Marco Ricotta and Shine Plum Shine Slide Into NRHA Futurity Lead

Oklahoma City, November 24, 2017 – Great reining action filled the air on the second day of competition at the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show.

The first go-round of the NRHA Open Futurity continued with section 2, and the day concluded with Marco Ricotta and Shine Plum Shine leading the Level (L)4 and L3 qualifier with a 224 score. Bred and nominated by NRHA Million Dollar Owner and Hall of Famer, Rosanne Sternberg, the stallion owned by Story Book Stables is by Shine Chic Shine and out of Plum Reyning.

“I got this horse in training six months ago; because he came from a different program, even though I knew he had all the maneuvers, there were a couple of places I needed to work on. [NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider] Andrea Fappani helped me out, we solved the issues I had, and things have gone well since,” said the Italian professional, based in Arizona, about the 2015 NRHA/Markel Insurance Select Yearling Sale graduate. The duo closed their performance with a 224.

Setting the bar early in the L4 Open division draw with a 223 score was NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal aboard Face The Attitude, a mare owned by Hickory Creek Ranch, bred by KC Performance Horses LLC, and nominated by Ginger Schmersal. “I love this mare’s sire [Pale Face Dunnit], and I love her dam [Miss Lil Addy Tude]. I showed both of them, so it was great to see her doing so well today,” Schmersal said.

The second highest score in the L3 Open division – a 221 – was posted by Eduardo Salgado riding Gotta Shiney Diamond (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Shiney Diamond Lady). The mare is bred, owned, and nominated by Bobby Lewis.

Leading the L2 Open qualifier with a 220.5 was Checksworthy (Big Chex To Cash x Banjoes Shining Star). The mare bred, owned, and nominated by Terry Leffew posted a 220.5 with Kole Price in the saddle. In the L1 division, Gabriel Bittar Borges riding his own Gotta Shiney Playboy (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Shining Sage) scored a 220 to lead. The stallion was bred and nominated by Bobby Lewis.

For further information, live score and live stream, visit nrhafuturity.com