2014 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Co-Champions Shawn Flarida and Jordan Larson • Photo by Kelsey PecsekThe National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Open finals, including the Lucas Oil Level 4, closed out the 2014 NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City on Saturday, Dec. 6. A total of 64 riders were mounted on world-class reining horses, all aiming for the $150,000 Level 4 Open Championship purse and their share of NRHA Corporate Partner and Futurity Sponsor awards.

The 2014 NRHA Futurity Open finals gave the packed house just what they were craving – the best of the best in a dramatic finish, right until the end of the second section.

Shine N Spook (Smart Spook x Ebony Shines) and NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida landed draw 23 in the second section. They earned a 224.5 to jump ahead of previous leaders Wimpy Chic (Wimpys Little Step x Chics Fancy Lady) and Gabriel Diano, who had marked a 224.

Shine N Spook and Flarida held the lead until the last run of the finals, when ARC Gunnabeabigstar (Gunnatrashya x Wimpys Little Chic) and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jordan Larson met the challenge and lit the board with a 224.5 of their own. They decided to share the title and stand as Lucas Oil Level 4 Open Co-Champions.

Shine N Spook, owned by Clark Reining Horses LLC and nominated by Rosanne Sternberg, previously placed fifth at this year’s All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity. ARC Gunnabeabigstar, owned by HDC Quarter Horses and nominated by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, placed eighth at that event.

The Co-Championship paid $132,600 to each of the owners and $6,980 to each of the nominators. Both Co-Champions were consignments at the 2012 NRHA/Markel Insurance Futurity Sales.

Levels 3 & 2 Open

Wimpy Chic, owned by Thales Rocha Bordignon, and Gabriel Diano placed third in the Level 4 Open and claimed championships in Levels 3 and 2. The team has earned $15,444 to date, taking Reserve championships in the Level 2 Open at the High Roller Reining Classic Futurity and Hollywoodstinseltown Futurity. Tonight, they added another $134,820 for the owner Bordignon and $7,100 for nominator Ericka Smith.

Level 1 Open

Winning the Level 1 Open with a 220 was FM Shine N Tag Chex (Whiz N Tag Chex x Shine With Wanda) and Jordan Kole Price for owner Tricia Jaeger. FM Shine N Tag Chex was sold in 2012 at the NRHA/Markel Insurance Futurity Sales. Tonight the stallion, nominated by Fausto Mattioli, won $40,400 for the owner and $2,100 for the nominator.

For complete coverage of the NRHA Futurity and Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show, subscribe to Quarter Horse News.