Diamonds N Guns & Devin WarrenThe 2014 American Paint Horse Association (APHA) World Championship Show kicked off on Wednesday, Nov. 5, with several reining classes, building up to the 3-Year-Old Reining Challenge on Thursday. The show is celebrating 50 years of crowning APHA World Champions.
The first reining title of the show was awarded in Junior Reining to Diamonds N Guns (PT), a 5-year-old mare by Boonlight N Diamonds (PT) and out of The Generals Daughter (PT), by Colonels Smoking Gun (Gunner). The Championship makes for back-to-back wins for the mare, owned by Lisa and David Trujillo, of Peyton, Colorado.
“This mare continues to get better,” said trainer and rider Devin Warren. This win marks his first back-to-back championship as well. “She’s just a good little mare who wants to be good. She was bred and raised at our place, and I campaigned her dad.”
Warren also showed the third place horse in the class, Dinero Del Cielo (PT) (Gallo Del Cielo [Rooster] x Spinning Dream [PT] x Magnum Chic Dream), who he also owns. This was the first show for the 2010 mare. The Reserve Championship went to Heza Hollywood Legend (PT) (Custom Legend x LS Hollywood Chic [PT] x LS Dun It In Color [PT]) and Tania Nantais.
4/5-Year-Old Reining Challenge
Hours after winning the Junior Reining title, Warren took Diamonds N Guns back into the show ring for the 4/5-Year-Old Reining Challenge. There, the mare bested her score from earlier in the day, marking a 217.5. Scott McCutcheon also scored a 217.5 on Smoke Gold Gun (PT) (Gunner x Sugar Chics Dunnit x Hollywood Dun It). The two riders elected to remain Co-Champions, each receiving $3,461.
3-Year-Old Reining Challenge
The 3-Year-Old Reining Challenge played out as an exciting National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity preview for several owners, as the top three horses marked a 220-plus. Two horses owned by Double PR Ranch, of Royse City, Texas, finished first and third. Josh Visser rode Lil Money Gun (Colonels Lil Gun x Miss Shiney Gun x Shining Spark) to a 222.5 for the win and a $4,550 check.
Luke Gagnon earned the Reserve Championship on Inita Gun (Spooks Gotta Gun x Juanita Chex x Topsail Cody) with a 221.5. Double PR Ranch’s other horse in the class, Lil Gaga Gun (Colonels Lil Gun x Hollywood Baby Dunit x Hollywood Dun It), ridden by Ryan Rushing, was third with a 220. The Double PR Ranch horses that placed in the 3-Year-Old were both sired by Colonels Lil Gun, the first colt by Gunner.
Senior Reining
The Senior Reining title went to Diamond Chic Tari (PT), owned by Tracy and Ted Higginbottom, of College Station, Texas. The mare, by I Cee Diamonds (PT) and out of Smart Schooter Chic, by Smart Chic Olena, marked a 220.5 and was ridden by Jarvis Anderson. This is the mare’s third World Championship. Little Gun Olena (PT) (Smokin Chic Olena [PT] x Gunner Hold Your Fire [PT] x Gunner) and Devin Warren earned the Reserve title with a score of 215.5.
Amateur Reining
In their show debut, Nick Wallis and Sheza Beautiful Gun (Gunner x Sheza Beauty Too x Heza Banjoe) won the Amateur Reining, marking a score of 217. Wallis and his wife raised the mare, but they were not able to show her until this fall due to injury. Smoke N Harley Dealer (PT) (Lenas Smoke N Deal [PT] x Wright On Racket [PT] x Lenas Wright Stuff [PT]) and Sandy Kaplan shared the Reserve Co-Championship with Diamond Chic Tari (PT) and Traci Higginbottom.
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