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Mr Royal Hollywood, owned by George Bell and ridden by Brian Bell. • Photo by Waltenberry.

Family Ties: Mr Royal Hollywood & Brian Bell Win NAAC Open

Brian Bell’s tenure in Oklahoma City is off to a great start, winning the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Open this week on Mr Royal Hollywood, a horse with deep roots in Bell’s family.

Bell and Mr Royal Hollywood also topped the ancillary Open for total winnings of more than $6,747.

“They’re putting a lot more money in these NAAC classes, and it makes it more fun to keep these older horses going,” Bell said. “I’m having fun here. I showed one of my Futurity horses today (Cee Miss Lilly) and was a 221 on her. She’s out of the same mare as Mr Royal Hollywood, so it was like a family event today.”

Bell and Mr Royal Hollywood (Hollywoodstinseltown x Cee Miss Hollywood x Custom Crome) have had a banner year in 2021, winning approximately $70,000 prior to the NAAC. That included a third-place finish at the National Reining Breeders Classic as well as a qualification for The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge.

The 6-year-old stallion was also the catalyst for a major career milestone. 

“I actually went over the $2 million mark on this horse,” Bell said. “He’s been really solid all year. We have one more year of derbies left, so I’m looking forward to doing it all over again next year.”

Mr Royal Hollywood & Bell Family Roots

My Royal Hollywood is from a family of winners bred and raised by the Bell family. The line began when Brian’s father, George Bell, acquired Hall of Fame mare Miss Cee Blair, who is the dam of Mr Royal Hollywood’s mother, Cee Miss Hollywood. 

“At one time she was the highest-producing dam in history,” Bell shared. Miss Cee Blair produced 11 foals that earned almost $250k, including Cee Miss Hollywood.

“Cee Miss Hollywood’s foals have won right at $500,000 now, and of that, I’ve probably won $350,000 of it,” Bell explained. “It’s kind of cool because I know how they respond to different things and I know how to ride them. It kind of makes it easier.”

Bell, his father, Mr Royal Hollywood and the stallion’s full brother, Cee Mr Stop, were all featured on one of the early episodes of Season 2 of The Last Cowboy, which followed the horses and riders attempting to qualify for The Run For A Million.

Reserve Champion

NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dany Tremblay took second in both classes on Tinker With Dreams, winning a total of $4,107. Tinker With Dreams (Tinker With Guns x This Chicsdundreamin x Magnum Chic Dream) is owned by Diamond Dub Quarter Horses.