 This year marks the fifth anniversary of the creation of the Developing Horse Futurity at the Tulsa Reining Classic. The Developing Horse Futurity was created with the goal of allowing reining horses to develop and perform at their own pace. As entries increase each year, it’s evident that the reining industry has embraced the concept. Since 2013, the Darling 888 Ranch of Princeton, Kentucky, has been the naming sponsor of the class.
Open Level 4 Champion The mare is special to the crew of Xtra Quarter Horses, who bred, raised, and still own the 3-year-old mare by Shiners Voodoo Dr out of All Thats Dun. “We’re pretty proud of her and the program,” Boechat said. “I rode her sire and made the Futurity finals, and then Todd Bergen won Reserve at the NRHA Derby. We bred him as a 4-year-old and this mare is from his first foal crop. There are a lot of similarities between him and her. He passes a lot of him along.” Boechat, head trainer of Xtra Quarter Horses, is a Tulsa veteran. “I think this is one of the best places to take a futurity horse,” he said. “It’s such a good pen, and it’s a good time of year. You can get them ready and if you feel like they still need some work you have time to get them ready for Oklahoma City.” Taking the Reserve Championship in the Open Level 4 was Dean Brown, who rode Sparkys Shining Doll (Friday Night Shiner x BB Holly Doll) for Robert Santagata of Campbell Hall, New York. The Reserve title, won with a 218.5, came with a check for $2,493. Open Levels 2 & 3 Champion Thomsson has been riding the mare since December of 2014. “She’s a really nice mare. She’s strong mentally and really talented. She’s got a big stop and has been good to train all year. She showed really well here,” he said. “Our run today was good. She turned good and circled perfect. She stopped great the first two times. The last stop I probably let off a little bit, and she still stopped but not as good as the first two.” Yonathon Baruch piloted Baddabing Baddaboom to the reserve title in the Open Level 3, winning $1,411. Baddabing Baddaboom (Boom Shernic x Chics Hilda Bar) is owned by Carlton Crowe of Gainesville, Texas. Pierre Luc Phaneuf and Whiz Ann Tag took reserve in the Open Level 2, pocketing $1,036. Whiz Ann Tag (Whix N Tag Chex x Mifs Doll) is owned by Cardinal Hill Training Center of Aubrey, Texas. Open Level 1 Champion “He’s pretty laid back and nice,” Michels said of Cromed Out Gunner (Cromed Out Mercedes x Smoking Gypsy Rose). “He can turn. He’s really come into his own circling and was really good and relaxed today.” It’s the second event for the colt, who is coming off of a good finish in Minnesota. “He’s done showing for the week. This gives me so much confidence as we get ready for the Futurity.” He added, “We’re entered at the Congress and then he’ll have a break, and then hopefully he’ll be ready for the futurity.” It’s the first time that Michel has come to Tulsa, but he plans to make it an annual event. “I’m really excited. It’s been great and I haven’t had one thing bad to say,” he said. “I’ll definitely come back again.” Vanessa Strotmann had a great day in Tulsa, taking Reserve in the Open Level 1 with a 215 on Nu Smoking Spark (Ima Smoking Mister x Annies Lil Spark), owned by Shannon Reid. She also tied for third on Lil Sis Isa Legend (Custom Legend x Topnotch Melody) and Tinsel Town Light (Hollywoodstinseltown x Shiney O Light) with scores of 214. Lil Sis Isa Legend is owned by Kalyn Sanders, while Tinsel Town Light is owned by Shannon and Hershel Reid.
The 240 acre Darling 888 Ranch is located in Princeton, Kentucky, about ninety minutes from Nashville, Tennessee. The ranch is a full service reining facility offering training, breeding, sales and equine sports medicine. Darling 888 Ranch supports the development of reining horses at their own pace, protecting horses that will peak later performance-wise, and lengthening their careers. |
There were 87 entries that competed in the Ford Truck Arena at the Expo Square, and Franco Bertolani and Chexmaster bested the field with a 220.5 to win $4,097, a Lawson bronze, a saddle from the Tulsa Reining Classic, and a gift card from Santa Cruz Animal Health.
Finishing third in the Level 4 and taking the win in Open Levels 2 and 3 was Fred Thomsson on Missin My Shine, by Smart And Shiney out of Miss Sliding Peppy. The pair scored a 218 that was good for a $5,892 payday, as well as two Lawson bronzes, a Back On Track sheet and No Bow Wraps, and gift certificates to Santa Cruz Animal Health and Cowboy Couture.
With a 215.5, Justin Michels claimed the Open Level 1 Championship and a top five finish of both Open Levels 2 and 3 on Cromed Out Gunner, worth $2,115. He also won a Morrison trophy, a headstall, No Bow Wraps from Back On Track, and a gift certificate from Cowboy Couture.
The American Paint Horse Association also presented the high-scoring paint horse of the Darling 888 Ranch Developing Horse Futurity with a Gist Silversmiths buckle. APHA Director of Business Development Kalyn Sanders was on hand to present the award, which was won by Chics Nite, ridden by Franco Bertolani for Cardinal Hill Training Center.|
Courtney Battison Sweeps Green Reiner Classes with Wimpys Wrangler AC
 Riding a horse she’s only owned for six months, Courtney Battison won both of her classes Wednesday at the Tulsa Reining Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She and her horse Wimpys Wrangler AC scored a 70.5 to top the classes. “He was really good today,” Battison, of Purcell, Oklahoma, said. “He was on point.”With trainer Marie Kleiner, Wimpys Wrangler AC won the Open Level 1 division at this year’s National Reining Breeders Classic in Katy, Texas. “He’s a neat horse. He hasn’t been shown a whole lot, so we’re just learning to do the whole reining thing together,” said Battison, who has had an extremely successful career riding hunter under saddle horses. “This is my first year to compete in reining. I’m brand new to it. I have hunter under saddle horses and have showed them for many years but I have always loved the reining.”
Battison plans to show Wimpys Wrangler AC tomorrow in the SmartPak Non Pro Derby. “Then I might show again Friday depending on how everything goes,” she said. “Thank you to Marie. She did an excellent job helping me get ready today.”
Finishing reserve in both classes was Anna Rickertsen and her horse Chrome Satin Skirt, who scored a 70. Chrome Satin Skirt is by Custom King Cutter and out of High Slit Skirt.
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