Man Of The Year lived up to his name, capturing the 2025 Invitational L4 Open Futurity with a 225 under the guidance of Andrea Fappani. Making his 3-year-old debut on one of reining’s biggest stages, the colt wasted no time demonstrating his potential. His performance not only claimed the title but also secured a $76,884.49 trip to the bank for owner Andrea Stewart-Pritchett.
The kick-off to futurity season is always exciting, and this year didn’t disappoint. With seasoned trainers piloting the latest crop of 3-year-olds, The Invitational was packed with talent , but Man Of The Year (Patriot x Joes Genes) showed he was the one to watch as he climbed to the top of the scoreboard.
Two for Fappani
Draw 88 proved to be a lucky spot as the colt topped the class. The win gave Fappani his second consecutive Invitational L4 Open Futurity victory, following his 2024 title aboard Hosss (Colonels Shining Gun x Brennas Dream).
“This is a special one,” Fappani said of Man Of The Year in an interview after the big win. “This is his first outing, so we couldn’t be more proud.”
Before The Invitational, Fappani had already found success in Tulsa when he won the L4 Open Derby in Tulsa aboard OO7 (Gunner Dun It Again x Solidly Spirited). The Invitational Futurity crown further cements his momentum as one of the sport’s most dominant riders.
In His Blood
This futurity also provided the first real glimpse into the inaugural foal crop by Man Of The Hour’s sire, Patriot (Smart Spook x Dunit A Lil Ruf). The 2015 stallion had six offspring entered in The Invitational, and their debut performances hinted at the quality and promise of Patriot’s line, offering an exciting preview of what his future progeny may achieve.
According to QData, Patriot’s own career boasts more than $835,000 in lifetime earnings and titles that include the 2022 Run For A Million Championship, 2022 NRBC Derby L3 Open Reserve Championship, 2020 NRHA Derby L4 Open Reserve Championship, and the 2019 NRBC Derby L4 Open Co-Championship.
For the Fappanis, this victory carried extra meaning: Andrea’s wife, Tish, bred her accomplished mare Joes Genes (Lil Joe Cash x Electric Genes) to Patriot to produce Man Of The Year. With more than $180,800 in earnings, Joes Genes has proven herself in the show pen and as a producer.
The mare’s influence showed strongly at this year’s Invitational, where another of her foals, Tight Genes (Tricked Out Spook x Joes Genes), carried Tish to co-champion honors in the 2025 Invitational Non-Pro L4 Futurity.
Results:
| Rank | Score | Horse | Rider | Owner | Money Earned |
| 1 | 225 | Man Of The Year | Andrea Fappani | Andrea Stewart-Pritchett | $76,884.49 |
| 2 | 223 | CC Rosemary | Wade McDonald | Steven Munoz | $40,949.35 |
| 2 | 223 | This Kids Not Ruf | Matt Palmer | Timothy Houser | $40,949.35 |
| 4 | 222 | TR Git R Done | Gabriel Borges | Triple R Equine LLC | $28,413.84 |
| 4 | 222 | That Luvin Feeling | Francesco Martinotti | Tracy Cole | $28,413.84 |
| 6 | 221.5 | Steamy Dreams | Craig Schmersal | Diamond Creek Ranch | $20,056.82 |
| 6 | 221.5 | No Alibi | Jared Leclair | James Pirtle | $20,056.82 |
| 6 | 221.5 | Maverickbuzthetower | Casey Deary | Glenn Spradling | $20,056.8 |
| 9 | 221 | Americas Next Face | Craig Schmersal | Hickory Creek Ranch | $10,028.41 |
| 9 | 221 | Sea To Shiney Sea | Josh Tishman | Spring Creek Ranch LLC | $10,028.41 |
| 9 | 221 | One Mighty Gunner | Peter DeFreitas | Double Run Farm | $10,028.41 |
| 9 | 221 | Calamityy Jayne | Arnaud Ferret | Elizabeth Baker | $10,028.41 |
| 9 | 221 | Guns R Vintage | Jason Vanlandingham | Robert Santagata | $10,028.41 |
—H&R—
