The energy inside the new OG&E Coliseum continues to build as the second section of the 2025 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel delivered more heat and horsepower. As the industry’s top athletes stepped into the pen, the competition intensified across all Open Derby levels, with new leaders emerging. From seasoned champions to rising stars, the path to Derby glory is heating up—and it’s only getting hotter.

Level 4 Open Derby and American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash Leaders: Casey Deary and Custom Dreams

Toward the end of the day, NRHA $5 Million Rider Casey Deary and Custom Dreams (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunna Be Custom) took over the top spot after earning a 229.5. The score also placed them at the lead of the APHA Chrome Cash incentive.

The 5-year-old stallion, owned by Custom Dreams Brazil, came into the show with more than $300,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings (LTE), all with Deary and NRHA Professional Devin Warren at the reins. Warren also bred and nominated Custom Dreams.

Level 3 Open Derby Leaders: 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 Co-Leaders: Trent Harvey, Cira Baeck and Kari Klingenberg

With a 221.5, three NRHA Professionals took the top spot in the Level 2 Open Derby preliminary round: Trent Harvey, Cira Baeck, and Kari Klingenberg.

NRHA Professional Trent Harvey and Mskittys Painted Gun held onto the top spot with their run from Friday afternoon. Bred, owned, and nominated by Last Stop Ranch LLC, Mskittys Painted Gun is a 2021 stallion by NRHA $3 Million Sire Colonels Shining Gun and out of Walla Girl Is A Whiz.

Baeck, originally from Belgium, scored a 221.5 on Magnum Up Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Dolled Up Gunner). The 5-year-old gelding is owned by Swiss NRHA member Sabine Schmid and was nominated by Baeck’s boyfriend, Jeronimo Leal Lobo. The gelding was bred by Brazilian NRHA member Jose Fernando Fagundes.

Evrything Is Awesome and Klingenberg finish out the three-way tie for owner Petra Ehrhardt. The 5-year-old gelding, bred and nominated by Big Dreams Investments, is by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Shine Your Pistol.

Level 1 Open Derby Leaders: 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.

Prime Time Open Derby Leaders: Sean McBurney and Addys Lil Dream

David Stroud’s Addys Lil Dream and NRHA Professional Sean McBurney rose to the top of the Prime Time Open Derby leaderboard with an impressive handicapped score of 224. Bred and nominated by NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch LLC, the talented 2019 mare (Magnum Chic Dream x Miss Lil Addy Tude) has already amassed nearly $90,000 in NRHA LTE, most of which has come with McBurney expertly guiding her through the pen.

Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes Co-Leaders: Fernando Salgado and Jason Vanlandingham

A pair of NRHA Professionals sit atop the leaderboard in the Tamarack Ranch 4-Year-Old Stakes after each marked a 226.5—NRHA $4 Million Rider Jason Vanlandingham and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Fernando Salgado, who also holds the lead in the Novice Horse Open Derby.

Salgado piloted Dom Wurd Gotta Whiz, a 2020 gelding by Wimpys Gotta Wimpychik out of Wurdinha Whiz, bred by Joao Guilherme Gomes De Rezende, nominated by Rodrigo Mariotoni, and owned by Jeff and Janet Sizelove.

Vanlandingham’s standout ride came aboard Berry First Smoke, a stallion bred and nominated by Sergio Elia and owned by Billy Wolf. The son of A Vintage Smoke, whom Vanlandingham famously rode to over $500,000 in NRHA LTE, is out of My Berry Best, making this pairing one to watch as the competition continues.

As the final section of the Open Derby preliminary round prepares to unfold tomorrow, June 15, anticipation is at an all-time high. After the conclusion of the third section, awards for the Tamarack Ranch Open 4-Year-Old Stakes and Novice Horse Open Derby will be crowned in the OG&E Coliseum.

Watch the event unfold online for free at the NRHA Thorsport LiveStream on nrhaderby.com.