Known to his many fans by his barn name, “Maverick,” the flashy stallion Americasnexttopgun has quickly become one of the reining industry’s household names.
The stallion’s popularity is likely to rise even more with his latest victory, the 2022 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby Level 4 Open Championship. He and trainer Casey Deary knocked off that title Saturday, June 24, with the top score of 223.5 in Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The win came with a $75,000 first-place check, which pushed Americasnexttopgun’s lifetime earnings to more than $346,008 for owner Puno Performance Horses LLC.
Previously, Americasnexttopgun’s biggest win was the 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) Level 4 Open Championship. He and Deary entered this year’s 6666 NRHA Derby, Presented by Markel, with a Level 4 Open Co-Reserve Championship in this year’s NRBC.
The NRHA Derby Level 4 Open Reserve Championship went to Super Marioo and Cade McCutcheon. The duo, who are the 2019 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open champions, earned $42,610 for the second-place finish on Saturday night. Super Marioo is owned by Story Book Stables.
Americasnexttopgun’s Pedigree
Americasnexttopgun (by Walla Walla Whiz) is the leading earner out of Americasnextgunmodel, a daughter of Colonels Smoking Gun (Gunner) who Deary rode to the 2012 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Championship. Deary and his wife, Nicole, first saw her as a young horse, and knew she could be something extraordinary.
“That’s such a special mare,” Deary said during the NRHA livestream. “That mare was one that my wife and I saw at the 2-year-old sale and she all but threatened me to make sure that one didn’t get away.”
Owned by Arcese Quarter Horses, Americasnextgunmodel won more than $236,980 with Deary in the saddle during her show career and went on to become an outstanding broodmare with more than $795,000 in progeny earnings.
Her most successful progeny include Americasnexttopgun‘s full sister, Americas Supermodel, who earned more than $236,981 and was the 2020 NRBC Level 4 Open Reserve Champion.
Arcese Quarter Horses is the breeder of Americasnexttopgun.
Other NRHA Derby Champions
Several other horses claimed championships with notable performances Saturday in Oklahoma City.
The Level 3 Open Championship went to Magnums Custom Dream and Casey Hinton. The duo marked a 221 to win $35,000 for Hinton and his wife, Kathy. Bred by Garth Hystand, Magnums Custom Dream is out of Gunna Be Custom (by Gunner).
My Whizard Dream and Abby Mixon won the NRHA Derby Level 2 Open Championship, marking a 220.5 during Section 1 of the event. No one could catch them in the second section, and they held on for the win for owner Michelle L. George.
Bred by Andre Lauzon, My Whizard Dream is by Magnum Chic Dream and out of Miss Poco Whizard (by Whizard Jac).
Two horse-and-rider pairs tied for the Level 1 Open Co-Championship: She Whiz Shiney and Jack Daniels marked a 214.5, and that was matched by Gunners Deja Girl and Daniel Cruz.
She Whiz Shiney is by Shine Chic Shine and out of Dry Dun Whiz (by Conquistador Whiz). Owned by Jennifer Anderson, she was bred by Clark Reining Horses LLC, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky.
Gunners Deja Girl is by Gunner and out of Dun Its Deja Vu (by Hollywood Dun It). Owned by Pedro Pastor Hernandez, Gunners Deja Girl was bred by McQuay Stables, Inc.
