The 20th anniversary of the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) continues as National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Professionals entered the pen to compete for Limited Open and Rookie Professional titles.
In the Adequan® NAAC Rookie Professional class, Casey Watson and Triqued Out (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Ruf O Holic) scored 216 to win the class. The Carlo Orsi bred gelding had $17,918 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (NRHA LTE) coming into the show.
The NRHA Professional from Greenwich, Connecticut, and the 7-year-old gelding teamed up two years ago, and Watson was pleased with their winning run. “We had a good run today. We were finally able to put it all together, so I am really happy with him. He is so easy and fun to be around. He is also very talented, so I am very grateful to be able to ride him and hope to show him again next year,” she said.
“I would like to thank the owner of the horse, Diamond 4D [Jill Dyal], and everyone at [NRHA Corporate Partner] Santa Hill Ranch for helping me prepare him and get me show pen ready,” said the champion after her win.
NRHA Professional Naike Bell rode Boujee to a score of 218.5 to top the Adequan® NAAC Limited Open and also earned the NRHA Limited Open Co-Championship. The mare by NRHA Hall of Famer Magnum Chic Dream and out of NRHA Million Dollar Dam Chexanicki, bred by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC, came to Oklahoma City with $27,955 in NRHA LTE.
Owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Thorsport Inc., the mare came to Bell’s barn at the beginning of the year, but this was the first time the duo stepped in the show pen together.
“This show I am actually catch riding her,” said Bell. “I showed her in the Limited Open earlier. That was our first run together, so I got to know her then, and today, I was ready to push her a little more. We had a great run. I love her stops; she always stops well. We are also entered in the [NRHA Corporate Partner Bob’s Custom Saddles] Limited Open Showdown.”
NRHA Professional Damian Martin LLebeili was the co-champion of the NRHA Limited Open on Wimpy Leo Gun MVL (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Stop Like A Wimpy). The 4-year-old gelding bred by Ronnie Alves had $14,844 in NRHA LTE prior to entering the show pen today.
The Argentinian native started riding the gelding only a few weeks ago and has already captured a win. “My horse was great for me,” he said. “He felt really easy in the pen and was listening to me. I love his stops, but he is such a great horse. He is good at all the maneuvers.”
LLebeili thanked NRHA Hall of Famer Jose Vazquez with Smart Like Juice Inc., who owns the gelding, and his daughter Mariana for the opportunity to show the horse, and the whole team for their support.
Kaitlyn Baker gave up her non pro card to become an NRHA Professional at the beginning of the year and finished the season strong with an NRHA Limited Open Co-Championship. Riding Stuart and Kayla Dill’s Penny Whize (Shine On Line x Easy Whiz My Money), bred by Kathy Hinton, the duo has only been riding for a few weeks together, and this was their second show.
“This was our one-and-done here. We don’t have any other classes to enter. I just wanted to take her in the pen again, and it worked out,” she said. “Our run was incredible. I am so happy with her and I feel blessed to be able to show a horse that has that capability and is so honest in the show pen. Her stops feel amazing. She makes such a nice move into the ground and is so honest every time you say ‘whoa,’ so it is really fun to stop her.”
The 10-year-old mare has earned her retirement, according to Baker. “I would like to thank the owner, Kayla Dill, for letting me show her. Kayla has been incredible to me, and it was a blessing that she let me show her mare. I am also thankful to [NRHA Professional] Josh Murphy for the opportunity and all his help. And, of course, my family. They have been behind me the entire way…I have gotten to work with so many amazing people who have taught me so much and I got the opportunity to show such amazing horses when I am so new to it, it is such a blessing.”
Tomorrow, the Adequan® NAAC action continues as Novice Horse Open Levels 1, 2, and 3 compete for North American titles. If you cannot watch in person, visit nrhafuturity.com/livestream to access the free NRHA ThorSport LiveStream.
