The SWRHA Futurity and Show typically falls on Clemerson Barbahlo’s birthday, and it seems the show has been good to him. This year was much the same, as Barbahlo won the second slate of the ancillary Open and the highpoint for that class on his horse Spooks Gotta Outfire.
“It was my birthday yesterday, so it was a good show. Every year this show is very special to me. I think it’s the good energy,” he said. “It’s great to win here because it’s the end of the year, and we’re about to start breeding season. This was this horse’s first year to stand at Cedar Ridge.”
Spooks Gotta Outfire is by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Black Custom Chex, and is owned by Barbahlo and Mark Weissman. “I have been showing him since he was three. Andrea Fappani had him when he was four, and I got him back after that year. I have been showing him, and he’s been teaching me a lot,” he said.
Barbahlo expanded on that statement. “I think the horses that aren’t super good teach you a lot of what to do, but the really good and special ones teach you what not to do and just to get out of their way. That’s what he has been teaching me; that I just need to trust him,” he explained. “This was for sure the best show I’ve had with him – these two runs here. He showed me once again that I just need to trust him.”
Barbahlo and Spooks Gotta Outfire will show again in a few weeks at the ancillary classes at the NRHA Futurity. “I thank God for everything he has done in my life. I thank my wife for everything she does for me, as well as my family, my coach, and a couple trainers who I have been asking for help, including Martin Larcombe and Jared Leclair,” he said.