For Paint halter enthusiasts, platinum is synonymous with paychecks, and for good reason: five APHA Platinum Breeders’ Futurity classes paid out nearly $166,000 to non-pro exhibitors on September 20 at the APHA World Championship Show in Fort Worth, Texas.
Lucrative paychecks draw excited exhibitors, resulting in an 92 percent increase in entries over 2018.
Platinum Non-Pro Weanling Mares Breeders’ Futurity
Callie Hernandez of Skull Valley, Arizona, has earned major money from the Platinum Breeders’ Futurity in the past—including $22,440 for two wins in 2017—but the she was no less excited to pick up another championship check with Cool Ruby on the lead.
“It’s this mare’s first time off our farm,” Callie said. “She did great, but I didn’t know how we’d do; looking around, everyone looked so great and huge. Winning once was phenomenal, but winning a second time was so unexpected.”
Cool Ruby is a 2019 chestnut overo mare by Cool Addiction and out of Timeless Ruby. She earned $14,832* for her first-place victory; the class paid out a total of $46,352*.
Platinum Non-Pro Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Mares Breeders’ Futurity
For stallion owner and non-pro exhibitor Kevin Williams of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, selecting the best weanlings to enter in the Platinum program is no easy task.
“It’s a tough decision, but you have to pick the one you feel gives you the best shot of winning,” Kevin said.
Kevin picked Transcending Heirs for the lucrative Platinum Weanling Solid Paint-Bred Fillies class, and the judges did, too, awarding $8,550* for the first-place win in Platinum Weanling Solid Paint-Bred Fillies. The 7-horse class paid out a total of $21,374*.
Transcending Heirs is a 2019 sorrel solid mare by Transcendence and out of The Last Heiress (QH). Kevin also owns the filly’s sire, and he’s optimistic about the healthy growth of the Platinum program.
“It’s a great program, and it’s a great way for stallion owners and mare owners to partner,” he said. “These classes feature the best young horses in the world, and it’s a great way to win a lot of money!”
Platinum Non-Pro Weanling Stallions Breeders’ Futurity
Expotential’s win in Platinum Weanling Stallions came as a bit of a shock for owner and exhibitor Leanne Bandy of Sagle, Idaho. After all, she hadn’t been sure the colt would even attend the event until mid-July.
“This colt was kind of a surprise. He came a few weeks early, then he didn’t wean well and had to have a hernia surgery; it’s been one thing after another,” Leanne said. “It wasn’t until recently that I thought, ‘We can do this.’ It’s taken a lot of praying and faith, but here we are!”
The pair beat out a deep class of competitors to take home $12,855* for their victory; the class paid out a total of $40,172*.
“It was a great, tough class. I thought, ‘I’ll be happy if we’re in the money or in the Top Five.’ So to win it all, I don’t have any words,” Leanne said.
Expotential is a 2019 sorrel overo stallion by Execute Imprint and out of Fearles Fairy (QH).
Platinum Non-Pro Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Stallions & Geldings Breeders’ Futurity
Showing for big money is fun, of course, but veteran exhibitor Robin Robinett of Brazil, Indiana, also just enjoys competing with her young halter horses.
“It’s challenging because you have to be calm for them but also be on your toes. It takes feel—you have to know what they’re going to do before they do it; and God has truly blessed me with the feel to do so,” Robin said.
She led KR Mr Xceptional to first place in the Platinum Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Stallions & Geldings class, earning $15,389* of the $54,964* total purse for her efforts. Featuring the biggest Platinum purse of this year’s show, the class featured a noteworthy surge of entries, growing from 1 entry in 2018 to 16 entries in 2019.
“You never know [if you’re going to win], so it’s always a thrill,” Robin said. “You hope and you pray, and then you wait. When they call the second place, you just get a flood of emotion about everything you’ve worked for all year.”
KR Mr Xceptional is a 2019 chestnut solid stallion by KR Hes Xceptional (QH) and out of FF Private Dancer.
Platinum Non-pro Weanling Geldings Breeders’ Futurity
Kevin Hardcastle and Starzz rounded out the winnings for the Platinum program. The Leander, Texas, exhibitor and the flashy 2019 palomino overo colt took home $3,090* for their championship.
Kevin says he chose Starzz to point toward the lucrative program due to his balanced conformation and calm mind. The horseman also says he has a particular fondness for showing younger halter horses.
“I enjoy the excitement of a new baby and raising them,” he said. “I love starting their careers and seeing how they do—hopefully this colt will go on to be a great one.”
Starzz is by Hes Stylin and out of Starlite Stardust (QH).
A program unto itself, the Platinum division of the Breeders’ Futurity is an elite weanling futurity that allows non-pro exhibitors to show in futurity halter classes. Foals are eligible for the Platinum division by the stallion owner paying a nomination fee—however, both the stallion and the mare of the foal must be nominated for the foal to be eligible. In 2018, 15 stallions and 79 mares were enrolled in the Platinum division. With 21 stallions and 94 mares enrolled for 2019, the 2019 Platinum Futurity class entries saw a 30 percent increase.
Questions about the Breeders’ Trust, Breeders’ Futurity or Platinum programs? Email Matt Arias at [email protected].
*Estimated purses and total payouts; results are unofficial
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.