OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The 2009 National Reining Horse Association Derby showcased the NRHA Derby Open finals on June 27 and a very familiar face emerged as the champion yet again. After an impressive showing in the go with a 227, Shawn Flarida of Springfield, Ohio, riding RC Fancy Step (Wimpys Little Step x Sonita Wilson) brought another strong performance with a 232.5 in the finals to win the Level 4 Open division championship held at Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

Flarida is also NRHA’s first Three Million Dollar Rider and All-Time Leading Money Earner. Flarida and RC Fancy Step, owned by Buffalo Ranch of Fort Worth, Texas, earned $50,000 for the win, plus the use of a three-horse Cimarron Trailer, a Pard’s trophy saddle, a Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Rios of Mercedes/Anderson Bean Boots gift certificate, a Platinum Performance gift certificate, an Arenus gift certificate, a Purina gift certificate, a set of Classic Equine Pro Tech boots, a Quarter Horse News jacket and an NRHA Lawson bronze trophy.

Marco Ricotta and Hollywoodstinseltown (Hollywood Dun It x Miss Tinseltown) marked a 230.5 in the finals to earn the Level 3 Intermediate Open division championship, Level 4 Open division reserve championship and $44,840. David Silva, Sr. of Tolland, Conn., owns the 4-year-old stallion.

Flarida, aboard Wimpys Little Chic (Wimpys Little Step x Collena Chic Olena), also placed third in the Level 4 Open division for owner Arcese Quarter Horses USA. The 4-year-old mare now has NRHA earnings in excess of $438,000.

In the Level 2 Limited Open division, Whizs Bronze Star (West Coast Whiz x The Bronze Star) and Pete Kyle marked a 220.5 to take the win in the division. Kaitlin Townsend of Argyle, Texas, owns the 3-year-old gelding.

Talmage Smedley of Ogden, Utah, riding Jerrys Fine Wine scored a 218 and earned championship honors in the Level 1 Open division. Smedley owns the five-year-old Jerrys Fine Wine stallion.

The Prime Time division championship was determined in the go early this week. Check Your Gun Lady (Dun Gotta Gun x Cee Blair lady) and Tim McQuay took top honors for owner Jerry Kimmel of Granbury, Texas.

Skeets Little Annie (Skeets Peppy x Oaks Little Annie) and Frederick Christen cruised to the win in both the Level 4 Non Pro, Level 3 Intermediate Non Pro and Prime Time Derby divisions. Christen of Whitehouse, Ohio, rode his 5-year-old mare to a score of 220.5 for a total paycheck of $17,616. Christen also won the use of a three-horse Cimarron Trailer, two Pard’s trophy saddles, two Montana Silversmiths trophy buckles, two Rios of Mercedes/Anderson Bean gift certificates, two Platinum Performance gift certificates, two Arenus gift certificates, two Purina gift certificates, two sets of Classic Equine Pro Tech boots, two Quarter Horse News jackets and two NRHA Lawson bronze trophies.

In the Level 2 Limited Non Pro and Level 1 Non Pro divisions, Kickit In The Bud (Nic It In The Bud x Peppys Little Orphan) and Marcia Cole Walker won the championship title with a score of 219.50. That score also earned them reserve honors in both the Level 4 Non Pro and Level 3 Intermediate Non Pro divisions. Walker earned two sets of prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners plus a total of $19,685 in prize money. Walker of Dandridge, Tenn. owns the 6-year-old gelding.

Youth Non Pro rider Jordan Donnelly rode her 5-year-old gelding Chexable (Inwhizable x Megarita Chex) to the win in the Youth Non Pro Derby division with a 218. Donnelly of Aubrey, Texas, earned $716 for the win. Reserve honors went to another Aubrey, Texas, resident Emily Winegar and Green Valley Ranch’s Lil Ruf Sarah. The pair marked a 216 in the finals.

For complete results from the NRHA Derby and ancillary classes, visit: www.nrhaderby.com