The NRHA Derby is one of the most prestigious reining events on the calendar, and has regularly showcased the sport’s best horses, riders and bloodstock.
With the help of Equi-Stat, Quarter Horse News crunched the numbers to find the top money-earning horses, riders, stallions and mares in the history of the NRHA Derby through the start of the 2021 show.
Horses
Some horses really shine in their derby years, and that’s been the case in the NRHA Derby. The top money-earning horses in the history of the show often made multiple appearances at the top of the show.
1. Guaranteed A Magnum
Pedigree: 13G (Magnum With A Dream x Guaranteed By Amos x Primary Pine)
Earnings: $164,715
Rider: Jimmy van der Hoeven
Owner: Kathy & Casey Hinton
Breeder: Carl & Vicki Lambert, Hempstead, TX
Top Finishes:
• Two-Time Open Champion (2018 & 2019)
2. Not Ruf At All
Pedigree: 10S (A Sparkling Vintage x All Ruffed Up x Lil Ruf Peppy)
Earnings: $111,067
Rider: Jason Vanlandingham
Owner: Vaughn Zimmerman
Breeder: Pietra Zeitler, Valley View, TX
Top Finishes:
• 2014 Open Champion, 2016 Open Co-Reserve Champion
3. Commanders Nic
Pedigree: 99S (Boomernic x Miss Bam Bam Command x Docs Fritzie Command)
Earnings: $104,946
Rider: Craig Schmersal
Owner: Craig & Ginger Schmersal
Breeder: Shannon Jones, Queen Creek, AZ
Top Finishes:
• 2004 Open Champion, 2003 Open Reserve Champion
4. Wimpys Little Chic
Pedigree: 04M (Wimpys Little Step x Collena Chic Olena x Smart Chic Olena)
Earnings: $93,762
Rider: Shawn Flarida
Owner: Arcese Quarter Horses
Breeder: Double Run Farm, Leland, NC
Top Finishes:
• 2008 Open Champion
5. Tinker With Guns
Pedigree: 06S (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Tinker Nic x Reminic)
Earnings: $92,333
Rider: Andrea Fappani
Owner: Rancho Oso Rio LLC, Scottsdale, AZ
Breeder: Rancho Oso Rio LLC, Scottsdale, AZ
Top Finishes:
• 2011 Open Champion, 2012 Open Co-Reserve Champion
| Rank | Horse | YOB/Sex/Pedigree | Earnings |
| 6 | A Vintage Smoke | 15S (A Sparkling Vintage x Lady Smoke Peppy x Mister Dual Pep) | $87,643 |
| 7 | KR Lil Conquistador | 02G (Conquistador Whiz x Smart Little Prize x Smart And Trouble) | $84,628 |
| 8 | Pinesail Jac | 11S (Tinsel Jac x Sailin Lil Ruf x Lil Ruf Peppy) | $81,585 |
| 9 | Platinum Vintage | 10S (A Sparkling Vintage x Starjac Miss x Hollywood Jac 86) | $80,068 |
| 10 | No Smoking Required | 13S (Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner] x Icing Required x Smart Chic Olena) | $78,077 |
| 11 | Shining In Town | 13S (Hollywoodstinseltown x Shine Ann x Shining Spark) | $77,041 |
| 12 | Patriot | 15S (Smart Spook x Dunit A Lil Ruf x Lil Ruf Peppy) | $74,132 |
| 13 | ARC Gunna Mark Ya | 12M (Gunnatrashya x Shiney Miss Marker x Shining Spark) | $73,269 |
| 14 | Master Snapper | 01S (Snapper Cal Bar x Colonel Mistress x Great Master Wake) | $69,050 |
| 15 | RC Fancy Step | 04G (Wimpys Little Step x Sonita Wilson x Doc Wilson) | $68,266 |
Riders
Some of the top trainers in the business – and a few stellar non-pros – are among the leading riders in the history of the NRHA Derby.
| Rank | Rider | Top Money-Earning Mount | Earnings |
| 1 | Shawn Flarida | Wimpys Little Chic ($93,762) | $756,320 |
| 2 | Andrea Fappani | Tinker With Guns ($91,333) | $651,246 |
| 3 | Craig Schmersal | Commanders Nic ($104,946) | $524,734 |
| 4 | Jason Vanlandingham | Not Ruf At All ($111,067) | $416,159 |
| 5 | Todd Bergen | Platinum Vintage ($70,728) | $367,869 |
| 6 | Tim McQuay | RR Star ($50,160) | $359,206 |
| 7 | Duane Latimer | Custom Cash Advance ($46,378) | $350,788 |
| 8 | Mandy McCutcheon | I Spin For Chics ($31,055) | $333,828 |
| 9 | Casey Deary | Magnum Starlights ($64,782) | $319,778 |
| 10 | Jordan Larson | HF Mobster ($62,550) | $300,935 |
| 11 | Dell Hendricks | Starbucks Sidekick ($64,713) | $223,657 |
| 12 | Jimmy van der Hoeven | Guaranteed A Magnum ($164,715) | $221,545 |
| 13 | Brent Wright | Custom Pistol ($54,973) | $206,529 |
| 14 | Tom McCutcheon | Smart Starbuck ($23,284) | $198,592 |
| 15 | Cade McCutcheon | Shes Got Good Guns ($55,411) | $183,494 |
Sires
The all-time leading sire in the NRHA Derby is Equi-Stat Elite $13 Million Sire Colonels Smoking Gun (Gunner), who also has two sires on this list.
| Rank | Stallion | Pedigree | Earnings |
| 1 | Colonels Smoking Gun (Gunner) | (Colonelfourfreckle x Katie Gun x John Gun) | $1,426,227 |
| 2 | Wimpys Little Step | (Nu Chex To Cash x Leolita Step x Forty Seven) | $993,220 |
| 3 | Topsail Whiz | (Topsail Cody x Jeanie Whiz Bar x Cee Red) | $969,909 |
| 4 | Magnum Chic Dream | (Smart Chic Olena x Sailin Barbee x Topsail Cody) | $705,077 |
| 5 | Hollywood Dun It | (Hollywood Jac 86 x Blossom Berry x Dun Berry) | $600,513 |
| 6 | Smart Spook | (Smart Chic Olena x Sugarplum Spook x Grays Starlight) | $570,193 |
| 7 | Smart Chic Olena | (Smart Little Lena x Gay Sugar Chic x Gay Bar King) | $546,005 |
| 8 | Shining Spark | (Genuine Doc x Diamonds Sparkle x Mr Diamond Dude) | $475,710 |
| 9 | A Sparkling Vintage | (Shining Spark x Vintage Badger x Peppy San Badger) | $402,840 |
| 10 | Custom Crome | (Crome Plated Jac x Another Greyhound x Greyhound Step) | $399,053 |
| 11 | Gunnatrashya | (Gunner x Natrasha x Trashadeous) | $367,615 |
| 12 | Jacs Electric Spark | (Shining Spark x Miss Hello Hollywood x Hollywood Jac 86) | $354,396 |
| 13 | Spooks Gotta Whiz | (Spooks Gotta Gun x Prettywhizprettydoes x Topsail Whiz) | $332,633 |
| 14 | Gunners Special Nite | (Gunner x Mifs Doll x Mifillena) | $313,934 |
| 15 | Boomernic | (Reminic x Docs Leavem Smoke x Mr Gun Smoke) | $271,377 |
Mares
Many mares have made a mark on the NRHA Derby, with several broodmares foaling multiple money-earning offspring in the great event.
1. Dun It For Chex
Pedigree: 96M (Hollywood Dun It x Silver N Blue Chex x Docs Silver N Blue)
Progeny Earnings: $208,487
Money winners: 11
Top Earners:
- Starbucks Sidekick ($64,713, by Smart Starbuck)
- Dun It For Whizkey ($56,955, by Topsail Whiz)
- Gun N For Glory ($36,870, by Gunner)
2. Guaranteed By Amos
Pedigree: 04M (Primary Pine x Okies Paulette x Okie Paul Quixote)
Progeny Earnings: $167,307
Money winners: 2
Top Earners:
- Guaranteed A Magnum ($164,715, by Magnum With A Dream)
- Guaranteed By Tag ($2,592, by Whiz N Tag Chex)
3. Wimpys Little Chic
Pedigree: 04M (Wimpys Little Step x Collena Chic Olena x Smart Chic Olena)
Progeny Earnings: $137,399
Money winners: 6
Top Earners:
- Shesouttayourleague ($60,600, by Walla Walla Whiz)
- ARC Gunnabeabigstar ($50,916, by Gunnatrashya)
- Lonely At The Top ($11,333, by Gunner)
4. Dunit A Lil Ruf
Pedigree: 07M (Lil Ruf Peppy x A Bueno Poco Dunit x Hollywood Dun It)
Progeny Earnings: $134,887
Money winners: 6
Top Earners:
- Patriot ($74,132, by Smart Spook)
- Ruf Lil Magnum ($23,885, by Magnum Chic Dream)
- Dunit At Nite ($16,132, by Gunners Special Nite)
5. Ebony Shines
Pedigree: 99M (Shining Spark x Ebony Whiz x Topsail Whiz)
Progeny Earnings: $124,813
Money winners: 9
Top Earners:
- Shine N Spook ($38,504, by Smart Spook)
- Hang Ten And Shine ($31,383, by Hang Ten Surprize)
- Shine Chic Shine ($24,652, by Smart Chic Olena)
6. All Ruffed Up
Pedigree: 05M (Lil Ruf Peppy x Double Wind Chill x Double R Doc)
Progeny Earnings: $118,191
Money winners: 3
Top Earners:
- Not Ruf At All ($111,067, by A Sparkling Vintage)
- All American Vintage ($5,867, by A Sparkling Vintage)
- Ruffed Up Spooks ($1,256, by Spooks Gotta Gun)
7. Snip O Gun
Pedigree: 93M (One Gun x Miss Kim O Lena x Doc O’Lena)
Progeny Earnings: $115,769
Money winners: 10
Top Earners:
- Big Chex To Cash ($40,673, by Nu Chex To Cash)
- Snip O One ($25,518, by A Sparkling Vintage)
- Snip O Chex ($15,008, by Nu Chex To Cash)
8. Princess In Diamonds
Pedigree: 98M (Shining Spark x Eyed Be A Princess x Eyed Be Impressive)
Progeny Earnings: $115,253
Money winners: 12
Top Earners:
- Surprizentheprincess ($38,760, by Jerry Lees Surprise)
- Whizkey N Diamonds ($21,579, by Topsail Whiz)
- Knaughtybyknature ($16,096, by Magnum Chic Dream)
9. Miss Tinseltown
Pedigree: 94M (Great Red Pine x Ms Holywood Showtime x Docs Showtime)
Progeny Earnings: $113,936
Money winners: 9
Top Earners:
- Hollywoodstinseltown ($48,000, by Hollywood Dun It)
- Gunners Tinseltown ($38,081, by Gunner)
- Hollywood Downtown ($24,068, by Hollywood Dun It)
10. Tinker Nic
Pedigree: 98M (Reminic x Hunny Gunny x One Gun)
Progeny Earnings: $108,022
Money winners: 4
Top Earners:
- Tinker With Guns ($92,333, by Gunner)
- White Gunpowder ($12,337, by Gunner)
- Tinker With Diamonds ($3,334, by Like A Diamond [PT])
| Rank | YOB/Pedigree | Earners | Total $$$ | |
| 11 | Dolittle Lena | 97M (Shining Spark x Freckled Lena x Freckles Playboy) | 5 | $105,569 |
| 12 | Miss Bam Bam Command | 91M (Docs Fritzie Command x Docs Farrach Chex x Bueno Chex) | 1 | $104,946 |
| 13 | My Lucky Moonstone | 95M (Topsail Whiz x My Moon Stone Chex x King Fritz) | 11 | $96,665 |
| 14 | Collena Chic Olena | 95M (Smart Chic Olena x Collena Freckles x Colonel Freckles) | 1 | $93,762 |
| 15 | Dun Its Black Gold | 98M (Hollywood Dun It x Zanas center Stage x Skip’N Stage) | 4 | $87,726 |
