NRCHA Million Rider Nick Dowers and Tha Rizzler topped the scoreboard with a composite score of 659.5 at the 2025 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity, earning $60,000 and a trophy saddle and buckle.
The 2022 red roan stallion came ready for the spotlight. Dowers and Tha Rizzler (Metallic Rebel x Starlight Playmate) started with a 219 in the herd work, putting them in second behind Stay Up and Ricky Nicolazzi’s 221.5. In the rein work, Dowers’ precise 220.5 gave him the edge over Shadd Parkinson on Thundr Struckk, Justin Wright on Black Atcha, and Trent Pedersen on Tuff And Arising, who all marked 220 to tie for second.
Going down the fence, the race tightened. Chris Krieg and Vaughn Halen held the lead with a 222, while Jake Gorrell and Four XS The Magic trailed with a 220.5. Dowers and Ken Wold, aboard Reyzin Stylish Cash, sat close in third with matching 220s. But, when the dust settled, Dowers and Tha Rizzler’s consistency sealed the deal. Their 659.5 composite carried them to the top of the leaderboard, besting a class of more than 140 three-year-olds.
Returning Reno Champion
This win marks Dowers’ fourth Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity Open championship. He previously claimed the title in 2022 with A Reyl Rebel (Metallic Rebel x Never Reylinquish), in 2021 with Republicat (Metallic Cat x Play Corn), and in 2019 aboard Smart Shiney Playboy (WR This Cats Smart x Sinful Playgirl). He also earned the Reserve Championship in 2021 on Cats Nu Shine (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Nu Annie). Each of those horses went on to perform strongly in future events, offering a promising blueprint for Tha Rizzler’s future.
It Runs in the Family
Dowers’ daughter, Tuli, is carrying on the family tradition in style. She made her own mark in Reno, racking up $23,854 across three horses with four championships, one reserve title, and a third-place finish.
Her standout runs included the Non Pro Boxing Derby Championship aboard Oasis Divide (Time For The Diamond x Stylin Tonette) and a sweep of the Non Pro, Intermediate, and Limited Non Pro Boxing titles aboard Hay Stacker (Time For The Diamond x Smooth Autumn Mate). She also piloted High Stressin Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Playguns Melody) to reserve in the Limited Non Pro Boxing, plus third-place finishes in the Intermediate and Non Pro Boxing.
Results:
| Rank | Money Earned | Horse | Rider | Owner | Score |
| 1 | $60,000 | Tha Rizzler | Nick Dowers | Triple D Ranches LLC | 659.5 |
| 2 | $30,000 | Vaughn Halen | Chris King | Misty Martin | 657.5 |
| 3 | $21,000 | Danny Be Tuff | JD Johnson | Stephen Silva | 654 |
| 4 | $15,500 | Just A Good Ol Cat | Corey Cushing | Justin Ritthaler | 653.5 |
| 5 | $12,000 | Thundr Struckk | Shadd Parkinson | Hannes Winkler | 652.5 |
| 6 | $11,000 | Four XS The Magic | Jake Gorrell | Dan & Linda Macedo | 651.5 |
| 7 | $9,000 | Black Atcha | Justin Wright | Lita West | 651 |
| 8 | $8,250 | Stay Up | Ricky Nicolazzi | Dottie St Clair Hill | 650.5 |
| 8 | $8,250 | RAB Shiney Scooter | Russell Probert | Danny Turner | 650.5 |
| 10 | $6,200 | Tuff And Arising | Trent Pedersen | Kelly Lindell | 649 |