McQuay, Fappani, and Sapergia Top 2009 NRBC Open Preliminaries
| The qualifiers for the 2009 National Reining Breeders Classic Open finals were decided after two days of grueling competition at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. The field of 195 was narrowed to only thirty contenders still going for the Championship prize of $75,000. Go to the NRBC Web site here.
Tim McQuay rode Smart And Shiney, which he co-owns with Lyle Lovett, into the arena as draw 157. The National Reining Horse Association $2 Million Rider and the flashy palomino stallion, by Smart Shiner and out of Tronas Pearl, wowed the crowds and judges with a flawless run. The resulting score seemed tough to beat, and it eventually topped the Open Prime Time, worth $800. Coming in as the second-to-last horse in the second-to-last set was Cody Sapergia, riding The Great Tag, by Whiz N Tag Chex and out of Pines BH, for Lance Griffin. After another textbook run, Sapergia and McQuay were tied for the lead. The very next rider into the pen was former NRBC Champion, Andrea Fappani, on Cromed Out Mercedes, by Custom Crome and out of Princess In Diamonds. Amidst whistles and cheers, Fappani took Cromed Out Mercedes, owned by Rancho El Fortin, through his paces, and marked another 228. The three-way tie equaled a big payout – each received a check for $12,352. Matt Mills and The Sargeant Dunnit, by Reminic N Dunit and out of Ms Sargeant Freckles, led the Intermediate Open preliminaries. Their score of 224.5 earned owner C&J Investment Partnership a check for $4,311. Reid Fady rode Chexarkana to win $575 for the first place finish in the Open Level 1 preliminaries. Chexarkana, by Nu Chex To Cash and out of CR Kim, is owned by Kirk’s Rockin K Ranch. A 222.5 was the magical number in the Open for finals hopefuls, and Intermediate Open riders were shooting for a 219.5. It took a 215 to make it back for the Limited Open finals, and the bubble score in the Open Level 1 was a 213.5. All Open Prime Time riders with clean runs made it back in the Prime Time. The 2009 NRBC Open Division Finals begin Saturday, April 18, at 11am, with the thirty Open finalists competing at 5pm for a chance at the $75,000 paycheck. www.nrbc.com |
Leading the pack were Tim McQuay on Smart And Shiney, Andrea Fappani riding Cromed Out Mercedes, and Cody Sapergia with The Great Tag. All three riders piloted their horses to equal scores of 228.
