nrha-futurity-non-pro-leaders
The leader after the first round of the NRHA Futurity Non-Pro was Jennifer Gilliam and Surprizing Sixty Six. The pair, pictured at the High Roller, marked a 219.5. • Photo by Waltenberry.

Jennifer Gilliam Sets the Bar for NRHA Futurity Non-Pro

Over the past several days of competition, the top 3-year-old reining horses and riders from across the country have vied for a spot in the finals of the National Reining Horse Association Futurity. With the conclusion of Monday’s preliminary round, most of the field is set for the CINCH Non-Pro Futurity finals, which will be held on Friday, Dec. 3.

To secure a spot in the CINCH Level 4 Non Pro Futurity, it took a score of 214, while a 212 was the magic number for the Level 3. Riders with a 211 or higher earned a place in the Level 2, as did those in the Level 1 with a 207.5 or higher. The bubble for the Prime Time is a 212 (including handicap), while the one for the Youth is 206.

Levels 4 & 3 Non-Pro

Topping the Level 4 and Level 3 of the CINCH Non Pro Futurity first round with a 219.5 is Jennifer Gilliam and Surprizing Sixty Six. The 3-year-old mare is by Inferno Sixty Six and out of Dun With Surprizes (by Jerry Lees Surprise) and was bred and nominated to the NRHA by Valentin Rascon. Earlier this year, Gilliam and Surprizing Sixty Six won the High Roller Reining Classic Levels 4 and 3 Non-Pro championships.

Level 2 Non-Pro

Carlee McCutcheon and Starlights Voodoo competed late in the second section and marked a 217.5. That not only topped the Level 2, it also qualified the pair back to the Non-Pro finals in Levels 3 and 4. Starlights Voodoo is by EquiStat Elite $2 Million Sire Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Whizen Starlight (by Topsail Whiz). Bred by Kellie Meier and nominated by Jackson Porath, Starlights Voodoo has already won more than $7,900 in competition.

Level 1 Non-Pro, Youth & Prime Time

Gavin Warren and A Chic A Nite topped the Level 1 with a 214. A Chic A Nite is by NRHA Six Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of One More Nite (by Gunners Special Nite) 

NRHA’s newest Million Dollar Owner, Andre De Bellefeuille of Equine Plus, topped the Prime Time Non-Pro with a 219.5 (including handicap). De Bellefeuille, of Canada, rode Its All Gun, by Its All About Smart and out of De Bellefeuille’s great producing mare Snow Gun (by Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner]).

Topping the Youth and tying for second in Level 4 Non-Pro is Addisyn Schmersal and TA Dunit Redhot. The pair marked a 218. Ta Dunit Redhot is by EquiStat Elite $2 Million Sire Pale Face Dunnit and out of Redhot Walla (by Walla Walla Whiz).

NRHA Futurity Non-Pro Consolation

For those not advancing directly to the finals from the first go, hope is still alive. That’s because of the CINCH Non Pro Futurity Consolation Round on Wednesday morning. The next 30 horses (plus ties) in the Level 4, next 12 in the Level 3, and next 10 in Levels 1 and 2, will compete for a spot in the finals. The top five in each of the four Levels will earn a spot in Friday’s finals.