Brent Wright and Custom Red Berry Claim NRHA Derby Championship

(Oklahoma City, OK May 23, 2001) - Kansas trainer Brent Wright rode Custom Red Berry to a score of 228 to win the National Reining Horse Association Derby Championship on May 19.

Custom Red Berry, owned by Steve Simon of Paxton, Massachusetts, is a 5-year-old daughter of Custom Crome (X Otter Run Terri) that has been a consistent performer since she finished third at the NRHA Futurity.

Wright describes her as "very physical for a mare" and adds that she is good at every maneuver - every part of reining - except one.

"She doesn't draw very well," Brent laughed, referring to the random draw that is done to determine the order of the finals competition. He explained that the roan mare has never drawn up further down the list than fifth in any major finals. In reining, it's considered more desirable to draw up closer to the end of the field but at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds on finals night, it was business as usual. Brent and Custom Red Berry were first to go.

Maybe she doesn't draw that well, but she does power her way through a reining pattern! Her only serious challenge for the title came late in the field of 20 finalists, in the form of a 227.5 score from two-time Derby champion, Duane Latimer on West Coast Whiz. When the competition was over, Wright and Custom Red Berry collected $22,538, pushing her lifetime earnings past $135,000.

Although he is a multiple NRHA open futurity finalist with his own career earnings nearing the $300,000 mark, the Derby was Wright's first major NRHA aged event championship.

Duane Latimer claimed the Reserve title on West Coast Whiz (Topsail Whiz X My Moon Stone Chex) owned by Bob Loomis Quarter Horses and Driscoll Ranch. Latimer boosted his own share of the purse to over $32,000 by scoring 224.5 to finish third on Sailing Spark (Shining Spark X Topsail Maid), owned by Frank Bolea of Gilroy, California.

There was a three way tie for fourth between Patrice St-Onge on his wife Veronica's horse, Slip Me Another Kiss (Slippin Solano X Two Eyed Hershey); Craig Schmersal on Tidal Wave Jack (Hollywood Macho Jac X Tidal Mist Cody) , owned by BS Syndicate of Menifee, California; and Robbie Boyce on Smart Shiner (Shining Spark X Smart Hickory) owned by Carol Rose of Gainesville, Texas. Each scored 222.5 to win over $10,500.

Robbie Boyce augmented his share of the take-home pay by winning the Intermediate Open Derby Championship, but only after a tough run-off with his friend Donnie Bricker on former NRHA Futurity Champion Hollywood Vintage (Hollywood Dun It X Taris Little Vintage) owned by Alan and Kay Needle of Orange, California.

Boyce, who trained with Bob Avila and roper J.D. Yates, worked for Matt and Lesley Day's Hooker Creek Ranch before relocating to Texas in January to train for the Carol Rose Ranch. "So far, I'm loving Texas," he said.

The Limited Open Championship went to Ben Gerst on No Credit Chex (Bueno Chex Willie X Docs Dixie Lee) owned by Tim McQuay of Tioga, Texas. Gerst, who does much of the colt training at McQuay Stables, piloted No Credit Chex to a score of 216, good for the win and $2,076.

Josh Hattig, a financial planner, from Berthoud, Colorado won the NRHA Non Pro Derby, scoring 223.5 in the clean-slate finals to earn $8400 on Steadys Dude (Steady Tradition X Bar Good Friday). Like the Open Derby Winner, Josh won a year's use of a Sundowner horse trailer. That makes it a little crowded in the Hattig parking lot. Less than a month earlier, Josh and "Dude"' had teamed up to win the National Reining Breeders Classic, and that win came with a trailer, as well.

The Reserve Non Pro Derby Championship went to Canadian Lance Griffin for a score of 220.5 on Peppy Chic Olena (Smart Chic Olena X Peppy Polka Dot).

Don Bernal of Huntington Beach, California, meant business on his very first trip to the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds and his gray stallion, JB Badgers Phantom (Peppy Badge Olena X Clabbers Cameo) got everyone's attention. They won the Limited Non Pro and Prime Time Non Pro Championships by scoring a 220 in the first round, then marked 215 in the finals to win the Intermediate Non Pro title. Together, their combined placings in the different divisions netted them three saddles and about $10,000.

The Reserve Intermediate Non Pro Co-Champions were Flis Carey Sassella of Marietta, Oklahoma on Shine A Whey (Shining Spark X Dox Curds N Whey) and Dr. Bubba Cheek of Brunswick, Georgia on Wolverton Decatur (Wolverton King GL X Decatur Jo Rita). Both scored 214 to earn $2,259.

The Reserve Limited Non Pro Champion was Harrison Tobin of Scottsdale, Arizona on Smart Sliden Lena (Smart Little Lena X Slide Me Again). The Reserve Prime Time Champion was James Morgan of Pilot Point, Texas on Wild Sister (Gallo Del Cielo X Banjoes Beauty).

A highlight of Derby week was the US Equestrian Team Semi Finals and Gunner, the paint world's most lovable reining horse, stole the show. The sorrel overo stallion, owned by Debra Sloan of Newfoundland, New Jersey, and ridden by Bryant Pace, scored 233 to win the championship and the hearts of the spectators. The Reserve title went to Dell Hendricks on Mr Boomerjac, owned by Pat Warren of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Bryant Pace also won the Saddlesmith Open Championship on Mifs Doll, owned by Kim and Debra Sloan, scoring 224.5 to win $2013. The Reserve title went to Craig Schmersal on Cassie Simpson's Pooque, for a score of 221.

The Saddlesmith Non Pro title went to Mandy McCutcheon on Smart China Doll, owned by her parents Tim and Colleen McQuay of Tioga, Texas. Mark Buckley of Berthoud, Colorado scored 212 to claim the Saddlesmith Reserve on Haidas Best Shot.

At the NRHA Derby Spotlight Sale, held on Saturday, the high selling horse was Lena Lite, a 2-year-old sorrel son of Grays Starlight out of Lenas Otoetta consigned by Randle Tune and purchased by Arizonan Alain Longatte for $38,000.

The NRHA Derby is the National Reining Horse Association's premiere event for 4 & 5-year-old horses, held annually. The National Reining Horse Association, headquartered in Oklahoma City, is the governing body of the sport of reining, distributing over $4 million in prize money each year, at over 345 approved events worldwide.v