jlosa-mandy-mccutcheon
Mandy McCutcheon with Jlosa. • Photo by Waltenberry.

Top Riders Make Cut for NRBC Non-Pro Finals

The Non-Pro preliminaries at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) are in the books, and a familiar face is on top of the leaderboard.

When the second section of the Non Pro Classic preliminary round wrapped up Tuesday evening from the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, a competitive field of entries was whittled down to the top-scoring finals qualifiers. Levels 4, 3, 2, 1 Non-Pro and Prime Time Non-Pro finalists will return to vie for championships on Friday, April 23 in the Coliseum Arena.

NRBC Level 4 Non-Pro prelims

Equi-Stat Elite $2 Million Rider Mandy McCutcheon and JLosa topped the Level 4 Non-Pro prelims with a score of 221. The mare by Arlosa Whiz and out of Spook N Jessie (by Smart Spook) is owned by McCutcheon and her husband, Tom.

Gina Marie Schumacher with Gunnastepya (Gunnatrashya x SDP A Lasting Step x Wimpys Little Step) and Lane Colston on Darlins Cody Boy (PT) (Electric Code x Darlins Not Painted [PT] x Smokin Chic Olena [PT]) maintained their tie for second place in the Level 4 Non-Pro prelims with a 220. Schumacher and Colston were joined by Luca Fappani and Icecube (SG Frozen Enterprize x Taris Designer Genes x Mr Boomerjac) to make a three-way split for second in the Level 4.

Level 3 Non-Pro prelims

Winning the Level 3 Non Pro was Kim Niven aboard Pale Face Gunslinger with a 218.5. Pale Face Gunslinger, by Equi-Stat Elite $2 Million Sire Pale Face Dunnit and out of Lost In Tinseltown (by Jacs Electric Spark), is owned by Tim Anderson. Niven also marked the highest score in the Prime Time Non Pro preliminaries.

Level 2 Non-Pro Prelims

Topping the Level 2 Limited Non-Pro Classic prelims was Carlee McCutcheon on Dun With Guns thanks to a 217.5 score. The son of Equi-Stat Elite $4 Million Sire Gunners Special Nite and out of Belle Star Dunn It (by Hollywood Dun It) is owned by Carlee’s parents, Tom and Mandy McCutcheon.

Level 1 Non-Pro Prelims

The NRBC Level 1 Non-Pro preliminary round winner was Gunner Be Custom (by Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] and out of Custom Made Dunit (by Hollywood Dun It). The mare, who is a full sister to $419,985 winner Custom Made Gun, was ridden by Allison Rae Thorson and owned by Thorsport, Inc.

The NRBC Non-Pro Finals

The top 30 plus ties for Non-Pro Levels 1 – 4 and the top 20 plus ties for the Non-Pro Prime Time earned spots in Friday’s clean-slate finals. Unofficially, it took a 215 to advance to the Level 4, while a 213.5 was the magic number in the Level 3. Riders in the Level 2 marking a 212 or better, as well as Level 1 riders scoring higher than a 207.5, also earned a finals berth. In the Prime Time a 214.5 (including handicap) was the score needed to advance to the finals.

The Non-Pro finals draw will be determined Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. during the Markel Insurance Virtual Non Pro Draw Party. Markel Director of Western Disciplines Frank Costantini will be on-hand to not only draw for the finals, but also to present the Markel Non Pro Commitment Award.