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10-27-2005
Latimer & Schmersal Top SWRHA Futurity Prelims
National Reining Horse Association Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer drew up early to top the 21st-Annual Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity Open Preliminaries while Ginger Schmersal held on to the Non Pro Preliminary win.
The Open and Non Pro Futurity Preliminaries concluded Thursday evening, October 27, determining those that will advance to Saturday's finals. The SWRHA Futurity continues Friday morning at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Oklahoma, with a full day of NRHA-approved ancillary classes beginning with the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro classes running concurrently.
Riding Star Spangled Whiz for Cathy Hern of Turner Valley, Alberta, Duane, of Ardmore, marked a 221.5 as draw seven to set the precedent in the Open division. Star Spangled Whiz is a stallion by Topsail Whiz and out of Sheza Shady Slider and earned $2,962 for the first-place preliminary finish. The top 20 horses in each of the Open, Intermediate Open and Limited Open divisions will compete in the finals October 29, where Duane will show Star Spangled Whiz along with Doctor Zip Nic, by Reminic and out of Sugar Jode Doll, owned by Lucio Ferrarini. A 213.5 was needed to make the Open finals.
Valley View, Texas trainer Jason Vanlandingham led the Intermediate Open Preliminaries riding Gallos Stylish Star for owner Larry Markle of Coffeyville, Kansas. Jason and the stallion, by Gallo Del Cielo and out of A Stylish Queen, marked a 220 and earned $1,399. Martin Muehlstaetter, Tioga, Texas, drew up last to mark a 215.5 and topped the Limited Open division. Riding Smart Boom, by Smart Chic Olena and out of Boomernic Bewitched, owned by Tom and Patricia O Halleran of Chicago, Illinois, Mark picked up a check for $335. Riders needed a 211 and 206.5 to make the Intermediate and Limited Open finals, respectively.
Ginger Schmersal teamed up with Blazing In Black, a black mare sired by Rowdy Yankee and out of Topsail Blaze, to top the Non Pro Preliminaries with a 219.5. Ginger, a new resident of Overbrook, Oklahoma, earned a check for $1,122.
In the Intermediate Non Pro division, Danielle Stanton marked a 219 in the first set for the Preliminary win. Danielle, El Cajon, California, rode Lenas Parking Chic, by Parking With A Chic and out of Gaye Bar Chex Lena, to earn $448.
The evening's final entry, Gins Widow Smarty, carried Michael Sandoval to the win in the Limited Non Pro preliminaries. Michael, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Gins Widow Smarty, a mare by Smart Gin and out of Skipat Widow Bar marked a 212 and earned $303. Ron Thompson, Whitesboro, Texas, led the Prime Time Non Pro division riding Gay Bar Chic, a mare by Smokin Chic Olena and out of Lenas Paleface.
The top 15 places in the Non Pro (a 194 or higher) and Intermediate Non Pro (a 200.5 and above) divisions advance to Saturday's finals, as well as the top 16 in the Limited Non Pro (a 188.5 or above) and top eight in the Prime Time Non Pro.
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