X U A E S S A R B
N H O J X X U U A A E E S S S S Jordan Larson and Spooks Gotta Whiz, A A R R B B
owned by Michell Anne Kimball, bask in N N H H O O J
J the winner’s spotlight. 2010 NRHA FUTURITY & ADEQUAN ® NORTH AMERICAN AFFILIATE CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF THE NATIONAL REINING HORSE ASSOCIATION AND NRHA REINER VOLUME 31, ISSUE 11. { OPEN DIVISION } One In A
E’SAONE -IN -A-MILLION -MINDED horse,” said Jordan Larson of the 2010 NRHA Futurity Open Champi - “H on Spooks Gotta Whiz. Having met only days before one of the most impor - BY KAREN SHEDLAUSKAS tant days of their lives, Larson and the fancy bay stallion were on two totally different tracks en-route to the NRHA Futurity. Larson JOMRDAN LARSON had lost his beist Futuritly mount (lor so hei thoughto) and Spookn s Got - AND SPOOKS ta Whiz was the top choice in another trainer’s barn. They both proved that “Plan A” isn’t always necessarily the best one. On their first (show) GOTTA WHIZ date, literally, the destined duo put together an impressive 227 run to claim PROVE THAT the prestigious title and a winner’s check of $125,000. Larson’s surprise and excitement were in step with the way the entire show PLAN B went. The NRHA’s signature event, which ran from November 25 through December 5 at the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, had increased entries CAN TURN OUT in both the Futurity and the Adequan ® North American Affiliate Cham - BETTER THAN pionships, bigger crowds, more trade show vendors, and strong figures at the NRHA’s three elite sales. (See related stories elsewhere in this issue.). PLAN A. The Futurity’s total payout of over $1.5 million made it the second largest in history. To say the show exceeded everyone’s expectations and was full of surprises is an understatement. Level 4 Champion: Spooks Gotta Whiz and Jordan Larson After the open finals Larson explained his “ultimate catch-ride” on Spooks X U
Gotta Whiz. “He arrived at my place just four days before we left to come A E S S
to the Futurity. I rode him only a few times before we came to the show. A R B
Tanya Jenkins had ridden him since the fall of his two-year-old year, and N H O she did a great job on him,” the NRHA Professional from Whitesboro, Texas, J Jordan and his son Cash after the awards ceremony.
Jordan thanks his new “best M O
R friend,” Spooks T S X
A Gotta Whiz. B
N W A D was quick to credit his fellow NRHA Professional. “I’d never er’s face. “My goal has always been to win the Futurity before shown him before, so I really didn’t know what to expect. He I turned 30,” Larson explained. “And my 30th birthday is in was great in the go-rounds, and I was just hoping for the best March, so I just made it!” in the finals. It was like blur. I tried to show the best I could and The last two months before the Futurity are usually when a then see how it turned out.” As the second to last draw in the trainer makes the final adjustments to his show string, but Lar - level 4 finals, Larson knew that he was staring down a 226.5 post - son didn’t really get that opportunity this year. “My best horse, ed earlier by NRHA Professional Mike McEntire and Red Stripe or what I thought was my best horse, was sent to another train - Spook. Larson had already shown one horse earlier in the draw er in October,” Larson said about the changes he experienced. (Mr Jerry Lee Surpriz) and didn’t do as well as he had hoped. “So I had to re-evaluate my stock. We decided to geld one of “‘Baby Spooks’ was my last shot, so I just went for it,” he grinned. the other colts I was riding, and we went on to win the South - Larson and Spooks Gotta Whiz let it all hang out through - west Futurity. Then I got Spooks Gotta Whiz just before the out the pattern, but Larson knew all systems were go when it NRHA Futurity, and we really clicked.” It’s clear that everything came time to stop. In fact, after the first stop and rollback, Lar - happens for a reason. son threw out some rein and did the same after the second stop. Spooks Gotta Whiz is by Spooks Gotta Gun out of Pretty - If he had pitched this big stopper any more rein, Spooks Got - whizprettydoes, by Seven Million Dollar Sire and Hall of Fame ta Whiz might have stepped through a rein. When the score inductee Topsail Whiz, who is a full sister to Who Whiz It. Spooks of 227 was announced, a smile spread across the young train - Gotta Gun is royally bred as well. He is by the late Million Dol - Y R R E B N
E Jordan Larson and Spooks Gotta Whiz and their connections T L
A in front of the Cimarron award trailer. W lar Sire Grays Starlight out of the great producing mare Katie eral horses. “I used to train hunters and jumpers,” Kimball ex - Gun. The 2007 foals were the first foal crop by Spooks Gotta plained. “And I totally fell into reiners backward!” A friend in - Gun and his owner, Michael Miola, couldn’t be any happier. troduced her to the sport and once they convinced her to ride Jenkins, from Temecula, California, had shown the white- western and on a stallion, no less, she was hooked. “They kept faced colt twice before Larson took the reins. She rode him to telling me, you’ll be fine,” she laughed. “He put his head down, a third-place finish at the Reining By The Bay level 4 open fu - loped around, and took care of me. I bought him the next day!” turity in July and then earned the level 4 open futurity reserve Kimball has come a long way from her first adventure on a rein - championship at the High Roller Classic in September. Larson ing horse and now owns several. NRHA Professional Billy and the colt tied for eleventh in the first go-round and fourth Williams rode another one of her stallions, Whiz Is How Its Dun, in the second go on their way to the finals. to the level 1 and 2 open finals. In fact, Williams was one of Owner Michell Anne Kimball purchased the fancy dual-reg - four people who recommended Larson to Kimball when she istered (AQHA and APHA) colt in 2009 after meeting Duane decided to make a change before the Futurity. Hicks, Spooks Gotta Gun’s owner at the time. She then visit - “There was a lot of stress on me last year,” she said. “I kept ed Hick’s facility in Marietta, Oklahoma, where she rode sev - telling everyone that Baby Spooks was a Secretariat story, and they all smiled politely, but as I drove home to southern Cal - ifornia with the Futurity bronze on the dash and a bouquet of roses, I know it was!” When it was all over, Kimball said to Jor - dan, “I hope I replaced your best horse,” and he replied “And then some.” Kimball has never stood a stallion to the public before but there was a great deal of interest in this young horse after his big win. “I’m working my way through this new experience and have decided to stand Spooks Gotta Whiz to the public this year at Humphrey Quarter Horses in Gainesville, Texas.” Current competition plans include Larson showing him at the 2011 Na - tional Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC). Level 4 Reserve Champion: Red Stripe Spook and Mike Entire Soft-spoken Mike McEntire had a hard time wiping the grin off of his face after the awards ceremony. Although he led the finals until the second to last horse, he still couldn’t hide his excitement about finishing second. “We owned this horse’s moth - er and sold her to Dave Evans of England,” McEntire explained. “We bred his mother to Smart Spook and this colt was born on our place. He was a pretty ugly little runt when he was born, but he has turned into a beautiful horse.” If he was ugly at one time, no one would believe it as they watched him power ef - fortlessly through NRHA Pattern 5 on finals night. “I had shown him only once before this show,” explained the NRHA Professional from Selma, North Carolina. “I showed him at the John Deere Futurity in Tulsa where he marked a 224.5. I felt he was really a special horse, and he didn’t throw me any surprises so I didn’t feel the need to show him again.” McEn - tire’s plan paid off as the duo tied for sixth in the first go-round and placed third in the second go before heading to the finals.
It’s Spooky The name “Spook” showed up three times in the top level 4 open finalists—the reserve champion Red Stripe Spook and the fourth-place horse Custom Spook are both by Smart Spook Larson and Spooks Gotta who is out of a daughter of Million Dollar Sire Grays Starlight,
Whiz turned on the after - Y R R
E and the champion Spooks Gotta Whiz is by Spooks Gotta Gun,
burners to claim the B N E
Futurity title. T L a son of Grays Starlight. A W NRHA Futurity judges left to right: Pete McAlister, Eugenio Latorre, Dennis Schulz, Maik Bartmann, Bub Poplin, Ed
Y Cridge, Ronnie Sharpe, Tom McBeath, R R E
B Chris Kozlowski, Ed Bricker, Donnie N E
T Bricker, Mike Corrington. L A W McEntire’s international connection with co-owner Evans has Cimarron Trailer’s Level 3 Champion: been a long time in the making. “I met Mike in 2001 when he Chicsdundreamin and Arno Hornstetter came to do a clinic for Bob Mayhew,” remembered Evans. “We Arno Honstetter and Chicsdundreamin, the winners of Cimar - hit it right off and have been friends ever since.” Over the course ron Trailer’s level 3 Open division, put in a steady performance of the last few years, the McEntires and Evanses have settled over the course of the first and second go-rounds, but saved the into a tight friendship built around their mutual love for hors - best for finals night. They finished in a four-way tie for fourth es. “When I bought his mother, Ms Red Capri, from Mike and place in the level 3 first go-round and then placed in a four-way Nath, I suggested breeding him to Smart Spook and Mike agreed, tie for ninth place in the second go-round. As draw #26 in the saying, ‘That horse can do anything it wants.’” Evans remem - bered a call he got from Mike. “He said this might be the best two-year-old I have ever sat on. They are the most honest and sincere people you could hope to know,” added Evans. “We owe so much to Mike,” he said. “He’s done a brilliant job training this horse but it is so much more!” Red Stripe Spook is a son of NRHA Futurity and Derby cham - pion Smart Spook out of Ms Red Capri by Jacs Aledo Bar. Y R
Spooks Gotta Gun R E B N E T L A W 2010 NRHA FUTURITY OPEN SIRE & DAM AWARDS LEVEL 4 OPEN DIVISION SIRE SIRE OWNER AWARD 1. Spooks Gotta Gun Silver Spurs Equine $12,908.85 2. Smart Spook Rosanne Sternberg $7,745.31 3. Smart Spook Rosanne Sternberg $5,163.54
LEVEL 3 OPEN DIVISION SIRE SIRE OWNER AWARD 1.T. Jacs Electric Spark Troy Heikes & Sire & Dam Bronze Mike McEntire and Red Stripe Buck Hazledine Spook, co-owned by McEntire 1.T. Wimpys Little Step Xtra Quarter Horses Sire & Dam Bronze Y
and David Evans, were just a R OPEN OFFSPRING AWARD R E half-point off the leaders. B N SIRE OWNER AWARD E T L
A 1. Kachina Tag N Chex Lance Griffin Sire & Dam Trophy W Third: Quistador, ridden Fourth: Custom Spook, Sixth: Nics Little Bud, by Shawn Flarida, ridden by Andrea ridden by Andrea Fappani, owned by Gus and Fappani, owned by owned by Bill Coburn. Gaynia Revenberg. B&L Holdings, LLC. Y Y Y R R R R R R E E E B B B N N N E E E T T T L L L A A A W W W Ninth: Colones Shining Tenth Tie: Lena Dun Gun, ridden by Andrea Hit It Out, ridden by Fappani, owned by Tracer Gilson, Rancho Oso Rio LLC. owned by American West Reiners LLC.
Tenth Tie: Pale Face Y Y Y R R R R R Dunnit, ridden by R E E E B B B N N N E E
Randy Paul, owned E T T T L L L A A by Shari Kay Jaster. A W W W second section of open finalists, Honstetter and the fancy geld - “I showed him one time before we came to Oklahoma City ing posted a good score of 222 to take the lead in level 3. But and it went okay, but he has changed the most between that show it wasn’t over yet. Honstetter had to wait out two previous NRHA and the Futurity. A few months before the show, I didn’t think Futurity champions who were eligible for level 3—Brett Stone he would be enough horse, but he has finished up as a horse and the very last draw, Million Dollar Rider Todd Sommers. that can plus-half every maneuver.” Honstetter, 28 and originally from Germany, has worked for Chicsdundreamin is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Magnum Two Million Dollar Rider and NRHA Professional Andrea Fap - Chic Dream and AQHA World Champion out of Goody Goody pani for the last six years, and has become a successful open Dun Drop by Six Million Dollar Sire and Hall of Fame inductee competitor. This fall Fappani began riding horses for Pat and Hollywood Dun It. Honstetter picked up $23,789 for his lev - Jim Warren’s Rancho Oso Rio and Chicsdundreamin was teamed el 3 championship and the duo also placed fifth in the level 4 up with Honstetter.“He was a stallion when he arrived, but he open finals earning an additional $47,642. “I won’t be show - was gelded a few weeks after we got him,” he explained. ing him next year as he was purchased by Sam Smith at the show.
Prime Time open winner Tim Arno Honstetter rode Chics - McQuay also tied for seventh on dundreamin, owned by Ran - Y Y R R cho Oso Rio LLC, to the title of R R
Always Gotyer Gunsup, owned by E E B B N
N level 3 champion and the pair E E McQuay Stables, Inc. T T L L
was fifth in the level 4. A A W W Sommers, an NRHA Professional from Whitesboro, Texas, and that resulted in the level 3 open reserve championship and a tie his mount, This Cat Can Slide, a cutting-bred stallion sired by for seventh in the level 4 open division. The level 3 win paid Cats Merada out of Call Me Marlena, slid to the level 3 open re - $19,814 while the level 4 finish earned an additional $34,584. serve championship. They really put things together in the fi - “He’s been a really good horse,” the NRHA’s latest Million Dol - nals. Working as the last draw, the duo put together a 220.5 run lar Rider said after the finals. He showed great for me at the John Deere Futurity in Tulsa and then was really good in the go-round at the Congress but had a little trouble in the finals. He showed well here in Oklahoma City in each go-round, too.” They placed second in the level 3 first go-round and then came back to tie for seventh in the second go. This Can Cat Slide is owned by the Cat Can Slide Partner - This Cat Can ship and Sommers is looking forward to showing him at the Slide, ridden by NRBC and NRHA Derby next spring. Todd Sommers, owned by Cat Level 2 Co-Champion and Level 1 Champion: Can Slide Part - Hollys Electricspark and Jonathan Gauthier nership, was the Jonathan Gauthier and Hollys Electricspark won big with the reserve cham - level 1 championship and the level 2 co-championship. The pion in the level horse has been a winner from the very beginning for Gauthi - 3 open and tied er and owner, Russell Flint, both of Lucama, North Carolina. Y
R for seventh in R
E “I’ve shown him only once before we showed in the Oklaho -
B level 4. N
E ma City,” explained the young NRHA Professional. “I showed T L A
W him and won all four open divisions of the Morning Star Per - formance Horses Futurity last summer and that’s the only time we’ve shown. I took him to the ABI Futurity (Atlantic Breed - ers Incentive) a few weeks ago to show, but he acted a little sick so I decided not to show him.” It seems his cautious decision paid dividends at the NRHA Futurity. With a composite score of 440, Gauthier, 25, reached one of his personal goals. “I wanted to make the open finals,” he said. Not only did he make the open finals but he also qual - ified for all four divisions. Jonathan, who is the son of NRHA Professional Francois Gauthier and runs his own training busi - ness out of his father’s Sunny Pines Farm,in Lucama, said that it was a team effort to prepare the horse this year. “He got tossed Thiago Boechat piloted between my dad and me. We each rode him at different times
Y throughout the year, and I really think it helped him.” R Wimpyneedsacocktail, owned R E
B Gauthier marked a 218.5 in the first go-round and was con -
N by Prudencio Flores, to a level E T L 2 co-champion title. cerned the pressure might get to him in the second go. “We’ve A W had people looking at him since before the show started. Af - ter the first go they approached us again, and we sold him be - fore the second go-round. It really relieved a lot of pressure for me, and it probably helped me show better.” Hollys Electricspark is a brown stallion sired by Jacs Elec - tric Spark out of Dunit N Continental by Hollywood Dun It. He got his early training from NRHA Professional Pierre-Luc Phaneuf before he ended up in Jonathan’s training barn. Jonathan trained in Germany about four years ago and has worked hard to bring success his way ever since. “Going to Ger - many was a good deal for me,” he said. “I’ve had my own busi - ness for over four years now. I moved back to my father’s farm in North Carolina last year and things have gone very well. His Jonathan Gauthier rode the level 1 Futurity success was a nice finish to a year that pulled his fam - winner, Hollys Electricspark, owned ily apart for several months. “My wife, Janina, is German and Y R
R by Russell Flint, and was also
E she had to go back to Germany this summer with my two-year- B
N co-champion in the level 2 open. E
T old son, JJ,” Jonathan said. “But we are all back together, and L A
W it was special to share this win with both of them.” Level 2 Co-Champion: Wimpyneedsacocktail and Thiago Boechat The level 2 co-champion was Wimpyneedsacocktail, ridden by native Brazilian Thiago Boechat, who returned to the show pen after a one-year hiatus. “I’m a pretty competitive guy, so when I don’t have the horsepower I stay away from the show pen.” In fact, the talented showman didn’t show at all in 2009. How - ever, things started to fall in place in 2010 and Boechat found himself mounted on some winning prospects. One was Wimpyneedsacocktail, owned by Prudencio Flores, of Guadalupe, Mexico. “Jordan Larson showed him at the John Deere Futurity in Tulsa and at the Congress. After the Congress the horse was sent to Shawn Flarida, who placed him third at the Carolina Fall Classic Futurity. Shawn picked three other Y horses to show in OKC, so the owner told me to pick him up R Brandon Brant and Smart R E B Dundee were level 1 re - and show him.” N E T
L serve champions. A W FINALIST SIRES Several sires were represented by three or more offspring in the lev - With just about two weeks to get to know his new show part - els 1 –4 open finals: ner, Boechat found him very easy to get along with. “Jordan and Topsail Whiz: (7) Owned by Bob Loomis Reining Horses Shawn did a great job on him. He was very well trained, and Dun Whiz It, ridden by Tom McCutcheon, owned by Oldenburg Farm LLC I just wish I had more time to get to know him before I had Hard Way Whiz, ridden by Duane Latimer, owned by Luga LLC Ms Hollywood Whiz, ridden by Mathieu Buton, owned by Buton & Rybar to show him.” Reining Whiz, ridden by Brent Naylor, owned by BNE Syndicate LLC When it came down to Futurity go-rounds, Boechat was re - Smoking Whiz, ridden by Brett Stone, owned by Silver Spurs Equine ally pleased with the horse. “He got better every time we com - Taris Little Whiz, ridden by Dell Hendricks, owned by Adair Reiners LLC Whiz Is How Its Dun, ridden by Billy Williams, owned by Michell Anne Kimball peted. We were still just getting to know each other, and he re - ally showed great for me. I think he’s a great horse.” Jacs Electric Spark: (4), Owned by Troy Heikes & Buck Hazledine Wimpyneedsacocktail is by Two Million Dollar Sire Wimpys Hollys Electricspark, ridden by Jonathan Gauthier, owned by Little Step out of Seven S Mimosa by Hollywood Dun It. Russell Flint HR Jacs Okie Spark, ridden by Dean Brown, owned by Robert Santagata Boechat is excited about a new venture in which he has be - Jacs Electric Stop, owned and ridden by Justin Mathison come involved. He’s now the general manager and head train - Whole Lota Jac, ridden by Troy Heikes, owned by Gwendy Steif er at Xtra Quarter Horses, Purcell, Oklahoma, which is also the Smart Spook: (4) Owned by Rosanne Sternberg new owner of Wimpys Little Step. “This new partnership is giv - Custom Spook, ridden by Andre Fappani, owned by B&L Holdings LLC ing me the opportunity to get more horses in the show pen and Jacs Lil Spook, ridden by David Zimmerman, owned by I’m looking forward to 2011.” Newell Quarter Horses LLC Red Stripe Spook, ridden by Mike McEntire, owned by McEntire & Evans Sparkle Spook, ridden by Riccardo Nicolazzi, owned by Level 1 Reserve Champion: Shooting Star Quarter Horses Smart Dundee and Brandon Brant Wimpys Little Step: (4), owned by Xtra Quarter Horses Smart Dundee, ridden by Brandon Brant, was the level 1 open Heza Skeets Step, ridden by Pierre-Luc Phaneuf, owned by KC Perform - reserve champion. Brant has had a storybook show season, and ance Horses LLC he finished it just as he had hoped. Brant told us after his suc - Nics Wimpy, ridden by Jared Leclair, owned by Peter Salter Wimpysneedsacocktail, ridden by Thiago Boechat, owned by cess at the NRHA Derby in June when he won the open level Prudencio Flores 1 and 2 championships aboard Dun It With A Splash that his Wimpys Lil Star, ridden by Billy Williams, owned by Wimpys Lil Star Partners goal for the remainder of the year was to make the NRHA Fu - Conquistador Whiz (3) Owned by Silver Spurs Equine turity open finals –and he did! Aboard Smart Dundee, owned Conquistadors Sandy, ridden by Peter DeFreitas, owned by Double Run Farm by his wife, Cathy, the NRHA Professional from London, Ohio, Quistador, ridden by Shawn Flarida, owned by Augustine & Gaynia Revenberg was one of three riders to qualify for all four open finals divi - Smart Dundee, ridden by Brandon Brant, owned by Cathy Brant sions. “Honestly, I had no idea he was this nice of a horse. I hoped Gunner: (3) Owned by Tim & Colleen McQuay he was, but he really stepped up when I needed him to in Okla - Always Gotyer Gunsup, ridden by Tim McQuay, owned by homa City.” McQuay Stables Inc. Colonels Shining Gun, ridden by Andrea Fappani, owned by Brant and the bay gelding finished the first go-round in a sev - Rancho Oso Rio LLC en-way tie for tenth and then came back to win the second go Pale Face Dunnit, ridden by Randy Paul, owned by Shari Kay Jaster in the level 1, 2, and 3 divisions. “He’s always been pretty sol - Whiz N Tag Chex: (3), Owned by Lance Griffin id, but he was sort of on the back-burner for most of the year Starlight N Tag, ridden by Vernon Sapergia, owned by Manfred Frey because we owned him. He’s a big stopper and has lots of nat - Kachina Tag N Chex, ridden by Duane Latimer, owned by Lance Griffin ural ‘rate’ and seems to stay hooked when I show him.” Brant Kachina Tag Olena, ridden by Duane Latimer, owned by Lance Griffin won the All American Quarter Horse Congress level 2 open Hollywood Dun Its’ Daughters Are Doing It The champions of the open levels 1, 2, and 3 and the Prime Time open divisions are all out of daughters of Six Million Dol - lar Sire and Hall of Fame inductee Hollywood Dun It.
Futurity division on him last year and also made the level 4 and 3 open finals on him at that show. The NRHA Futurity found Brant winning money in every open division. He and Smart Dundee earned the level 1 reserve championship with a finals score of 218. They also placed third in the level 2 finals, fifth in the level 3 and 14th in the open fi - nals. Brant and his wife took home paychecks totaling more than $37,445 from the NRHA Futurity. Prime Time Open Futurity: Always Gotyer Gunsup and Tim McQuay The winners of the Prime Time open division had more in com - mon than their age classification. Both the champion and re - serve champion riders rode the get of Million Dollar Sire and Hall of Fame stallion Gunner (Colonels Smoking Gun) out of daughters of Six Million Dollar Sire and Hall of Famer Holly - wood Dun It. The winner, Two Million Dollar Rider and Million Dollar Own - er Tim McQuay was on board Always Gotyer Gunsup, owned by McQuay Stables, Tioga, Texas, when he captured the divi - sion with a composite score of 445. The winner is determined by the handicapped scores from the first and second go-rounds. McQuay, a two-time NRHA Open Futurity champion and NRHA Professional, had never shown the mare prior to the Futurity, because his daughter, Million Dollar Rider Mandy Mc - Cutcheon, had shown her up until that point. In fact, Mandy helped her dad get ready for the first go-round. “She knows her better than I do,” McQuay said with a smile as he waited for his horse. “I’m going to do just what she tells me!” McQuay was a good student as he marked a very consistent pair of 222.5s in the first and second go-rounds. The duo also marked a 220.5 in the level 4 open finals to tie for seventh place. The fancy mare is by McQuay’s stallion, Gunner and out of Al - ways A Dunit by Hollywood Dun It. Importantly, McQuay owns Gunner along with his wife Colleen and was also co-owner of the great, late Hollywood Dun It. Million Dollar Rider and NRHA Professional Randy Paul, also a former NRHA Futurity champion, earned the Prime Time Open reserve championship aboard Shari Kay Jaster’s Pale Face Dunnit with a composite score of 441. Pale Face Dunnit is out of Lena Dun It. ✦
ABOUT THE WRITER Karen Shedlauskas is an active NRHA non pro competitor. She’s a two-time NRHA intermediate non pro world champion and many times non pro reserve champion at the All American Quar - ter Horse Congress. She’s a member of the NRHA youth commit - tee and has served on the NRHA Hall of Fame and Marketing committees. Currently she’s the NRHA Sire & Dam representa - tive. She lives in Austintown, Ohio.