An American Paint Horse stallion, Gunnatrashya, captured the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open Futurity title in Oklahoma City last weekend, outscoring over 400 horses entered in the open division. The Paint stallion won with a score of 228.5, earning $125,000 in prize money.

This is only the second time in history that a Paint horse has won the event. Gunnatrashya now joins RR Star, who won the event in 2001. Gunnatrashya’s sire, Colonels Smokingun, known simply as “Gunner” in the reining world, is the first million-dollar Paint sire in NRHA history, as well as the highest-earning Paint horse performer in NRHA history.

Gunnatrashya is owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA in Weatherford, Texas, and was shown by top NRHA rider Shawn Flarida. “He’s been one of my favorites all year long,” said Flarida of the 3-year-old colt. “ I knew when we were done that he had performed really well. I knew my horse was as good as he could be, and I didn’t make any mistakes. This horse is just really special, with so much feel and talent.”

Arcese purchased the horse in May 2009, sight unseen, from Bill Horn and John Dorminy. John and Katarina Dorminy of Fitzgerald, Ga. bred the horse and own his dam, Natrasha by Trashadeous. Eleuterio Arcese, who lives in Italy, also breeds and shows cutting horses.

Click here to see Gunnatrashya’s winning run. Photo Courtesy of NRHA & ©Waltenberry