Thursday was the final morning for Non Pro action in the Priefert Arena at the 2016 High Roller Reining Classic. After warming up with great runs in the Maturity yesterday, Melissa Wigen and Dunit In Wranglers came back to win this morning in the Non Pro, while Wimpys Little Nite and Courtney Battison took home the reserve. In the Prime Time, DeWayne Copus and Daddy Day Care scored a 72 to win both this and the Masters, while Britta Jacobsen and Okie Wimpys turned in a 71.5 for second place honors in the Prime Time. Gayle Samuelson and Doubleshot Shotgun were reserve in the Masters. The two big Non Pro winners of the day, Melissa Wigen and DeWayne Copus, then tied for first in the Intermediate. The Arabians enjoyed their Non Pro competition too, with Chandler Hiser winning on his Hollywood Honey and Linda Jacobs taking reserve with Al Marah Matt Dillon, capping off a great day of Non Pro competition.
Of course, the day’s main focus was on the Lucas Oil Arena where the Pros were showing off many of their very best 2016 National three-year-old prospects in the $80,000 Added Tamarack Ranch Open Futurity. Almost a hundred young horses showed up to try out their legs and show off their young talents. It was definitely the Class of the Class of 2013. In the Level 4 it cost a minimum score of a 217.5 just to make a paycheck at this party. In the first hour Franco Bertolani and Hollywood Nites set the tone with a solid 217.5. Then Craig Schmersal with Wimpys Little Spook and Casey Deary with HA Calico Joe posted 219’s, and that was before lunch. At lunchtime Jordan McBurney and Gibsons Finest (the only lady in the Level 4 money and the winner of the Level 3) and Jason Vanlandingham both threw down 220’s. Those scores held well until 2:45 when Shawn Flarida and Spooks The Hard Way turned in a beautiful run and posted a 221. Most of us thought that was the end of it, until about 5 pm with just a single handful of horses left to show, Andrea Fappani appeared and snatched the prize by running a 222 with Ifwhizswereguns. The owners, B & L Holdings LLC took home $14,662.50 and Patricia Holtzman, who owns Spooks The Hard Way, made a handsome $8,925.00 for the reserve placing.
Mizzen Gunner and Jesse Beckley were fifth in the Level 4 and reserve in the Level 3 to take home over $11,000. Ruben Van Dorp and Smart Twinkletown won the Level 2 and earned close to $13,000 between the level placements. Reserve in the Level 2 was Justa Cool Nite and Francesco Martinotti. Kari Klingenberg won the Level 1 with Gunnachicya.
Most of these superlative young horses are on their way to more Futurities this fall and winter, of course. Like the other competing trainers, Josiah Haaby, who rode Smart Chics Boomer to reserve honors in the Level 1, was already making plans for the upcoming weeks and months. “We bought this filly at the NRHA Sale in Oklahoma City and this is her second show,” says Si who hails from Dragonfly Ranch in Oregon. “She had a good run, her stops were great and we need to work on the turns. She’ll be up at the Idaho Low Roller and then at Oklahoma. She’s owned by Sandra Tow, Redmond, Oregon.”
Friday and Saturday the Lucas Oil Arena hosts the Whizkey N Diamonds 4-Yr-Old Stakes Non Pro and Open and the Protect The Harvest 4/5/6 Year-Old Non Pro Derby as well as the Lucas Oil 4/5/6 Year-Old Open Derby!
Watch all of the High Roller Reining Classic action LIVE via live stream broadcasting on www.HorseShowGlobal.com, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram, #HRRC.
