Oklahoma City, OK – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show in Oklahoma City, Okla. held two championship classes on Monday, November 28 – the Adequan NAAC Novice Horse Open Level 1 and the Adequan NAAC Novice Horse Open Level 2. In addition, the show welcomed the second go-round, first section of the $540,000-added NRHA Open Futurity and first go-round, second section of the $260,000-added Cinch / NRHA Non Pro Futurity.

Guapo Lena (Shiners Lena Doc x Annies Nu Lena) and Jay McLaughlin came back to the second go-round and posted another solid performance with a 219. They now lead the composite in both the $280,000-added level 4 open and $145,000-added level 3 open divisions for owner Carol Rose of Gainesville, Tex. Their composite score is 441.5.

NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani sits second in the level 4 open division on Spook Off Sparks (Smart Spook x Setting Off Sparks, owner Arcese Quarter Horses USA) with a composite score of 441. Fappani rode the mare to a win at the Scottsdale Classic Futurity and a third place finish at the NRHA Cowtown Classic Pre Futurity.

NRHA Professional Dean Brown and Conquer The Spin (Conquistador Whiz x Jacspins Darling) rank second in the level 3 open division with a composite score of 435.5. They placed in the top ten at this year’s NRHA Cowtown Classic Pre Futurity in the level 4 open and level 3 open divisions. Robert Santagata of Campbell Hall, N.Y. owns the gelding.

Leading the $75,000-added level 2 open and $35,000-added level 1 open divisions is the team of David Zimmerman and Starlit Tinsel with a composite score of 435. NRHA Million Dollar Owner Rosanne Sternberg (Aubrey, Tex.) owns the Tinsel Nic mare out of Gay Light Star. Zimmerman is an NRHA Professional.

Loris Epis and John Fletcher’s Gotta Magnum Dream (Dun Gotta Gun x Magnums Enterprise) are second in the level 2 open and level 1 open divisions. The pair has already won nearly $10,000 in NRHA competition this year. Fletcher hails from Waterford, Ontario, Canada.

The top open horse and rider combinations, based on composite scores from the first and second go-round, will advance to the NRHA Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 3 where the winner of the level 4 open division will earn $150,000 as well as incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners and award sponsors.

St-Onge and Spooks N Sparks Prevail in Non Pro Futurity
Non pro reiners entered the arena Monday evening in the second of three sections in the go-round. Gainesville, Texas’ Veronica St-Onge set the pace early in the second section with a score of 221 on Spooks N Sparks (Smart Spook x Whizicle). They currently lead the $100,000-added level 4 non pro and $70,000-added level 3 non pro divisions. The mare is owned by St-Onge Reining Horses, Inc.

Allison Sutton (Gainesville, Tex.) and Whiz N Chexy Chic continue to lead the level 2 non pro and level 1 non pro division with a score of 215. Gary Sutton owns the Topsail Whiz mare out of Tinky Chex Chic. Allison placed fourth in the level 2 non pro division at the 2008 NRHA Futurity.

Javier Melo of Pinecrest, Fla. holds the number one position in the youth non pro division. Melo scored a 214 on his Wimpy Little Girl (Wimpys Little Step x Dee Cee). The pair also holds second in the level 2 non pro and level 1 non pro divisions.

Welman and Rammerstorfer Earn Adequan® NAAC Titles
Meanwhile, one more champion was crowned in the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show which features the top eight riders from NRHA Affiliates across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

North Central region representatives Brian Welman and Reminhick (Reminic Ringo x Hometown Hickory) marked an impressive 223 to take championship honors in the Adequan NAAC Novice Horse Open Level 2. The 2005 gelding is owned by Travis Jon Lemke of New Prague, Minn. Welman is an NRHA Professional and NRHA Judge.

In the Adequan NAAC Novice Horse Open Level 1, NRHA Professional Elizabeth Rammerstorfer rode her Magnum Rescue (Magnum Chic Dream x April Doc Bonanza) to the win with a 215.5. Rammerstorfer (Rancho Murieta, Calif.) and the 2002 gelding qualified at the Northwest Regional Affiliate Finals.

Watch the live webcast, keep tabs on the leaders and find out about the latest news and upcoming events at nrhafuturity.com, facebook.com/nrhareining or twitter.com/nrha.

More About the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show
It’s the most elite reining event in the world with more than 3,000 entries competing for nearly $2 million in cash and prizes. More than 1,300 horses and 127,000 visitors come from nearly 20 countries to compete and watch the excitement unfold. During its 10-day run, the show contributes more than $67 million to the overall Oklahoma City economy.

The show features the Open Futurity Finals on Saturday, December 3 when the winning entry is guaranteed a check for $150,000, as well as incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners and award sponsors. The NRHA / Cinch Non Pro Futurity offers an additional $260,000 in added money for non pro reiners, which will be awarded on Friday, December 2. Nearly $100,000 in nominator incentive money also will be distributed to those individuals who originally nominated horses to the NRHA Nomination Program, despite whether or not they still own the horse.

The NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show offers a variety of spectator events and activities including a western gift market, NRHA / Markel Insurance Horse sales, NRHA Open World Championship Shootout presented by Equine Sports Medicine, Silver Spurs Equine Rookie of the Year and 4R Performance Horses Hometown Heroes Slide & Freestyle Reining benefitting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Go to nrhafuturity.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show Supporters
The NRHA would like to thank the following corporate partners for their support of the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show: Adequan, Arenus, Bob’s Custom Saddles; Cinder Lakes Ranch and Reproduction Center; Classic Equine; Darling 888 Ranch; Horse&Rider; John Deere; Kiser Arena Specialists; Markel Insurance Company; Merial; Montana Silversmiths; Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Pard’s Western Shop; Platinum Performance; Purina Mills; Quarter Horse News; Rios of Mercedes / Anderson Bean Boot Company; Miller International – Cinch / Cruel Girl; Silver Spurs Equine; SmartPak, Twister Trailer and Xtra Quarter Horses, plus NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show Sponsors: 4R Performance Horses, Avila’s Pro Shop, Cowdog Saddles, Equine Sports Medicine, eyeD™, Heat-A-Zone, KO Trading, Kyle Tack, Performance Horse Supply, RAM, Sandbur Productions LLC, Scott Cleaners, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery and Soft Ride.

For more information on the NRHA, or the sport of Reining, please visit nrha.com or call (405) 946-7400.