A ‘beautiful’ win for Casey Deary & Belissimo at the 2025 NRHA Futurity
One word seems fitting to describe the 2025 NRHA Futurity finals on December 7: Belissimo. It was the perfect name for the perfect colt who laid down a perfect run on the National Reining Horse Association’s biggest stage. Casey Deary and Belissimo, a 2022 sorrel solid stallion, marked a huge 231.5 to clinch the overall Level 4 championship in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Just days before, the pair (pictured above) topped the Chrome Cash Open leaderboard with a 225 during the first go-round. The effort netted them $2,676 in Chrome Cash incentive payouts.
“For the Paint Horse Association to step up and incentivize us to go ride those is an extra bonus. I absolutely love having the opportunity to go win more prize money for my customers,” Casey said.
Sired by Magnum Chic Dream (QH), Belissimo is out of Americasnextgunmodel—the mare that carried Casey to another NRHA Futurity championship in 2012. Belissimo’s futurity win added $350,000 to their career totals. That, combined with Casey’s finishes aboard familial Paints—a $130,000 reserve championship with Maverickbuzthetower, a 2022 sorrel overo stallion by Americasnexttopgun and out of Chics Vintage Flare (QH), and $25,000 earned by Hello Pretty Woman, a 2022 sorrel overo mare by Walla Walla Whiz (QH) and out of Americasnextgunmodel—helped the horseman pass $6 million in lifetime rider earnings.
Chrome Cash Open
A total of 40 entries competed for $11,637.50 in Chrome Cash; the Top 15 received payouts. Special congratulations to:
- Champion: Casey Deary & Belissimo (APHA: Land Of The Free), a 2022 sorrel solid stallion by Magnum Chic Dream (QH) x Americasnextgunmodel, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, Weatherford, Texas: $2,676
- Reserve: Andrea Fappani & Americas MVP, a 2022 sorrel overo stallion by Walla Walla Whiz (QH) x Americasnextgunmodel, owned by Clark Reining Horses LLC, Catlettsburg, Kentucky: $1,629
Chrome Cash Non-Pro
A total of 39 entries competed for $11,000 in Chrome Cash; the Top 16 received payouts. Special congratulations to:
- Champion: Maria Luiza Michelin Fagundes & Nexttopguninstructor, a 2022 red dun overo mare by Americasnexttopgun x CCR Magnums Guns (QH), owned by Jose Fernando Fagundes, Weatherford, Texas: $2,530
- Reserve: Tish Fappani & Tight Genes (APHA: My Tight Genes), a 2022 bay solid stallion by Tricked Out Spook x Joes Genes (QH), owned by Tish & Andrea Fappani, Scottsdale, Arizona: $1,540
Special thanks to Oswood Stallion Station for adding $5,000 to the Chrome Cash purses at the 2025 NRHA Futurity.
For full results, visit nrhafuturity.com/draw-results.
About Chrome Cash
Chrome Cash is a unique incentive program that provides bonus payouts for top-performing registered Paint Horses outside of APHA-approved competitions. It’s offered as a class within a class at select Western performance horse events and international competitions. All APHA-registered horses can compete in Chrome Cash. More than $1.6 million has been paid to APHA horses since Chrome Cash began in 2020. Learn more at apha.com/chromecash.
Images by Waltenberry, courtesy NRHA
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association. Since it was founded in 1962, APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses. Learn more at apha.com.