Kelle Earnheart

Kelle Earnheart Takes 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Championship at Arbuckle

Kelle EarnheartKelle Earnheart & Flash N SilverSunny skies and cool temperatures in Ardmore, Oklahoma, brought large crowds to the Arbuckle Mountain Futurity for the Non-Pro finals, and competitors put on a show that did not disappoint.

The cows in the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro finals proved to be quick, which added to the degree of difficulty, but Equi-Stat Elite $1 Million Rider Kelle Earnheart and Flash N Silver (Purdy Boy Flash x Aristocraticaly You x Smart Aristocrat) rose to the challenge and marked a 222 for the win.

“My gelding is pretty fast, and that really helped to keep my cows under control today,” Earnhart said of her mount that she has trained from a yearling. “It’s always nice to really know your horse at these cuttings.”

For their performance in the finals, Earnheart of Weatherford, Texas, and her own Flash N Silver also earned the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Gelding title, and took home checks of $16,463.

Armanda Costa Neto, of Weatherford, Texas, and Watch Me Whip (Playgun x Look The Look x High Brow Cat), who is owned and bred by Barrinha LLC, marked a 219 for the Reserve title. 

5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro

When Kathleen Moore, of Madill, Oklahoma, and her own mare Cherry Peppers (One Time Pepto x Violets x Grays Starlight) marked a 217 as the 6th draw in the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro finals, Brandon Dufurrena knew he would have to bring the heat to finish on top. 

As the 8th draw, Dufurrena, of Gainseville, Texas, and his own homebred mare Purple Reyn (Metallic Cat x Miss Ella Rey x Dual Rey) brought spectators to their feet when they threw down a 223 to win the Championship, worth $5,166.

Dufurrena believes that having his mare since the beginning has been an advantage for him, because he knows her strengths and her quirks.

“Everything has to be her idea,” Dufurrena said with a laugh. “My mare was just really good today. I didn’t really have to kick her anywhere or hold her anywhere, and it really worked out for us.”

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