the end of the week, I’ll spend a little time loping through the gates and doing some quiet stuff in the main arena there, but he knows his job. He’s happy, and I just need to make sure he’s comfortable and prepared to go do his best on Saturday.”
Novice Horse Open Derby Champions: Fernando Salgado and Dom Wurd Gotta Whiz
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Fernando Salgado held the lead in the Novice Horse Open Derby from the second section after scoring a 226.5.
Dom Wurd Gotta Whiz (Wimpys Gotta Wimpychik x Wurdinha Whiz) was bred by Joao Guilherme Gomes De Rezende, nominated by Rodrigo Mariotoni, and owned by Jeff and Janet Sizelove.
“This horse is raised in Brazil,” said Salgado. “I called my friend Marcos [Marcus Antonio Pereira Jr.], who used to own him and train him in Brazil when he was two years old, and he told me, ‘I think I have a really special horse.’ So we keep talking, and I watched some videos from him.”
At the end of the gelding’s 3-year-old year, they decided to bring them over to the United States to show in the NRHA Futurity. Due to the quarantine process, the horse was only in the States for one month before the show, so Pereira showed him. The pair broke gait to keep them from the finals, but they were thrilled with the potential.
“After that, Jeff and Janet [Sizelove] bought him for me, and I’ve been getting to know him and preparing him,” said Salgado. “This is the first time I’ve really showed him for real, so we are very, very happy to win the Novice Horse and to be in the Open Level 4 Finals. I cannot wait to see what this horse can bring to us later!
“I want to thank Marcos, that sold us him to us, Jeff, that trusts us with him, and the whole team that works all the time with us,” he continued.
Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes Champions: Mirko Midili and Mark My Word
Mirko Midili and Mark My Word scored a 228 to earn the Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes Championship.
The stallion, owned by Janice Laney of NRHA Corporate Partner 7 Lakes Ranch, is the offspring of two NRHA Hall of Famers, Gunnatrashya and Wimpys Little Chic.
“To be honest, I just need to keep him happy and sound,” said Midili. “He’s a super talented horse, so he’s very trainable and all the stuff are easy for him. We did a schooling show here last week at the [Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association] Redbud Spectacular, just making him ready for this show, but it was really good.”
The stallion, bred and nominated by NRHA $3 Million Owner Arcese Quarter Horses USA, had $146,091 in NRHA LTE with Midili at the reins before arriving in OKC.
“We are bringing him home tonight for two days off, and then bringing him back maybe two days before the finals,” he said. “I just want to keep him happy and with a lot of power for Saturday night. When you have a horse that is this talented, you can’t overdo it,” remarked Midili. “These horses can give this amount of talent forever, like until the end of their career. But if you don’t do that [keep them happy], they might last like a couple of years, and in the end, they’re done. So for me, it’s very important to let them love what they are doing.”
Prime Time Open Champions: Sean McBurney and Addys Lil Dream
Washington-based NRHA Professional Sean McBurney and Addys Lil Dream topped the Prime Time Open Derby Championship with a 224, including their handicap.
“We bought her as a 3-year-old from [NRHA Professional] Mirjam Stilo and John Tague [of NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch],” said McBurney. “We didn’t show her when she was three, but started showing her when she was four.”
Waiting until “Maddy” was more mature was a decision that paid off, as the pair has earned more than $85,000 NRHA LTE in the showpen together before arriving in Oklahoma City.
The 6-year-old mare, bred and nominated by Toyon Ranch, is now owned by David Stroud.
“Her mother [Miss Lil Addy Tude] has produced over $900,000,” he said. “Her mental ability [gives her the advantage]. She lets you show her every time, and [show off] her physical ability. I’ll prepare better for my turnarounds next time.”
The pair also made the finals in the Levels 3 and 2 Open derbies.
“Thank you to Terri and David Stroud, my wife, Jordan, and Milie [McBurney’s daughter] who will arrive here on Thursday.”
Open Derby Preliminary Round Level Winners
Level 3 Open Derby Preliminary Round Winners: Nathan Piper and Shes Got Magnitude
NRHA Million Dollar Rider Nathan Piper and Shes Got Magnitude rose to the top of the Level 3 Open preliminary round with a 224.5. The 6-year-old mare, by NRHA Hall of Famer Magnum Chic Dream and out of Gee Golly Whiz, is owned, bred, and nominated by Lisa Klaus.
Level 2 Open Derby Preliminary Round Winners: Guglielmo Fontana and Robin Schoeller
Two NRHA Professionals scored a 222.5 to top the Level 2 Open Derby preliminary round.
Robin Schoeller rode Shine Oh Shine (Shine Chic Shine x Miz Whizconsin) for Ruoff Dietter Reining Horses, who also bred and nominated the mare. The duo already had more than $30,000 in NRHA LTE before arriving in OKC.
Guglielmo Fontana rode Jojo In Tinseltown (Colonels Shining Gun x DA Wimpy Tinseltown). The 4-year-old stallion was bred and owned by Domingo Alvarado and nominated by Guillermo Bortoni.
Level 1 Open Derby Preliminary Round Winners: Juan Robledo Coppiano and Alpha Sushi Chic
Juan Robledo Coppiano and Alpha Sushi Chic held onto the top of the Level 1 Open Derby preliminary round after section two. The 7-year-old mare is owned, bred, and nominated by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC. The duo scored a 221, more than four points higher than the pair sitting in second place at the end of section two. Coppiano became an NRHA member just two years ago.
The top 30 horse and rider combinations, plus ties, will compete in the Open Finals on Saturday, June 21.
As the curtain falls on the Open preliminary competition at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel, the spotlight now turns to the Non Pro riders ready to make their mark. With finals on the horizon and momentum building, the excitement in Oklahoma City is far from over. Check out nrhaderby.com as the event continues to tune in to the NRHA ThorSport LiveStream, view schedules, and more.
