craigschmersal

Xtra Electric Spark and Craig Schmersal Top Rocky Mountain Summer Slide

craigschmersalCraig SchmersalAfter leading the go-round, Craig Schmersal and Xtra Electric Meter returned to top the finals of the Rocky Mountain Summer Slide Futurity Level 4 Open on July 27 at the National Western Events Center in Denver.

Eric Unger, of Bernville, Pa., bought Xtra Electric Meter (Jacs Electric Spark x Metermaid To Order x Doc O’Lena) from breeder Xtra Quarter Horses at the 2012 Legacy Breeders Sale. The bay stallion is a full brother to 2012 NRHA Futurity Open fourth-place finisher REF Black Mamba ($123,519), and is a half-brother to the 1998 Shining Spark stallion Shine By The Bay, an earner of $162,298.

With Schmersal in the saddle, Xtra Electric Meter lived up to his breeding with two solid performances in Denver. On first asking, he marked a 220 to tie for the go-round lead with Casey Deary, riding Curly Mi (Cromed Out Mercedes x Mi Mega x Marthas Mega Jac). Three days later in the finals, Xtra Electric Meter’s 225-point run took the Championship and the $3,991 winner’s check. Curly Mi, owned by Lynn Maffucci, of Morresville, N.C., finished second with a 222.5, earning $2,429.

The Levels 3 and 2 Open Championships went to Hello Banjo (Banjo Whiz x Miss Lil Ruf x Lil Ruf Peppy), ridden by Travis Wigen for owner Lisa Janssen, of South Jordan, Utah.

Xtra Electric Meter also topped the Stallion Stakes Futurity Open, earning an additional $4,100. Wendy Hausner’s Electric Sparkle (Jacs Electric Spark x Sassy Done It x Hollywood Dun It), ridden by Jimmy Van Der Hoeven, finished second, earning $2,496.

In the Futurity Non-Pro, Josh Hattig and Gunners Snappy Chic (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Chics Miss Snap x Smart Chic Olena) won the go-round with a 215.5, then bettered their effort to win the finals with a 218. Their score also topped the Level 2 and the Stallion Stakes Non-Pro. Brad Hattig, of Berthoud, Co., owns Gunners Snappy Chic, who earned a total of $7,943 in all divisions and go-rounds.

Kelle Smith, of Marietta, Okla., rode All About Magnum to a score of 217.5 and the Futurity and Stallion Stakes Futurity Non-Pro Reserve Championships. 

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