Casey Deary and Magnum Starlights are the Open Derby Champions!

Casey Deary and Magnum Starlights (Photo: NRHA)

Oklahoma City– Six NRHA Million Dollar Riders, one Two Million Dollar Rider, two Three Million Dollar Riders, one Five Million Dollar Rider, past NRHA Open and Non Pro Futurity champions, past NRHA Derby and NRBC champions, and an impressive number of horses with earnings that surpass the $100,000.00 mark in LTE. All on stage in the 2016 NRHA Open Derby finals on Saturday in Oklahoma City.

Casey Deary and Magnum StarlightsWinning the Level (L)4 Open Derby championship with a 223 score was NRHA Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary aboard Magnum Starlights (Magnum Chic Dream x Starlights Sugarwhiz), a 5-year-old stallion owned by Antler Ridge Ranch LLC and nominated by George Lawrence with $84,378.60 NRHA LTE. The win was especially sweet for Deary. Not only did he show Magnum Starlights’ grand sire, he also showed the talented stallion’s grand dam. “We have a long history together, and Magnum Starlights was raised on our ranch,” said Deary following his win. “We won the Vegas Futurity and had huge runs at the NRBC, and we’ve always felt that he would achieve a major win sometime.”

Two riders posted a 222.5 for the reserve championship: NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jason Vanlandingham and NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani. Vanlandingham rode his past NRBC Open Champion, Not Ruf At All (A Sparkling Vintage x All Ruffed Up), a 6-year-old stallion owned by Vaughn Zimmerman and nominated by Petra Zeitler Connor with $416,766.08 LTE. Fappani rode Pinesail Jac (Tinsel Jac x Sailin Lil Ruf), a 5-year-old gelding owned by Rancho Oso Rio LLC and nominated by Raul Leal, who to date has won $93,487.29.

For all Derby and ancillary results, visit nrhaderby.com