On the third day of preliminary competition at the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity, a new leader soared to the top of the Level 4 Open and the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Chrome Cash Division after scoring a 226. NRHA Professional Mirko Midili rode Mark My Word, owned by Janice Laney of NRHA Corporate Partner 7 Lakes, to the lead.

The stallion is the royally bred offspring of two NRHA Hall of Famers – Gunnatrahya and Wimpys Little Chic. Earlier this year, the pair won the L4 Open Futurity at the 100X Reining Classic and the North American Reining Stakes with a 227. Coming into the NRHA Futurity, the stallion’s NRHA Lifetime Earnings were $25,800, with Midili at the reins for every check.

Current Level Leaders through Go 1, Section 3, are:

Level 4 and APHA Chrome Cash Leaders: Mirko Midili and Mark My Word

Level 3 Leaders: Kaci O’Rourke and The Firemen

Level 2 Leaders: Joao Felipe Lacerda and Be The One Again

Level 1 Leaders: Leonardo Kellermann and The Whizperer

Prime Time Leaders: Duane Latimer and Babys Gotta Rock

Tomorrow, the final set of NRHA Professionals will enter the Jim Norick Coliseum to complete the open preliminary competition.

The Open Semi-Finals will consist of two sections. The first section will include Levels 3, 2, and 1, while the second section will feature the Level 4. The competitions will take place on December 2 and 3, respectively.

The Open Semi-Finals qualifiers will be horse and rider pairs in the top 30 percent of the first-go scores in Levels 4-1. However, no more than 75 entries in each division will advance. If fewer than 50 qualifiers are in the top 30 percent in a division, then 50 will advance to the Semi-Finals.

The clean-slate Open Finals will begin on December 7 at 9 a.m. with the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals beginning at 6 p.m.

Complete results, draws and more for the NRHA Futurity & Adequan^® North American Affiliate Championships can be found at nrhafuturity.com.