Gunners Bar Fly and Eduardo Salgado Lead the NRHA Level 3 Futurity Semifinals

Gunners Bar Fly and Eduardo Salgado (Photo: NRHA Reiner)

Oklahoma City– As the 2017 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show (NAAC) moved into the second week of competition, more exciting reining action filled the Oklahoma State Fair Park, where one of the world’s most prestigious reining events open to 3-year-old horses is being held. Today, the NRHA Open Futurity Level (L)1, 2, 3 Semifinals concluded with the second section bringing excitement to enthusiasts of the sport who made their way to Oklahoma City from all over the world.

NRHA Professional Eduardo Salgado riding Gunners Bar Fly, a sorrel mare sired by NRHA Nine Million Dollar Gunner out of Blonde At The Bar, stepped up to a 220.5 – after scoring a 216.5 in the first section of the qualifying go round – bringing his composite score to a 437 to lead the Level (L)3 Open Futurity division once the Semifinals were completed. The NRHA/Markel Insurance Futurity Prospect Sale Graduate is owned by NRHA Million Dollar Owner and Hall of Fame Inductee Rosanne Stenberg. She is bred by NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee Clint Haverty and was nominated by McQuay Stables Inc. “My mare was really good and was perfect in all her maneuvers, and she stopped big,” said Salgado. “It was a really good performance, and I hope we will be just as good in the finals.”

In the first section of the L3, 2, and 1 Open Futurity Semifinals, NRHA Professional Bobby Avila, Jr. rode Pale Face Chex (Pale Face Dunnit x Lena Sugar Chex), owned by 6-K LLC and nominated by Kristen Avila, to a 219. The duo had scored a 216.5 in the first go-round, which brought them the highest composite score (435.5) to lead the L2 division. Their composite remained unbeaten following the second section.

Cashing In Diamonds and Vanessa Strotmann (Photo: NRHA Reiner)

Cashing In Diamonds (Lil Joe Cash x Diamond Steppin Whiz), ridden by NRHA Professional Vanessa Strotmann and owned by Stefano Calcagnini, posted a 218 in the Semifinals. With the mare nominated by Green Valley Ranch between the reins, Strotmann posted a 216.5 the first go. With a 218 scored in the first section of the Semifinals, their composite score of 434.5 remains the top score in the L1 division after the conclusion of the Semifinals. Cashing In Diamonds is an NRHA/Markel Insurance Sale consignment.

The following number of horses will qualify for the Open Futurity Finals in each level:
Level 3: Top 30 horses (plus ties)
Level 2: Top 20 horses (plus ties)
Level 1: Top 15 horses (plus ties)
Prime Time: Top 10 horses (plus ties)

Those horses qualifying for only the Level 3 and/or Level 2 and/or Level 1 Open divisions will show in the first section. The remaining qualifiers (Level 4 Open and Level 4 Open/Level 3 Open/Level 2 Open/Level 1 Open divisions) will compete in the second section. The finals in each division will be a clean-slate format.

The top 75 horses (plus ties) in the L4 Open division will advance to the Level 4 Open Silver Spurs Equine Semifinal, also sponsored by Not Ruf At All, to be held on Wednesday, November 29.

For complete results, news, live stream and live score please visit nrhafuturity.com