LAUREN LOVE WINS
INAUGURAL STORY BOOK STABLES AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT 6666 NRHA DERBY PRESENTED BY MARKEL
The inaugural Story Book Stables Amateur Championship at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel was decided during the preliminary round of competition. Lauren Love was one of 138 amateurs that took advantage of that opportunity, and she came out on top, piloting Rebelvintage to a 218 for the win. “It’s pretty exciting,” Love said. “It was a big class, so I just wanted to go in there, have a good run and try to make the Level 4 finals. Winning the Amateur was kind of the cherry on top.” Love and “Rebel” collected $7,487. In addition to accomplishing their goal of qualifying for the Level 4 Non Pro finals, the pair also qualified for Level 3, and earned $6,632 in the finals. They also took Reserve in the GlycoGuard Novice Horse Non Pro for another $3,112, and placed fourth in the Colston Paving Stakes for an additional $2,829. Love purchased Rebel, who is by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage and out of Wimpys Got Action, last year and picked up almost $4,000 throughout the course of 2020. She hasn’t shown the mare, who was bred and nominated by Linda Lacaille, much in 2021, but since Rebel was eligible for so many divisions at the Derby, she figured it would be worth going. “She’s a show horse. Every time I go in the show pen with her, I know I can count on her,” Love said, thanking trainer Arnaud Ferret for doing a great job preparing Rebel. “She’s just a fun horse to show. She’s great at circling, and she’s a great stopper. She’s one that you can just sit there and really show off, so that’s always fun.” Love was grateful to Story Book Stables’ owner Brenda Joyce for sponsoring the Amateur, saying it was a great idea. “I think Brenda is going to do great things for the industry by offering this,” she said. “This kind of separates the playing field a little bit to where there’s more money added for everybody else that isn’t always maybe in the top five or the top 10 at the major events. It gives more opportunities, which I think is great for the sport and adds a little more diversity.” Two riders tied for Reserve in the Amateur Derby. Tabitha Sterberg Allen, who was on board Holly Trashya (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya x Hickorys Holly Cee), along with Allana Vernon on Gunnersrufride (NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire Gunners Special Nite x Lil Ruf Showgirl), each marked a 217.5 and collected a check for $3,988. Holly Trashya was nominated by her breeder, Arcese Quarter Horses USA, and is owned by Francesca Sternberg. Gunnersrufride belongs to White River Ag Products Inc. and was bred and nominated by Richard Vernon. 20
BRENDA JOYCE INTERVIEW
Q - The 2021 NRHA Derby held your new Story Book Stables
Amateur Class. How did the public respond to this new offering? A - The response to our Amateur Derby held in conjunction with the NRHA Derby this year in OKC was unbelievable. So many reiners thanked me and my husband personally, for the Amateur Derby and everything else that we do for the industry. One lady stopped me in the hallway and she started to cry. Lauren Love, the Amateur Derby champion, was gracious, and grateful. We’re looking forward to next year’s Amateur Derby, while hoping the event catches on, and other shows decide to add the division.
Q- Entries showed to
be up for this event and your new class division really seemed to be a hit- How does that make you feel? A - We are thrilled. We want to make a difference in the industry….we want to support the industry from the bottom up, meaning supporting the exhibitor/owner first, not from the top down, which means BRENDA JOYCE supporting the Open riders at the top and the breeder/owners who own their horses.
Q - Offspring from the Story Book breeding program have
big
been really doing well in the show pen- Can you give us some details? A - We have been doing well showing for a number of years, both in the Open and Non Pro divisions, with horses we have purchased as prospects, or a handful of other purchases, like Super Marioo. But this year is really a new era for SBS. We have a handful of three year olds by Star Spangled Whiz which are exceptional, including the two that went to the Invitational. McSpangled was shown by my husband, first time out, they were really good. J Jameson was shown by Arno Honstetter in the Open, placing 6th and taking home $8000.00 And then how can we forget Mandy McCutcheon on Star Spangled Star, the Non Pro Invitational Futurity champion with a 218.5! We’re really excited about our other stud, Wimpys High Bid, as well. Melody Made Her Bid just won the Non Pro Futurity at Reining By the Bay with Lisa Bricker! Arno is showing another Wimpys High Bid in Tulsa, BIGSHOT in the Dark, and Cade MCutcheon is showing his brother, Gonna Outbid YA. And that is not our full list of outstanding three year olds from our program!
AUGUST 2021
