This year’s National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Level 4 Open semifinals are loaded with blue-blooded horses whose siblings have given them a lot to live up to.
Here is a rundown of some of the standout pedigrees among the horses headed into the Level 4 Open semifinals, which will be held Wednesday, Nov. 30, at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The top 30 composite scores from the first go-round and semi-finals, including ties, will advance to the clean slate finals on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Andiamoe
The Level 4 Open contender who stands out the most due to her sparkling performance in the Open first go-round is the regally bred Andiamoe, whom Shawn Flarida rode to a 228.5 in the first round. Bred by Arcese Quarter Horses, Andiamoe is by EquiStat Elite $8 Million Sire Gunnatrashya and out of millionaire producer Wimpys Little Chic (by Wimpys Little Step).
That makes Andiamoe a full sister to 2014 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Co-Champion ARC Gunnabeabigstar (by Gunnatrashya) and a maternal half-sister to two more: 2015 NRHA Level 4 Open Champion Shesouttayourleague (by Walla Walla Whiz) and 2020 NRHA Level 4 Open Champion All Bettss Are Off (by Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner])
If that wasn’t enough, both of Andiamoe’s parents are NRHA Futurity Open champions. Gunnatrashya won it in 2009 and Wimpys Little Chic won the title in 2007.
Futurity Champion Offspring
Wimpys Little Chic isn’t the only NRHA Futurity-winning mare with offspring in this year’s Level 4 Open semifinals. The first foal out of 2017 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion Face The Attitude also made the semis. That horse is Pale Whizkey, a 2019 sorrel stallion by Whizkey N Diamonds who will be ridden by Duane Latimer for owner XCS Ranch LLC.
Face The Attitude’s full sister, Dunnit With Addytude, also has a son in the semifinals. That horse is Magnum With Addytude, a stallion by Magnum Chic Dream who will be ridden by Craig Schmersal for owner-breeder Bruce Koefoot.
Another NRHA Futurity-winning mare with a foal competing for this year’s title is Shining N Sassy, a daughter of Shining Spark whom Tim McQuay rode to the 2008 NRHA Futurity Open championship for Carol Rose.
Shining N Sassy’s foal in this year’s semis is Rollout The Red Carp, a stallion by NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Champion Spooks Gotta Whiz. Trainer Martin Muehlstaetter will ride the horse for owner Sarah Nimigan.
In addition, Shining N Sassy’s full sister, Sassy N Shiney, also has a foal in the Level 4 Open semifinals. She will be represented by Spark Dunit Again, a son of Gunner Dun It Again who will be ridden by Joao Felipe Lace for Tripol Ranch LLC.
Famous Siblings
Several competitors in the semifinals are out of mares who have already produced high-profile foals.
Tops among those Betti Davis Eyes, who is a mare by Pale Face Dunnit and out of Myo Starlight, mother of 2016 Spooky Whiz (by Spooks Gotta Whiz). Betti Davis Eyes will be ridden by Jordan Larson for owner Nicole Driscoll.
Gunna Run N Slide (Gunnatrashya x Stop Little Sister x Magnum Chic Dream) is a full sibling to The Run For A Million’s 2021 Million Dollar Competition winner Gunna Stop. The NRHA’s all-time leading rider, Andrea Fappani, will ride the stallion for owner Tim Anderson.
Snow Guns Last Dream (Magnum Chic Dream x Snow Gun x Gunner) is a brother to a number of successful show horses, including sires Yankee Gun ($157,194, by Rowdy Yankee) and Electric Snow ($100,399, by Jacs Electric Spark). Overall, his mother, Snow Gun, is the dam of the winners of more than $538,191. Shawn Flarida will ride Snow Guns Last Dream for owner Mark Schols.
The broodmare Snip O Chex, who competed in the 2006 NRHA Futurity in the Non-Pro, has two foals who made the Level 4 Open semifinals at this year’s show:
- Best Jac (by Jacs Electric Spark), will be ridden by Tom McCutcheon and is owned by Tom and his wife, Mandy McCutcheon.
- Gotta Get That Chex (by Spooks Gotta Whiz), will be ridden by Adam Hendrickson for owner Judy Box.
Freshman Stallion
The lone stallion to sire an NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open finalist in his first, or freshman, foal crop this year is Epic Titan. The son of Gunner and out of millionaire dam Princess In Diamonds (by Shining Spark) will be represented in this year’s field by two offspring:
- Shotofhundredproof, a stallion out of Miss Brim Star (by Smart Starbuck), will be ridden by Cade McCutcheon for owner Jennifer Greenleaf.
- Princess In Tites, a mare out of Howdy Nu Cash (by Nu Chex To Cash), will be ridden by Trevor Dare for owner Fernando Viesca.
Legendary Sires
A handful of legendary stallions who have passed away will still be represented by entries in this year’s event:
- Shine Whiz Jewels, a stallion by EquiStat Elite $9 Million Sire Shining Spark and out of Whiz Jewels (by Topsail Whiz), will be ridden by Arno Honstetter for owner Laura Schwartz.
- Little Walla Dun It, a mare by EquiStat Elite $7 Million SIre Hollywood Dun It and out of Shezsomethingspecial (by Walla Walla Whiz), will be ridden by Jordan Larson for owner Ixtul Quarter Horses LLC. Little Walla Dun It’s second dam is NRHA Futurity Open Champion Wimpys Little Chic.
- Hesa Rockstar Whiz, a stallion by EquiStat Elite $13 Million Sire Topsail Whiz and out of A Bueno Poco Dunit (by Hollywood Dun It), will be ridden by Duane Latimer for owner Roxanne Koepsell.
- The Future Is Bright, a gelding by EquiStat Elite $14 Million Sire Smart Chic Olena and out of millionaire dam Ebony Shines (by Shining Spark), will be ridden by Kole Price for owner Rosanne Sternberg.
