QUARTER HORSE NEWS, JUNE 2008
A total of 66 junior sires are among the top 500 overall reining sires. The top 5 completely changes from last year's list with Conquistador Whiz movingup 3 spots.


Conquistador Whiz
Conquistador Whiz has three crops that are excelling in Reining. His 30 performing offspring have average earnings of $16,630. His first foal crop produced an NRHA Futurity Champion and his second foal crop produced an NRHA Futurity Non-Pro Champion.
Conquistador Whiz, a 1995 bay stallion bred by Bob Loomis, is by Topsail Whiz out of Sugarita Chex by Bueno Chex. He is owned by George Shifrin, Cache Ranch, Gainesville, Texas, and stands at Cedar Ridge Stallion Station in Whitesboro, Texas.
The sire's performance career started with Duane Latimer, showing him to the Reserve Championship at the Southwest RHA Futurity. During his 4-year-old year, they placed 5th at the NRHA Derby and ended the year with $16,052 after taking Championships at the Rocky Moutain Summer Slide, Governor's Classic Reining and the Congress Futurity.
Conquistador Whiz continued his winning streak through 2000 by earning Championships at the NRBC and the NRHA Derby, and the AQHA World Championship in Junior Reining. Afer winning $61,218 in 2000, the stallion headed to the breeding barn.

Conquistador Whiz made a comeback in 2002 with Tom McCutcheon aboard. They claimed the Gold Team Championship and a silver in the the individual at the World Equestrian Games, and added $32,953 to the stallion's lifetime earnings.
His foals did not take any time to show their worthiness. KR Lil Conquistador, out of Smart Little Prize by Smart And Trouble, owned by Cheree Kirkbride, has been exclusively shown by Shawn Flarida, to win $321,218. The 2002 gelding is from Conquistador's first foal crop. After his offspring dubuted in the show pen Conquistador Whiz's breedings soared from 24 foals in 2006 to 80 foals in 2007. Conquistador Whiz now has 205 AQHA-registiereed foals on the ground through 2007.

KR Lil Conquistador was accustomed to winning by the end of his 3-year-old year. He started his show career with a win at the Ohio Valley RHA Snaffle Bit Futurity and 3rd at the Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic. The gleding and Flarida made their way to the Congress Futurity and marked 235 to take home $31,933. With winning on their mind, the two ended the year by marking a 225 to win $180,130 for the 2005 NRHA Futurity Open Championship.
He moved into his 4-year-old year with a total of $219,029 in earnings. At the 2006 NRHA Derby, KR Lil Conquistador and Flarida were Reserve Champions for $40,272. In 2007, they continued to bring home the paychecks with the Championship at the Buckeye Cabin Fever Classic $9,613, and $15,900 from the NRBC, $22.130 from the NRHA Derby and $4,871 from the Shoadow Oak Plantation Reining. This year, they were Reserve Champions at the Bill Horn Single Shot Derby.
JD Conquista Anna, a mare from Conquistador Whiz's 2nd foal crop, out of Actress Anna by Hollywood Jac 86, won the 2006 NRHA Futurity Non-Pro Championships with owner Kelle Smith aboard. Going into the December event , the two had already won a total of $6,546. With the help from husband and trainer Sam Smith, Kelle markded a 221 on the mare for the Championshp and $43,673. They followed up their win with the Reserve Championship and $10,418 at the 2007 NRHA Derby.

-Quarter Horse News