Whistles and whoops from behind the gate were loud as the reigning score climbed higher and higher during the Billingsley Ford Open at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Ultimately, Jason Valandingham, riding Slide Me Sum Shine, was announced as the champion.
Earlier this year, the SWRHA Board voted to increase the added money in the Futurity by a whopping 30 percent. The increase created a new total of $201,000 in added money in the Futurity alone.
The Added Money and Increase from 2022 for the Billingsley Ford Open Futurity are:
- Open Level 4 – $70,000 (up from $62,000)
- Open Level 3 – $40,000 (up from $32,000)
- Open Level 2 – $15,000 (up from $10,000)
- Open Level 1 – $10,000 (up from $6,500)
- Open Prime Time – $3,000 (up from $1,500)
That increase in added money was particularly impactful for third-place finisher, Jared Leclair. Prior to the start of the SWRHA Futurity, Leclair was just $3,027 from passing the million-dollar mark in lifetime earnings. Excitingly, his earnings in Ardmore unofficially pushed him past that milestone to become NRHA’s newest Million Dollar Rider.
Billingsley Ford Open Level 4 Champion – Jason Vanlandingham & Slide Me Sum Shine
Topping the leaderboard with an unmatched score of 224, Jason Valandingham and Slide Me Sum Shine left the night as the champions of the Billingsley Ford Open at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity.
Slide Me Sum Shine, bred by Daniel Beale, is by Shine Chic Shine and out of Wimpys Women, and is now owned by 2Star Investments LLC. The win at the SWRHA Futurity earned this pair just over $20,000.
“He’s been our most talented horse all the way this year,” said Vanlandingham. “But probably also the most challenging one that I’ve had to train. This horse has a ton of ability which makes him an overachiever.”
Although horses like Slide Me Sum Shine are what keeps Vanlandingham up at night, he just plans to keep working on the little things in hopes that they can lay down another run to be proud of on that first weekend in December.
As to the new format of the SWRHA Futurity and Show, where the futurity runs on the first weekend, Vanlandingham said, “This is beneficial because we show, then we get a week to fix things before we haul home until the big futurity in Oklahoma City.”
Vanlandingham thanked God, his wife and kids, and Billingsley Ford for making this win possible.
Billingsley Ford Level 3 Open Champion – Dany Tremblay & Pawn Stars
With an impressive score of 222.5, Dany Tremblay and Pawn Stars held the lead in the Billingsley Ford Open at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity, before ultimately settling into win the Level 3 and taking reserve in the Level 4.
“It was the second time to show this horse,” said Tremblay. “He’s a huge stopper, so it’s really fun to run him down in the pen and just get to say whoa to him.”
Pawn Stars is a stallion by PS Mega Shine Chic and out of All Guns On Deck. He is owned by Cooper Smith and was bred by Adh-Mor Ranch. His scores in both the Level 3 and the Level 4 at the SWRHA Open Futurity earned him an impressive total of more than $28,000.
Tremblay joked that although he doesn’t count his spins, he’s confident he can still do well in the futurities. He thanked his brother, Fred, his team, and his mother, who he called his biggest supporter.
Billingsley Ford Level 2 Open Champion – Luca Fappani & All Bets In
With a score of 219.5, Luca Fappani and All Bets In claimed the Billingsley Ford Level 2 Open title at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity.
Fappani and the talented colt, by High Roller Whiz out of Spooks Chic Mya, also finished as Reserve Champions of the Level 3 and finished in the top five of the Level 4 for total earnings of $20,503.
All Bets In was bred and is owned by Stuart Russell.
Sire High Roller Whiz, owned by Stoney Russell, was a participating stallion in the SWRHA Stallion Auction, and won the Sire buckle for the Level 2.
Billingsley Ford Level 1 Open Champion – Marcos Guimaraes & Shootin Wright
On a horse he started and trained himself, Marcos Guimaraes claimed the Level 1 Championship during the Southwest Reining Horse Association Billingsly Ford Open Futurity with a score of 218. That score not only won the Level 1 title, it was also good enough to place in all four Open Levels for total earnings of $13,987.
Shootin Wright, by Guns R For Shootin and out of Wrightintinseltown, was bred by Debbie Hubbert and is owned by Dustin Milhollen.
“He was supposed to be a non pro horse, but I didn’t let him take him,” said Guimaraes. “He was too good. He’s got a great mind, and he’s been sound the whole time, so I knew I could have a good, sound, and sane horse for the futurities.”
To prepare for the final futurity of the year, Guimaraes plans to give ‘Alvin’ a week off and then jump into refining each of the maneuvers.
Guimaraes thanked Milhollen for letting him be the one to ride the stallion, his parents, and his girlfriend.
Billingsley Ford Prime Time Open Champion – Craig Schmersal & Trythatnasmalltown
Craig Schmersal showed up and showed off for his first run as an eligible participant in the Prime Time division during the Southwest Reining Horse Association Billingsly Ford Open Futurity. A score of 219.5 placed Schmersal in a tie for fifth place in the Level 4, but crowned him the self-proclaimed “Champion of the Old Farts.”
Schmersal rode Trythatnasmalltown, a stallion by Topsail Whiz and out of Dun It For Chex, that was bred and is owned by Cardinal Hill Training Center. The good showing in the SWRHA Open Futurity will kickstart the stallion’s lifetime earnings with a total of $7,360 from the Prime Time and Level 4.
“He was good for me,” said Schmersal of Trythatnasmalltown. “But we got a penalty going each way, so we’ll just go home and work on everything being better before the next one.”
With the next one being the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City, Schmersal plans to focus on honing his horse’s skills while embracing the gray in his beard.
Schmersal thanked his wife, his whole team, and his daughter, Addy, who had only one thing to say. “Good job old man,” she said with a laugh.