June 29, 2018 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Under the bright lights of the Jim Norick Arena awaited an arena full of good dirt, excited spectators and eager competitors. All were ready to begin section two of the 2018 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Non Pro Derby Finals, which had the highest amount of entries and purse payout in the history of the event.
After a thrilling first run, Sandra Bentien and NRHA Sire & Dam program offspring Gotta Twist It Up (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz x Make It With A Twist) scored a 220 1Ž2, tying the top score on the leaderboard. After all was said and done, the duo headed to a run off against NRHA Million Dollar Rider and Owner Jose Vazquez and his own Like Shiner, during which they scored a 224 to claim the championship in both Levels (L)4 and 3. Making the win even sweeter was the fact that Gotta Twist It Up is bred, owned and nominated by Bentien, and has earned $97,306.85 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) with his owner aboard. Tonight, the pair added nearly $32,000 to that total.
The run off left Vazquez and Like Shiner, a 2012 gelding by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Smart Like Juice and out of Wind Her Up Shiner, to claim the reserve title in both the L4 and Prime Time divisions. Owned, bred and nominated by Smart Like Juice Inc., Like Shiner has had a successful 2018 with Vazquez – earning $60,425.01 in NRHA LTE with tonight’s win.
The L3 reserve championship was taken by Jenanne Overgaard and her own Dun Spooked Us with a 219. The 6-year-old stallion was bred and nominated by Petska Trinity Equine, LLC and helped Overgaard earn the night’s highest paycheck – $36,605.96. In addition to the L3 reserve title, the pair took home third place in the L4 and the championships in the L2, 1 and Prime Time divisions.
Emily Opell and Spook N Reyn scored a 218 1Ž2, claiming reserve honors in the L2 and 1, 3rd in the L3, 4th in the L4 and were crowned the Youth Non Pro Derby Champions. By NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Smart Spook and by Reyn Chex, Steve Opell’s Spook N Reyn was bred and nominated by Francesca Sternberg. Opell and the 2012 palomino stallion took home a check in excess of $30,000 for their performance.
Taking home a reserve championship in the youth division, along with top five finishes in the L1-4 were Ronny Lane Colston and Kevin Colston’s Baileys Not Painted (NRHA Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite x Darlins Not Painted). The gelding was bred and nominated by Turnabout Farm Inc and earned a paycheck of more than $23,000 with Colston aboard – the youngest rider in section two of the Non Pro Derby Finals. Colston also earned nearly $10,000 on his other mount, One Stormy Nite.
The Masters division championship went to Frederick Christen and his own Xtra Voodoo Step with a score of 214 1Ž2. Bred by Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch and nominated by Xtra Quarter Horses, LLC, Xtra Voodoo Step is by NRHA 10 Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step and out of Voodoo Chic. In addition to the championship, Christen piloted the 6-year-old mare to a top fifteen finish in the L4, a top ten finish in the L3 and a top five finish in the Prime Time division, earning a check of more than $7,000.
The Masters division championship went to Frederick Christen and his own Xtra Voodoo Step with a score of 214 1Ž2. Bred by Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch and nominated by Xtra Quarter Horses, LLC, Xtra Voodoo Step is by NRHA 10 Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Little Step and out of Voodoo Chic. In addition to the championship, Christen piloted the 6-year-old mare to a top fifteen finish in the L4, a top ten finish in the L3 and a top five finish in the Prime Time division, earning a check of more than $7,000.
Mark Blake and his own Hot Hollywood Whizky (NRHA 11 Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz x Hot Hollywood Jewels) were the reserve champions of the Masters division. Bred and nominated by Turnabout Farm Inc, Hot Hollywood Whizky also helped lead Blake to top 10 finishes in the L1 and Prime Time divisions as well as a top 20 finish in the L3.
During the NRHA Derby, the world’s best 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old reining horses and competitors come to Oklahoma City to compete for an estimated total purse and cash prizes of more than $1 million. The weekend features the NRHA Non Pro Derby finals starting at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, June 29 and the NRHA Open Derby finals at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 30. For more information on schedules, live video coverage, hotel accommodations, sponsors and more visit nrhaderby.com.
NRHA Press Release
