2008 Scottsdale Arabian/Half Arabian Futurity

Matt Mills catch-rode Megas Missing Lynx, owned by Mark DePaolo, in the Scottsdale Arabian/Half-Arabian Futurity, to finish 6th.

The event was held Feb. 15-24 at West World in Scottsdale, Arizona, and featured two go-rounds and a clean-slate finals. Mills competed at the last minute as a stand-in for fellow trainer and friend Russ Brown after Brown was injured the day of the first go-round.

Mills rode DR Ima Cherished One, by Zee Mega Bucks out of Bold Laura Lynx, to second place in the first go, marking a 217. The pair had a clean run in the second go to make the finals, where he scored a 213.5.

“It actually ended up pretty cool,” Mills said after the event. “Russ asked me to ride for him when he got hurt, and things ended up pretty well for both of us. He”s better now, and the DePaolo”s were happy, too. They actually have some quarter horses with me, so it all worked out very well. It”s a great event.”

In addition to his spot as a finalist in the Futurity event, Mills also did well in a few of the show’s other classes. He finished second and third in the Arabian/Half Arabian Reining Horse Championship. Both horses, Paulis Europena, by Pauli O Lena and out of Francheskaa, which finished second, and TR Dun This Dun That, Hollywood Dun It and out of Lahabeebe, which finished third, are owned by Wolf Springs Ranches, Inc. Mills also finished tenth on another Wolf Springs Ranches horse, BSF Gunsmoke, by Were Dun and out of Zerrette. Mills also won the Open Bitted Horses Championship riding Paulis Europena.