Prior to the 2023 Reining By The Bay, Andrea Fappani had already racked up 17 Derby Open championships over the course of nearly 20 years of showing at the event. This year, he added an 18th, riding Whizsicle to the 6-year-old stallion’s second Reining By The Bay Derby Level 4 Open title with a score of 227.5.
“It’s always been one of my favorite shows,” Fappani said. “We don’t get to show in outdoor arenas anymore. It’s basically the only show we get to do that, and it’s kind of nice for our horses, especially some of our older horses, because they get so used to showing in those coliseums and smaller arenas. Having a big, wide, open outdoor arena is kind of refreshing, and they show a lot better.”
Even with a half-point penalty in the left turnaround, Fappani and Whizsicle scored 3 points higher than when they previously won the title two years ago. Fappani said the stallion’s stops garnered some additional points this year, on top of his strong turnarounds and circles.
“He felt really strong,” Fappani said. “I think he stopped better than some of the times where I showed him before. I think I figured out his rundowns just a little bit more and made him run a little bit stronger. He’s not a horse that has a particular maneuver that stands out. He’s a horse that’s very complete.”
Whizsicle (SG Frozen Enterprize x Miss Whizzletown x Hollywoodstinseltown), who was bred by Jenny Ricotta, collected $21,208 for his owner, Diane Yoder. Yoder has been a longtime client of Fappani’s from the days when he first went out on his own.
“She’s always part of my program. Even when she doesn’t have a horse in training, she’s always one of the first ones to congratulate me for the wins and supporting what I try to accomplish,” Fappani said.
In addition to Yoder, Fappani thanked Jim and Pat Warren for supporting the show and continuing to play a big role in reining on the West Coast.
Hesa Rockin Whiz and Dany Tremblay landed the Derby Level 4 Open Reserve Championship after scoring a 225.5. Tremblay and the 2016 gelding (Topsail Whiz x A Bueno Poco Dunit x Hollywood Dun It), who was bred by Roxanne Koepsell, collected $12,909 for owner Pastorino Hay & Ranch.
Derby Non-Pro
With a 221, Kim Muehlstaetter and TR Baby Blues launched to the top of the Derby Level 4 Non-Pro, winning a check worth $7,029 that pushed them over the $100,000 threshold in lifetime earnings.
The duo added their Reining By The Bay title to a stacked résumé that includes the 2022 High Roller Reining Classic Derby Level 4 Non-Pro Championship, 2022 and 2021 Reining By The Bay Derby Level 4 Non-Pro co-championships, and 2021 NRHA Derby Level 4 Reserve Championship.
TR Baby Blues (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Spooks N Sparks x Smart Spook), a 2017 gelding, was bred by Tamarack Ranch and is owned by Muehlstaetter and her husband, Martin.
Two horse-and-rider teams marked a 219 to share the Derby Level 4 Non-Pro Co-Reserve Championship. Dana Pastorino, on Hesa Rockin Whiz, as well as Royal Worbets, on TR Dream About Me, collected $3,896 each.
TR Dream About Me (Magnum Chic Dream x Redhot Walla x Walla Walla Whiz) was bred by Tamarack Ranch and is owned by Rafter D Reiners Inc.
