NRBC
Latimer Wins NRBC Open Classic
Contributed Courtesy NRBC, Photography Waltenberry courtesy of NRBC
The highlight of the NRBC each year is always the Open Classic Finals and this year’s edition was one for the history books as Duane Latimer rode Modern Gun (Gunners Special Nite x Taris Modern Design) to a score of 228 to top the Level 4 and be crowned the NRBC Open Classic champion. The win was Latim- er’s first Open Classic title since 2000 when he won the title on Conquistador Whiz. This year he also topped the Prime Time to become the first Level 4 winner to also win the Prime Time. “It’s been a little while,” Latimer said with
a laugh adding that the 5-year-old stallion per- formed outstandingly. “He was dialed in really, really good today. I was really happy.” As is custom in the sport camaraderie and the love of the horse shines through above all else and the crowd’s response to Latimer’s run was a prime example of the excitement and ap- preciate of reining found at NRBC. “[The crowd was really behind me] it was awesome!” Latimer said. He has had Modern Gun since he was a 2-year-old and knows his style well. Latimer said he had been showing and schooling well all week, which set him up to push his horse to his full potential. “My strategy is pretty much always the same - you go in thinking you can do it,” he said. “I didn’t warm him up much or do too much outside, just loped him around and worked on some steering and then went down there stopped and did our deal. I thought I had him up to it, but you never know.”
Duane collected $75,000 for owner MS Stables along with one year’s use of a Deluxe four-horse Trailer from Twin Cities South
Duane Latimer & Modern Gun
Trailer Sales and an array of other awards and NRBC trophies.
Andrea Fappani and Pedro Baiao each marked a 225.5 to share the reserve co-cham- pionship in the Level 4. Fappani rode Epic Titan (Colonels Smoking Gun x Princess In Diamonds) owned by Clinton Anderson. Baiao rode Michael Garnett’s Spooksgottachicolena (Spooks Gotta Gun x Braz Us). They each re- ceived $41,000 for the reserve.
Pedro Baiao earned the Level 3 champi- onship riding Spooksgottachicolena (Spooks Gotta Gun x Braz Us) to win $20,582. Baiao said he got a few words of instruction from his boss, Martin Muehlstaetter.
“Martin said to me, ‘Pedro, just see how fast he can go,’” Baiao said with a laugh. “ Baiao didn’t disappoint his employer when he and Spooksgottachicolena marked a 225.5.
“He was really good riding out here the
whole week and that was my plan,” he said. “I didn’t know it was going to mark that, but my goal was to test his speed.” The score was Baiao’s highest score of his
career, making the NRBC championship an ex- tra special moment.
“I knew after my second circle I was do- ing good,” he said with a laugh. “I could hear the crowd yelling and stuff. He hit the first stop so good and I knew some good score would come - not 225.5, but a good score. When I heard the 25 I was so excited. It was the best run of my life.”
Ricky Nicolazzi guided Spooks Show
Ricky Nicolazi & Spooks Show Time
10 SouthWest Horse Trader
Time (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Dolittle Lena) to a score of 219 to win the Level 2 and earn $8,128. Nicolazzi has had the 5-year-old geld- ing, owned by Rancho Oso Rio, since Septem- ber 2017 and the duo has been progressing well together sharing a highlight win at NRBC.
June 2018
Spooksgottachicolena
“I’m very happy about this horse and the winnings, especially for Rancho Oso Rio,” Nicolazzi said. “They always give me good horses to ride, so I’m really happy about it.” There was a three-way tie in the Open Classic Level 1 between Benny Maddox, Chris Dawson, and Gabriel Borges with scores of 218 to each earn $2,103. Maddox rode Thebettertohearuwith
(Spooks Gotta Whiz x Chex Out The Cowgirl) owned by Bill Coburn. “It’s been a privilege to ride behind An- drea (Fappani) and get to show [Thebetterto- hearuwith] his 6-year-old year,” Maddox said. “My goal was just to have a cleaner run,” Maddox said. “We still had an over-turn, but other than it was really good,” I’m super ex- cited it’s my first major win and my first major finals, so it’s super exciting.”
Dawson rode Shiney Outlaw (Shiners Nickle x Mereyda) owned by Michelle Can- non. Dawson and the 6-year-old stallion have had a big week in Katy taking home checks from their first entry and they haven’t slowed down. The duo improved on their Open Classic Prelims performances to share the co-champi- onship title. “We had a few bobbles in the go rounds, but he felt outstanding tonight and showed his little heart out,” Dawson said. Borges rode Checksworthy (Big Chex To Cash x Banjoes Shining Star) owned by Terry Leffew. Borges hasn’t had the 4-year-old mare long, having taken over the reins only in Jan- uary, but the short time hasn’t hindered their performances together.
“I feel I can get a little more out of her. It’s
my first Level 4 finals so I got a little nervous in the turns, so I didn’t nail the marks but she can mark better than that,” he said with a laugh.
Continued on page 13
Pedro Baiao &
Waltenberry courtesy of NRBC
Waltenberry courtesy of NRBC
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