SJR Diamond Rey

SJR Diamond Rey Takes Top Honors

SJR Diamond ReyNRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Champions SJR Diamond Rey & Corey Cushing • Photo by Kelsey PecsekNational Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Million Dollar Rider Corey Cushing, of Scottsdale, Arizona, claimed the NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open Championship Saturday, April 2, riding SJR Diamond Rey (Dual Rey x Shiners Diamond Girl x Shining Spark), a 2012 gelding bred and owned by San Juan Ranch.

Cushing and “Dugan” earned the $36,452 paycheck by a 6.5-point margin after scoring a 665.5 composite (219 herd/221 rein/225.5 cow) at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas.

“He’s little, but he’s mighty,” Cushing said describing the powerhouse horse that also carried him to the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity finals in 2015. SJR Diamond Rey is a half-brother to CD Diamond (by CD Olena), the San Juan-bred and -owned stallion that Cushing piloted to the 2012 Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship. 

The $3,500 sire award went to Linda Holmes, who owns SJR Diamond Rey’s sire, Dual Rey, and nominated him for the NRCHA Subscribed Stallion program. Cushing’s prizes included a Bob’s Custom Saddle, Gist buckle, CR Morrison Trophy, boots from Rios of Mercedes and a gift Certificate from Platinum Performance.

Cushing brought three horses to the Stallion Stakes and qualified them all for the Open finals. He placed third on Sippin Boons Farm (Smart Boons x Peppy Nicolena x Nic It In The Bud), scoring a 657 (214 herd/221.5 rein/221.5 cow) worth $22,063 for owners Eric and Wendy Dunn, and tied for 15th aboard On The Fence (Smart Boons x Starlight On The Bay x High Brow Cat), earning $3,834 for owners Kevin and Sydney Knight.

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