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By Larri Jo StarkeyThe American Quarter Horse JournalDecember 4, 2010
Jordan Larson slides Spooks Gotta Whiz to his final stop on their way to winning the 2010 NHRA Futurity open finals.
Jordan Larson wanted to win the National Reining Horse Association Futurity before he turned 30.
He made it with three months to spare.
The 29-year-old trainer from Whitesboro, Texas, rode 3-year-old Spooks Gotta Whiz to the top of the open futurity finals December 4 for owner Michell Kimball of Encintas, California.
Spooks Gotta Whiz, aka “Baby Spooks,” is a 3-year-old bay stallion by Spooks Gotta Gun and out of Prettywhizprettydoes by Topsail Whiz. He was bred by Clint Haverty, started by John Slack and began his training career with Tonya Jenkins. Jordan had only three rides on the stallion before the futurity.
“Hats off to Tonya, she did a great job,” Jordan said. “There’s no reason not to be confident in this horse.”
Michell was attending her second reining futurity – her first as an owner – and had two horses in the finals, Baby Spooks and Whiz Is How Its Dun, a buckskin gelding ridden by Billy Williams of Murrietta, California.
“(Baby Spooks) is a rare individual,” said Michell, a hunter-jumper trainer who picked the stallion out when he was 2. “I rode him when I went to try him. He has a really neat feel. He was so quiet. He’s really a superstar. He doesn’t get lathered up. He’s an amazing creature.”
The finals win with a score of 227 was dreamlike to Jordan, who said his run was a bit of a blur to him.
“I usually don’t think I’m going to go out and win,” Jordan said. “I try to go out there and show the best I can, and that’s what I did. The horse was incredible. He helped me out. The crowd was so loud, he couldn’t hear me say ‘whoa.’ He was hesitating a bit, and when he hit it, he was perfect.
“His stop is incredible.”
Until Jordan’s run, the leader was Mike McEntire of Selma, North Carolina, on Red Stripe Spook with a 226.5 on the horse Mike owns with David Evans of the United Kingdom.
Red Stripe Spook is a sorrel stallion by Smart Spook and out of Ms Red Capri by Jacs Aledo Bar. He was bred by Mike and David, and was foaled on Mike’s place.
“He was not a pretty colt,” Mike said. “Until he was a 3-year-old, he was not a pretty colt. He just grew into himself. To me, he’s a gorgeous horse now.”
$4 Million Rider
Shawn Flarida of Springfield, Ohio, was third with Quistador, the same horse he placed third on at the 2010 All American Quarter Horse Congress in October. That third-place finish was enough to propel Shawn into $4 million rider territory.
“It was cool,” Shawn said. “It took us about two years to get to $4 million (from $3 million). I had some bad luck on my first horse tonight (Shine Chic Shine) but my second horse was good. It’s just fun to show. I love to compete.”
Quistador is a sorrel stallion by Conquistador Whiz and out of Miss N Becky by Okie Paul Quixote. He was bred by Joe Hayes of Gainesville, Texas, and is owned by Gus and Gaynia Revenberg of Oldcastle, Ontario.
A Fappani Celebration
In the $100,000 NRHA World Championship Shootout on December 2, Andrea Fappani of San Marcos, California, rode Yellow Jersey to the top with a 226. The 2004 palomino stallion is by Wimpys Little Step and out of Ms Clara Melody by Mr Melody Jac. He was bred by Peter Phinny of Glen Arbor, Michigan, and is owned by Arcese Quarter Horses of Weatherford, Texas.
Just one day later, Andrea’s wife, Tish, scored a victory in the non-pro futurity finals on Litn Up Conquistador with a 221. The 2007 sorrel gelding is by Conquistador Whiz and out of Aleena Starlight by Grays Starlight. He was bred by Cache Performance Horses of Carbondale, Colorado.