Ron Emmons and Olena Oak Mark High Score/Davis and Bobby Starlight Continue to Lead Open

The third day of 2007 National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby competition began Thursday, June 21 with the preliminary rein work for the 97 entrants in the Open division.

When the dust had cleared the arena, Ron Emmons and Olena Oak (Smart Chic Olena x Fritzs Oak E Doakie) had set the high score of 222 – two points higher than the next closest exhibitor in the Open division. With a composite score of 430, Ron and Olena Oak - owned by Mel Smith and Nichole Scott - are sitting firmly in the 16th composite slot.

Mambo Number Shine (Shining Spark x Cindy Mambo) and Glen Aspinall scored low in the herd work, but a score of 220 in the rein work was good for second in the Open and first in the Intermediate Open rein work. Glen rides Mambo Number Shine for owners Hoby and Anita Horn of Moore, Oklahoma.

T.J. Good showed Playin Fletch (Royal Fletch x Playboys Promise) to a rein work score of 219 – which solidifies a composite score of 437.5. That total is more than enough to put T.J. in second place in the Open composite and the lead in the Intermediate Open composite. Playin Fletch is owned by Clay and Ronella White, of Red Rock, Arizona.

Herd work winners Zane Davis and Bobby Starlight (Grays Starlight x Cats Bobby Sox) hold on to the composite lead in the Open division with a 438.5 total. Tucker Robinson and Days Zanolena (Smart Zanolena x Chex Out This Day) sit second in the Intermediate Open and fourth in the Open division with 435.5 after two events.

Mary Dosek and Colonels Cash Cow (The Nu Colonel x Peppy Leanna) top the Limited Open division and hold the second position for the rein work after marking a 217.5 for a composite of 424.5. Ed Robertson, riding Luckiest Prize (Smokums Prize x Gunna Be Lucky), tops the class leader board after the first two phases of competition, and had the second high rein work score, a 215.5.

The top Open and Non Pro exhibitors will compete in the clean slate finals on Sunday, June 24.

The Non Pro Bridle Spectacular rein and cow work commenced after the Open Derby rein work was completed. Once the Spectacular’s rein and cow work is over, the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular winner will be awarded a check worth $4,630, a CR Morrison trophy, and a Vetrolin® gift pack sponsored by Farnam™. The NRCHA will pay out $18,520 to the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular winners.

The Horse Show Novice Non Pro Bridle class is run concurrently with the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular. The other horse show classes will run Friday and Saturday.

At 6 pm Thursday, the NRCHA hosts the NRCHA Patron - Sponsor Fiesta Reception in the Barn at the Paso Robles Event Center. The appreciation reception will honor NRCHA Patrons Jack and Phoebe Cooke, NRCHA partners and sponsors, Paso Robles area NRCHA sponsors, and the Paso Robles Event Center. All NRCHA Derby participants, owners, sponsors and partners are invited.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Bloomer Trailer Mfg., Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse magazine, the Peppermill Hotel Resort, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.