RENO, Nev. — Tucker Robinson, 32, Oak View, Calif., skillfully piloted Stylish Little Oak (Playin Stylish x Shiners Little Oak x Shining Spark), owned by San Juan Ranch, Shandon, Calif., to a 224 score in the fence work, rewarding him with his first National Reined Cow Horse Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship and a $100,000 paycheck.
Robinson and his father, 7-time NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion and NRCHA Hall of Fame rider Ted Robinson, became only the second father-son duo to claim the prestigious title.
“It means so much. I had seen my dad, Jon Roeser, Bob Avila, Greg Ward and John Ward all win it when I was a little kid – and now my name is going on that list with them,” he said. “It is really, really special to me.”
Robinson has ridden Stylish Little Oak since she was a 2-year-old. “John and Brenda Stephenson send my dad and me a handful of 2-year-olds every year, and she and I just fit each other. I really appreciate them giving me the opportunity to ride such great horses,” noted Robinson, who said he knew the mare was special, and that belief in the mare never wavered.
A smoking 224 fence work (above) lifted 32-year-old Tucker Robinson and Stylish Little Oak, owned by San Juan Ranch, to the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open title, earning $100,000 with a composite score of 658.5.
“I figured she had a shot. I knew she was talented and steady through all the events, and that, if luck went my way, we might have a shot.
“It’s awesome. I don’t know what to say. I’m still in shock and I’m hoping it might sink in tomorrow. It means so much because you work your butt off for two years and for it to work out is unreal.”
Robinson thanked his father; his mother, Georgia; his sister, Casey; his herd help – Jon Roeser, John Ward, and Jake Gorrell; his girlfriend, Tina Fry; John and Brenda Stephenson; and everyone else who helped him.
Brenda Stephenson, who bred and raised Stylish Little Oak, noted “The only thing I can say is that we are very excited. Ted actually won money on not only this mare’s mother, but also her grandmother. It’s been a long process to get her here – we were happy to get here. We know how hard it is to make the finals, so we are thrilled.”
The busiest rider of the day was easily Jake Telford, Caldwell, Idaho, who took four of his five Snaffle Bit Futurity entries back to the finals, and finished Reserve on One Time Rey Jay (One Time Pepto x Hickorys Red Rey x Doc’s Hickory), owned by Aspen Meadows Ranch, Park City, Utah.
Anne Reynolds took Very Smart Playmate (right) to her record sixth NRCHA Non-Pro Futurity title, and also took second (Smart As Sister) and tied for third (Very Shiney) -- a 1-2-3 finish that paid more than $42,000.
“When the preliminaries were over, I thought I could handle the four horses, but when I woke up this morning, I knew there was no way,” Telford said. “I realized how grateful I was to be in the finals, and it was all about family and friends for me. I couldn’t have done it without all of them. I had people helping me with my horses, who never have before. Morgan Cromer came up from California to help me with the herd work, Todd Bergen was warming up my horses for the rein work, my in-laws were watching the girls, and my mom was brushing and cleaning stalls and feeding, while my wife kept me on schedule. It was a team effort.”
Telford also won fifth on Hes Shinettes CD (CD Olena x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark), owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses, Santa Ynez,Calif.; 12th on Sheza Dancingdiamond (Diamond J Star x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark )), also owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses; and 19th on Abbey Roan (One Time Pepto x Stylin Jewel x Docs Stylish Oak), owned by Newt White, Santa Fe, N.M. All total, Telford won $146,000 in the Open finals competition alone, bringing his lifetime earnings within $60,000 of the $1 million mark!
“This is by far the biggest win I’ve ever had,” Telford said in the press conference following the awards ceremony. “I’m just blessed to have a great group of owners and a great group of horses.”
More results – See website: http://bit.ly/1010BQHNSBF
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