When the dust settled inside the new OG&E Arena on Sunday night, the building already had a history. Earlier this season, Casey Deary piloted Customize My Dream to the NRHA Level 4 Derby championship in the same venue. Now, months later, he returned and left with its most defining win yet—an NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Championship aboard Belissimo, earning $350,000.

If the arena needed a signature rider, it just got one.

Belissimo Extends a Proven NRHA Futurity Bloodline for Casey Deary

Belissimo entered Deary’s program as a 2-year-old, bred and raised by Arcese Quarter Horses, whose breeding program has produced several of Deary’s biggest career milestones. His pedigree alone reads like a milestone moment waiting to happen. He’s by NRHA hall of famer and $13 million sire Magnum Chic Dream and is out of Americasnextgunmodel—the mare Deary won the 2012 NRHA Level 4 Futurity on.

That win back in 2012 paid $165,000. This year’s win was more than double that.

The mare was a cornerstone of the Arcese program, earning nearly $290,000 in her career—all under the guidance of Deary—a stretch of success that built a partnership spanning more than a decade. Belissimo’s win marks a full-circle moment, this time with the next generation.

How Patience and Precision Led to a Dominant NRHA Futurity Title

Belissimo came into Deary’s barn with obvious talent—strong mover, great presence, and a natural athletic frame. But what made him unique was how he responded to pressure. Push too hard, and he pushed back. Slow things down, and he matched that softness.

That try became both a strength and a liability in the second round. Deary’s run was marked by costly penalties, leaving him at the very bottom of the qualifying list.

“I had a whole lot of penalties in that semi-finals run,” Deary shared. “I needed to clean some stuff up before the finals. It’s tough when those horses try so hard, it can be a little hard at times to channel it.”

Less than two days later, it all aligned. Belissimo was the final horse to run, and from his first stop the audience leaned in, waiting to see whether he could overtake the lead that was currently shared by Deary on the horse he won the semi finals on, Maverickbuzthetower, and Gabriel Borges on TR Git R Done.

He didn’t just edge his way into a championship run; he blew the margin open by five points.

“This horse has been an emotional horse for me. He’s got so much ability and I’m not smooth enough to get more of that every time we go,” Deary laughed. “I’m so grateful God made it all come together night. I feel like this horse has been God’s tool to keep me humble because just the minute I think I’m doing something right, I mess it up and he keeps me humble. I’m looking up and praying, show me how to do this. And when it comes together like that, it’s pretty special.”

How Belissimo’s NRHA Futurity Win Capped a Record-Earning Week for the Deary Barn

Behind this Futurity win was a support system that made sure Belissimo entered the finals dialed in. Deary’s veterinarian and farrier kept the stallion feeling his best throughout the week, while his team helped ensure he had all three horses ready for finals night. The Arcese family—whose breeding decisions produced both Belissimo and his history-making dam—once again trusted Deary with a horse capable of winning at the highest level. And his wife and children backed him through long days, tight turnaround times, and the pressure that comes with contending on multiple finalists.

Momentum was already rolling for the Deary family before Belissimo entered the arena. Just one night earlier, Deary’s son Owen turned in a standout non pro performance—especially notable considering he had only recently started riding the horse. His ride brought in more than $104,000 across divisions and set a confident tone heading into finals night. Fellow barn rider Maria Luiza Michelin Fagundes tied Owen to win the Level 3, Level 2, and Level 1 divisions.

From Futurity Champion to Derby Contender: What Comes Next for Belissimo

This Futurity win unofficially pushed Deary over the $6 million mark in NRHA career earnings—a milestone reached on a colt directly tied to one of the most meaningful horses of his career. Belissimo will now get a well-earned break before shifting into 4-year-old events next season and eventually attending the major derby events.

The OG&E Arena hasn’t seen much history yet—but Casey Deary is making sure its first chapters are worth remembering.

2025 NRHA Open Futurity Level 4 Finals