When Andiamoe hit the entrance to the Jim Norick Coliseum, the crowd was already cheering. They’d watched the absolutely masterful go-rounds, where Shawn Flarida and the royally bred mare had marked 228.5 and 224.5. They knew what they were in store for.
When Shawn hit the first stop, the crowd was so loud he wasn’t sure Andiamoe heard him. Regardless, Andiamoe knew the drill, sliding to a stop and scooting her way back to the center. From there, she riled the crowd up even further. On his final stop, Shawn’s smile was visible from the back gate.
As the score of 230 rang out over the audience, Shawn earned his seventh NRHA Open Futurity Championship and a payday of $350,000. With the win, he had launched himself squarely into the mix for The American Performance Horseman.
“She’s a very happy horse. I just tried to stay out of her way,” Shawn said. “She’s so determined, and she’s so confident. Sometimes I’ve just got to be there to pet her and tell her, ‘Hey, you did good.’ Very seldom do I ever have to tell her to work harder. We do a lot of petting and a lot of walking.”
Shawn called Andiamoe a clone of her mother, NRHA Million Dollar Dam Wimpys Little Chic. He earned his fourth Futurity Championship on the palomino in 2007. To make the feat more impressive, Shawn also earned an NRHA Open Futurity Championship on Andiamoe’s father, NRHA $8 Million Sire Gunnatrashya.
“Andiamoe is just so special. She’s amazing,” Shawn said.
Andiamoe, a 2019 sorrel solid mare, was bred and is owned by NRHA $2 Million Owner Arcese Quarter Horses of Weatherford, Texas.
Finishing as the Level 4 Open Reserve Champions were Customize My Dream and NRHA $3 Million Rider Casey Deary. The pair put together a solid 228.5 run, earning a cool $150,000 for owner Devin Warren. The 2019 palomino solid stallion is by NRHA $8 Million Sire Magnum Chic Dream (QH) out of Gunna Be Custom.
Rounding out the Top Three and earning $100,000 was Abby Lengel and her 2019 sorrel solid mare Bringnthaheat. Abby bred, nominated, raised and trained the talented mare, who is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six out of Tackie Dreams (QH).
Each of the Top Three horses in the Level 4 Open finals are registered Paints. But they weren’t the only ones making a splash.
APHA’s Chrome Cash incentive paid $10,288 in the Open and nearly $5,000 in the Non-Pro to registered Paints based on their go-round scores. Topping the 30+ contenders in the Open was Bringnthaheat and Abby Lengel, who earned $2,366.
MS Fire N Rein and Jack Medows scored a $1,582 Chrome Cash Non-Pro bonus; the 2019 bay solid mare is by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Chicsdreamofdiamonds (QH).
Each high-seller in the NRHA Markel Futurity Sales were APHA registered or eligible for registration:
- Chex N The Trash, a 2021 palomino colt by Gunnatrashya x Snip O Chex (QH): $130,000 in the Elite Yearling Sale
- A Gal With A Gun, a 2006 bay mare by Colonels Smokingun x Roxanne Winder (QH): $110,000 in the Preferred Breeders Sale
- Spooks Buckaroo, a 2021 dun overo colt by Spooks Gotta Whiz x Wanda On Line (QH): $87,000 in the Premier Sale
- Gotta Turn It Up, a 2020 bay overo colt by Spooks Gotta Whiz x Blazed Commander (QH): $80,000 in the Performance Horse Sale
Tons of other Paints clinched titles at the 2022 NRHA Futurity as well; see full results at nrha.com.
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[Reprinting all or part of this news release is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provided back to apha.com.]
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 in 1962. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.