The Futurity Open class at the High Roller Reining Classic made for a heck of a day – spanning approximately 12 hours and seeing more than 120 competitors. But Gunna Run N Slide and Andrea Fappani kept things exciting all the way to the end, posting the winning score of 224.5 with just three horses left to go.
“It was a huge futurity,” Fappani said of their win in the class held Thursday, Sept. 15. “I think it’s been record numbers here. It’s been tiring as well as motivating, people are excited.”
With the Futurity Level 4 Open win, Gunna Run N Slide added $15,077 to his lifetime earnings for owner Tim Anderson.
“He feels more like a derby horse. I didn’t have to help him, I could keep him on a loose rein and he never lost focus,” Fappani said. “He’s been like this ever since he was a 2-year-old. Kind of an old-soul type of guy.”
With precise white bands in his mane, an arched neck and flowing movement, Gunna Run n Slide (Gunnatrashya x Stop Little Sister x Magnum Chic Dream) challenged the pattern.
“I’m really excited about him because he’s one of those 3-year-olds that gives you a lot of confidence going to the [NRHA] Futurity,” Fappani said of the colt, who is a full brother to The Run For A Million Champion Gunna Stop. “You’re not going to have to override him and over-prepare him.”
According to Fappani, his personal schedule of reining and cow horse prefuturities has kept him from bringing Gunna Run N Slide to show before the High Roller. But he chose Las Vegas because he knew he stallion’s mature mind could handle the busy warm-up arenas.
“All week he’s been settling in good [and] he likes the ground. His big thing is running and stopping – kind of like his name says – and he showed up [Thursday],” Fappani said.
Fappani has another full brother to Gunna Run N Slide in training, too. Named Im Gunna Stop, that horse made his debut at the Tulsa Reining Classic Futurity, but according to Fappani, he doesn’t have Gunna Run N Slide’s maturity yet.
Owner Tim Anderson is undoubtedly delighted with Gunna Run N Slide’s success in Vegas and XOChic’s win in the Tulsa Reining Classic Derby and Stakes Open – both with Fappani aboard.
“Tim is having a good year, he’s excited. With as much as he puts into the sport between the Reining [Horse] Foundation and the sponsorship of all these horse shows, it’s good that he’s getting some satisfaction back,” Fappani said.
Reserve champions in the Futurity Level 4 Open were Magnum With Addytude (Magnum Chic Dream x Dunnit With Addytude x Pale Face Dunnit) and Craig Schmersal, who scored a 221 and earned $9,177. The stallion is bred and owned by Bruce Koefoot Jr.
