Coming in as draw 22 on Boom Shernic, by Boomernic out of She And Chic Dunit, Craig Schmersal knew the leading score was a 227. From the moment he and the six-year-old stallion ran to the dirt-churning stop, the crowd's attention was riveted. When the score—a 228—was announced, the hoots, hollers, and whistles were deafening.

The waiting began at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) in the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. Jordan Larson and Stop Like A Dream came in just three horses later and laid down a powerful run, but the score came to a 227.5. Two-time NRBC Open Champion Shawn Flarida, riding the National Reining Horse Association leading money earner Wimpys Little Chic, immediately followed, but had to settle for another 227.5. The next five horses couldn't come close, and Schmersal won his first NRBC Championship and Boom Shernic his first major title!

"Man, it was tough! Jordan and Shawn's horses were hooked tonight. When you're competing at this level you know it's not going to be easy—it's supposed to be tough," he said. "I can't be more happy for my horse. I'm happy for me too, but it's getting to the end of his career and he's one of my all-time favorites."

Boom Shernic, owned by Boom Shernic Syndicate, has lifetime earnings now exceeding $225,000. Schmersal noted, "This is a pretty special horse for me. Last year and the year before he was real close to winning it, but it didn't happen. Every time I walk in the gate on him I feel like I can win it. He's always been there for me and now he's finally got to come out on top."

A large amount of Boom Shernic's earnings has come from his performance inside the Great Southwest Equestrian Center Coliseum, and Schmersal, of Overbrook, OK, pointed out that's made easier by the NRBC's huge purse, which exceeded $1.4 million in 2010. "That's the good thing about the NRBC. You don't have to do great to win a lot of money." He paused, adding, "They've done it right and this show has always been one of my favorites. There's just so much money. It's also a great pen to show in—you get big scores because it's a big pen with great ground."

Schmersal, an NRHA $2 Million Rider, took two other horses to the finals. On Peppy Superboom (Boomernic x Peppy Designed) he tied for tenth to collect $25,000, and with Whizs Katrina (Topsail Whiz x Shiners Sulena) he collected $20,000 more for a 13th-place tie.

"I'm very fortunate to have the horses, clients, and the help that I have," he said following the awards ceremony. "I have a great bunch of guys that work for me and they go that extra mile. It's been a really great show."

Tying for the Reserve Championship with scores of 227.5 were Jordan Larson and Stop Like A Dream, and Shawn Flarida and Wimpys Little Chic. Along with taking home $53,500 each for the Reserve title, the mares also tied for the Open Mare Bonus, and collected an additional $12,189.

Stop Like A Dream, out of Best Stop, is by Magnum Chic Dream, who surpassed the $1 Million mark in offspring earnings during the NRBC. He is owned by Gilberto Leal.

With the money she earned during the NRBC, Wimpys Little Chic, by Wimpys Little Step out of Collena Chic Olena, became the NRBC's leading money earning horse, and is now within $15,000 of the $500,000 mark in career earnings. Wimpys Little Chic is owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA.

Abigayle Mixon Tops NRBC Intermediate Open with Julgun
Abigayle Mixon and Julgun were the NRBC Intermediate Open Champions, collecting $30,856 for the title. They also tied for 10th in the Open, worth an additional $25,000. In the finals, Mixon and Julgun, by Playgun out of Julie Christie, marked a 223.

"He was great tonight. He's a huge stopper and he really nailed all four of them. He also turned around really big for me." She added, "He's a little lazy, so I really had to push him around this big arena. But he did great."

Mixon grew up riding, and credits her father for most of her knowledge of horses. When she was 19 she moved to Oklahoma and went to work for Craig Schmersal. "I learned a lot from Craig and I am really glad I got to go there," she said. "It's neat that we're both Champions in the same year."

Julgun was bred, raised, and is owned by John and Norma Sather. "We started him as a two-year-old, and I got to show him last year as a three-year-old. He's the same great horse every day," Mixon said.

Todd Sommers and Whiz It A Chic earned the Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Championship, and finished 12th in the Open division. His take for the event was $41,782—securing an even bigger goal. The big news of the Open Finals was that Sommers, by virtue of making the Open and Intermediate Open Finals, became an NRHA Million Dollar Rider. Prior to the finals he was less than $5,000 away from that milestone, and with the last place in the finals being a guaranteed $5,000, he only had to make it into the arena to earn that status. "I think it's appropriate that I became a million dollar rider at the Million Dollar Show," he said after learning he had made the Open and Intermediate Open finals. "I've been chasing this for a very long time."

Nick Valentine and Luckys Starlight Win 2010 NRBC Limited and Level 1 Open Championships
The Limited and Level 1 Open divisions were decided during the first section of Open Finals. Nick Valentine, of Tioga, TX, won both on a five-year-old stallion by former NRBC Champion Starlights Wrangler named Luckys Starlight.

Owned by Joan Cain, Luckys Starlight finished the finals with a 219.5, good for $12,142 in the Limited Open, and $1,725 in the Open Level 1. He and Valentine were also eligible in the Intermediate Open, and their sixth-place finish netted an additional $8,720.

"I've showed him twice now —the first go and the Finals," he joked following the awards ceremony. "We did really well in the first go, so I just planned to go in for the finals and do exactly the same time. I just did one maneuver at a time. I couldn't have asked for him to be any better."

Valentine has worked for NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dell Hendricks for over a year. It was Hendricks who piloted Starlights Wrangler to the NRBC Championship in 2002. In fact, he owns Starlights Wrangler with Sally Brotten, so the win was extra special.

"It's awesome to see his offspring compete. It's the best feeling in the world to watch them grow like that," Hendricks explained. "This horse reminds me more of Starlights Wrangler than any other horse I have ever shown. He's just good-hearted, he tries, and he never refuses anything."

Hendricks had been showing Luckys Starlight, but when it came time to decide who would show him at NRBC, the decision was easy. "I had three horses that I'd marked higher on. I felt like it was a better chance for the horse if Nick rode him. If I go and he marks a 219.5 it doesn't do the owner, the sire, or the horse any good because he stays in his stall. I knew Nick could get along with him and get him shown well, and he did," he said. "I'm pretty proud."

The Reserve Championship in the Limited Open was a tie between Thiago Boechat and his horse Steppin Off Sparks, and Bud Lyon and The Sweet Spot. Both marked a 219 and collected $6,467. Steppin Off Sparks is by Wimpys Little Step out of Setting Off Sparks.

Lyon and The Sweet Spot, by Mark This Spot out of Sugar Pop Gun, also finished Reserve in the Open Level 1, collecting $1,125. An eighth-place finish in the Intermediate Open division garnered an additional $6,037. The Sweet Spot is owned by Mary Jo Greiff.

Tim McQuay Wins Open Prime Time on Shining N Sassy
Former NRBC Open Champion Tim McQuay topped the Open Prime Time with his 2008 NRHA Open Futurity Champion Shining N Sassy with a 222, collecting $2,400. But the accomplished trainer and the talented mare also finished in a 13th-place tie in the Open division, worth an additional $20,000.

"It's the second year for the Prime Time. It's growing and there are a lot of people that are glad we had it." He joked, adding, "It's just going to keep getting bigger and bigger because we just keep getting older."

As one of the founding members of the NRBC, the show has a special place in his heart. "This show is great to me on two levels. It's so exciting to have such a great finals event. The event itself has done more than I ever dreamed it would do," he said. "To be in that finals is a great feeling. The best four-, five-, and six-year-olds in the world come here to compete, so to make any of the finals is very special."

McQuay also finished Reserve in the Prime Time on Rudy Dunit, by two-time NRBC Open Champion Reminic N Dunit out of Lenas Ruby Chex. Rudy Dunit, owned by Claude Lindsey, also placed 16th in the Open division and collected an additional $13,000.

Matthew Palmer Wins CRI**/USEF Reining on Whale Of A Whiz
Twenty-five riders vied for a chance to qualify for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Friday, April 16, at the CRI**/U.S. Equestrian Federation Reining Event.

It was the last CRI event for American riders to qualify to travel to Oklahoma City in July for the USEF Reining Championship, which will determine which four reiners and horses will represent the United States at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY, in September.

Riding his parents' seven-year-old gelding, A Whale Of A Whiz, Matthew Palmer marked a 224 to win the CRI**/USEF Gold and earn $2,725. By Topsail Whiz and out of Pappita Sunrise, A Whale Of A Whiz has almost $72,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings. He was purchased at the 2008 NRHA Futurity Sale.

"We bought this horse specially to try for the WEG," the Elverson, PA, trainer said. "I was really pleased with how he performed tonight. We have a few things to work on before Oklahoma City but I'm hopeful."

Jordan Larson rode Sandra Bentien's Make It With A Twist for the first time on Friday night and ended up marking a 223.5 to take the Silver and a check for $1,873. By Dun It With A Twist and out of SR Mischief Maker, Jordan hopes to take the eight-year-old mare to Oklahoma City in July to try for the WEG.

Jordan also won the $25,000 NRHA Open Reining, marking a 226 on Dorminty Plantation's Out Shinin Wimpy, a five-year-old mare by Wimpys Little Step and out of Shinaka. They earned $7,155. Randy Paul on the 2006 NRHA Futurity Champion Taris Designer Genes was second with a 225, earning a check for $6,054. A seven-year-old mare, Taris Designer Genes is by Mr Boomerjac and out of Taris Little Vintage.

Craig Schmersal was the Bronze winner in the CRI**/USEF, riding Mister Montana Nic to a 223. He earned a check of $1,618 for owners Mister Montana Nic Syndicate.

Before the evening event, Jerry Kimmel hosted a USEF Reception in the Sponsor Area to highlight his stallions Dun Gotta Gun and Mister Nicadual, who also performed in the CRI**/USEF Reining.

The National Reining Breeders Classic, celebrating its 10th anniversary at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX, is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just 13 years, the NRBC has grown to include upwards of 230 subscribed stallions and in 2009, there were over 2,800 enrolled foals. Annually, the payout at the National Reining Breeders Classic exceeds $1.3 million. For information on the NRBC, visit the website at www.nrbc.com or call (580) 759-3939.