Fappani steers Spooky Whiz to the 2016 NRHA Open Futurity Championship

Press release | Reining – In 1997, Andrea Fappani left his mark in the NRHA history books by winning the Limited Non Pro Futurity championship riding Best By Tari (Taris Catalyst x Pocono Annie). He was the first European to conquer a Futurity championship in the most coveted reining show pen in the world!

In 2001, Fappani came back to write yet another important chapter by claiming the NRHA Open Futurity Championship riding RR Star (Like A Diamond x RL Miss Kitty), owned by Lundin Farm, and then went on to claim the title in 2011 aboard Lil Joe Cash (Nu Chex To Cash x RS Lilly Starlight) for Russel Giles.

Tonight, with only one contestant left to go, the NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider once again proved his worth by reining Spooky Whiz, an own son of Spooks Gotta Whiz out of Myo Starlight, owned by Rancho Oso Rio LLC, to top honors.

The score to beat, when Fappani rode in the pen, was a 221 posted by All American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity champions Franco Bertolani and Dun It For Whizkey (Topsail Whiz x Dun It For Chex), owned by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC and by NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida riding Whiz Gata Prize (Topsail Whiz x Smart Little Prize) for owner Alberto Casasco of Argentina.

Fappani was determined to take home his third Futurity championship and rode the bay gelding through NRHA pattern #10 performing deep stops, fast spins and controlled transitions and his third title with a 225.5 score! “This is a pretty special horse. He’s pretty solid, we changed our program a little bit with him, and I went pretty easy in the go-rounds even though I knew we had a horse that could do well in the finals even though I did not know how much he would step up. I asked him and he did step up!” said Andrea who took home the guaranteed champion paycheck of $150,000 aboard the gelding bred and nominated by Spence Bell.

Bertolani and Flarida settled for reserve honors and each added $109,854.78 to their earnings.

Honstetter and Whizkey Chaser are Level 3 Open Champions

With a 222, Arno Honstetter rode Marilyn Overgaard’s Whizkey Chaser (Whizkey N Diamonds x Sparklin Chic), owned by Marilyn Overgaard and nominated and bred by Matthew Armenta, to a 222. “It was a good ride!” said Honstetter who added $29,538.24 to his earnings for the win. “I made a few mistakes in the go rounds, which kept me out of the Level 4, and since I did not show much last year, I went back to the Level 3. I’m really happy with my ride tonight, he’s a lot of horse and really talented.”

With a 219, reserve honors went to Nathan Piper riding Toyon Ranch LLC’s Dun Gotyer Guns Up (Gunner x Always A Dunit), nominated and bred by John and Nancy Tague, and by Gabriel Diano riding AC Quarter Horses LLC’s Oops Itsa Spooks (Spooks Gotta Gun x Tejons Finally Dunit), nominated by Michelle Miola and bred by Silver Spurs Equine. The co-reserve champions won $19,866.15 each.

Claiming the Level 2 Futurity Championship and a paycheck worth $19,261.05, with a 218.5, was Pedro Baiao riding Michael Garnett’s Hollywood Nites (Gunners Special Nite x Dun It For Chex), a palomino stallion owned by Michael Garnett, nominated by Cardinal Hill Training Center LLC and bred by Oldenburg Farm LLC. “I work for Martin Muehlstaetter and, since I was without a horse to show, he felt I could ride this one. Most of the work done on him is thanks to Martin and I cannot thank him enough!”

Reserve honors with a 218 score went to Fernando Salgado and Loveya (Gunnatrashya x Love Em N Lena), owned and nominated by Camela Essick. The duo added $13,934.66 to their earnings.

It was a special night for Josh Murphy who rode his Got That Iowa Shine (Smart And Shiney x SLJ This Is My Juice), nominated by Mark Mahaffey, to a 215 and the Level 1 championship. The NRHA Professional also reined CBK Hang A Wright (Hang Ten Surprize x HR Wright On Cash), owned and nominated by William & Corliss Kellogg, to reserve honors with a 214.5. Murphy won $15,736.79.

NRHA Professional Scott McCutcheon earned the Prime Time Open Championship, along with $1,736.36, riding Special Mi (Gunners Special Nite x Mi Mega), a stallion nominated and owned by Jack Covington.

A special thank you to the NRHA Partners:
 
Adequan®, Anderson Bean Boot Company, Bluebonnet Feeds, Cardinal Reining Horses, Cinch, Classic Equine, Downunder Horsemanship, John Deere, Kiser Arena Specialist, Lucas Oil, MS Diamonds, Texas, Protect the Harvest, Markel Insurance Company, Merial, Montana Silversmiths, Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau, Platinum Performance, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes, Santa Hill Ranch, Silver Spurs Equine, Silver Spurs Saddles, SmartPak, Trailguard and Xtra Quarter Horses.

NRHA Event Sponsors: RAM, Sandbur, Not Ruf At All, Twin Cities South Trailers, Twin Cities South Sundowner Trailers, Story Book Stables, Star Spangled Whiz, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, Continental Saddlery, Equine Oasis, Bob’s Custom Saddles, KO Trading, Elite Stall Mat Rentals, Scott Cleaners, Avila’s Proshop, Brandt Blankets, Mr. Electric Spark, Old Sorrel Western Sports Apparel, John Vance Autogroup, Boot Barn

Founded in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is a nonprofit association dedicated to promoting and encouraging the development of and public interest in the sport of reining. The focus is on developing and maintaining suitable standards of performance and judging and in providing a fun filled, family-oriented atmosphere. The NRHA would like to continue the celebration of our 50th anniversary with our corporate partners, members and supporters for making this association a true success.

Source: Press release