Led by Gunnabebigtime and Brian Bell, 30 horses and riders forged their way through the early rounds of competition to earn a spot in the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Level 4 Open finals.
For the first time in NRHA history, the NRHA Futurity Open Futurity Champion will win a quarter-million dollars during the Level 4 Open finals on Saturday, Dec. 5 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
This year, the NRHA Futurity boasts a record $1,033,530 in added money for the Open and Non-Pro futurities combined, thanks in large part to NRHA Futurity Challenge sponsors and the NRHA nomination program.
The score needed to earn a spot in the Level 4 Open finals was a 438.5, while it took a 433.5 to advance in the Level 3 Open. Riders with a score of 428 in the Level 2 Open earned a spot in the Finals, as did Level 1 Open riders who marked at least a 420.5.
Making the top 10 for the Prime Time Open were scores of 436 or more.
Gunnabebigtime
Guaranteeing his spot in the level 4 Open Finals and topping that division with a composite of 448 was NRHA Million Dollar Rider Brian Bell and Gunnabebigtime. Bell and the son of Equi-Stat Elite $4 Million Sire Gunnatrashya marked a 223.5 in the first round and a 224.5 in the semi-finals.
The stallion is out of Big Time Jazzy (by Shine Big Time), and is owned and was nominated by Tami Nelson.
Level 4 Open Qualifiers
Qualifiers for the 2020 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Finals (Horse, age/sex, pedigree, rider, owner):
- All Bettss Are Off, 17S, (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Wimpys Little Chic x Wimpys Little Step), Andrea Fappani, Arcese Quarter Horses USA
- Thee American Dream, 17S, (Magnum Chic Dream x Gunner Git Ya Dun x Gunner) Andrea Fappani, Morris Kulmer
- A Smalltown Trick, 17S, (Tricked Out Spook x A Smalltown Gal x Hollywoodstinseltown), Andrea Fappani, Rancho Oso Rio
- Wimpys All In, 17G, (Walla Walla Whiz x Wimpys Little Fritz x Wimpys Little Step), Matt Mills, MaryBeth Ruckman & Tim Ruckman
- Special Kinda Gun, 17G, (Lil Gun x One Ova Kind x One Time Pepto), Matt Mills, MaryBeth Ruckman & Tim Ruckman
- Suns Out Guns R Out, 17S, (Guns R For Shootin x Freckled Whiz x Topsail Whiz), Matt Mills, Taylor Sheridan
- Setting Off To Town, 17G (Gunners Tinseltown x Setting Off Smart x Smart Spook), Craig Schmersal, Taylor Sheridan
- GT Shooter, 17S, (Gunners Tinseltown x Rio Dun Good x Hollywood Dun It), Craig Schmersal, Schmersal/Spring Partnership
- Xtra Kiss Me Again, 17S, (Boom Shernic x SS Kiss Me Kate x Wimpys Little Step), Craig Schmersal, Karl D. Roberts, Jr.
- Best Shine, 17S, (Shine Chic Shine x Best Stop x Custom Crome), Jason Vanlandingham, Robert Santagata.
- Stopping In Jersey, 17S, (Yellow Jersey x Stop Little Sister x Magnum Chic Dream), Jason Vanlandingham, 2Star Investments LLC
- Drivin By Shootin, 17S, (Guns R For Shootin x Chex Drive x Bueno Chexinic), Jason Vanlandingham, 2Star Investments LLC
- Gunnabebigtime, 17S, (Gunnatrashya x Big Time Jazzy x Shine Big Time), Brian Bell, Tami L. Nelson
- MR Boaz, 17S, (Not Ruf At All x Juicy Red Berry x Wimpys Little Step), Brian Bell, George Bell
- Gunners Town, 17S, (Hollywoodstinseltown x Bubblegun x Gunner), Cade McCutcheon, David Silva, Sr.
- Americasnextcovrgirl, 17M, (Walla Walla Whiz x Americasnextgunmodel x Gunner), Cade McCutcheon, Arcese Quarter Horses USA
- Starfire Sixtysix, 17M, (Inferno Sixty Six x Wind Her Up Chic x Smart Chic Olena), Casey Deary, Kevin Corcoran
- Down Right Amazing, 17S, (Gunner x Shesouttayourleague x Walla Walla Whiz), Casey Deary, DAG Ventures LLC,
- Step Out N Rock It, 17M, (Wimpys Little Step x Ms Whiz Dunit x Topsail Whiz), Fernando Salgado, La Sierita
- Vinny Gun, 17S, (A Sparkling Vintage x Dolled Up Gunner x Gunner), Fernando Salgado, Guillermo De Anda Martinez
- Trendsetter, 17S, (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Timed To Shine x Shining Spark), Kole Price, Thomas J Moffit/Kole Prie
- Dun Shined Em, 17M, (Shine Chic Shine x Dun Dry Whiz x Conquistador Whiz), Marco Ricotta, Tracy L. Cole.
- The Whizard of Oz, 17S, (Walla Walla Whiz x Spinderella Story x Smart Spook), Martin Muehlstaetter, Anne Solbraekke
- Hey Roy, 17S, (Star Spangeled Whiz x Dun It For Chex x Hollywood Dun It), Franco Bertolani, Hey Roy Partners
- Warlocks Last Step, 17S, (Shiners Voodoo Dr x SDP A Lasting Step x Wimpys Little Step), Robin Schoeller, Himes Coughlin Partners
- Bandido With A Gun, 17S, (Inferno Sixty Six x Quarta Earl x Earl Be Nimble), Luke Gagnon, Robert Dalcamo
- Blue Inferno, 17S, (Inferno Sixty Six x Showtimes Lil Step x Wimpys Little Step), Arno Honstaetter, Story Book Stables
- Littlelectricolonel, 17S, (Wimpys Littlecolonel x Ms Electric Sparkler x Jacs Electric Spark), Brandon Brant, Michael J. Peplowski, DVM
- Dunit The Walla Way, 17M, (Walla Walla Whiz x Dunit The Gunner Way x Gunner), Sebastian Petroll, Ellen Lloyd Cummins
- Smokin 66, 17M, (Inferno Sixty Six x Nuthin Chic x Smart Chic Olena), Martin Larcombe, Lance Griffin
- Gunner In The Nite, 17S, (Gunners Special Nite x Chic Olena Whiz x Smart Chic Olena), Austin Seelhof, Outrider Ranch Ltd
- Detective McClane, 17S, (SG Frozen Enterprize x Starbucks Déjà Vu x Smart Starbuck), Dany Tremblay, Triple U Quarter Horses LLC
- Whizsicle, 17S, (SG Frozen Enterprize x Miss Whizzletown x Hollywoodstinseltown), Shawn Flarida, Arcese Quarter Horses USA
