Dana Pastorino Takes NRHA Limited Non Pro Adequan® NAAC Title on Hesa Rockin Whiz
Dana Pastorino rocked her way to victory in the NRHA Limited Non Pro Adequan® NAAC and the Limited Non Pro ancillary title on Hesa Rockin Whiz, the horse who has been a stalwart for her throughout 2023.
“He’s a 7-year-old gelding,” Pastorino said. “I’ve had him for a year and a half, and he’s just really very solid. We’ve had an amazing year.” Pastorino started the year with wins at the Cactus Class, then the NRHA Derby, then Reining by the Bay. Her success all year has pushed her out of the limited non pro and intermediate divisions, she said.
“We just had a super spectacular year with him,” Pastorino said. Pastorino and her horse put the year’s experience to work in the Adequan® Arena for the NAAC classes.
“I just went out there, and I didn’t want to hold anything back, so I just turned hard and ran hard, and everything came together,” Pastorino said. “He was really with me, and it was very fun.” Hesa Rockin Whiz was sired by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz and out of A Bueno Poco Dunit. Roxanne Koepsell bred the 2016 gelding who now has more than $100,570 in lifetime earnings. Pastorino’s two wins added $991 to that number for the horse she calls “The Rock.”
“(Fred Tremblay) found him for me,” Pastorino said. “He came from Duane Latimer’s program. I just needed something that I could go out and try and win a derby with, and we just clicked. I’ve learned so much because he’s finished, right? You just learn what it feels like to be right, to be correct.” Thanks to NRHA Corporate Partners, the champions of each of the NAAC classes are presented with incredible prizes along with the coveted titles.
Competition in the Adequan® Arena continues Thanksgiving Day with the first section of the NAAC Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro classes. Complete draws, results, schedules, and more can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.
NRHA News – National Reining Horse Association
