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Sister Act 2

By Jolee Jordan

Nellie Miller
Photo Courtesy of RodeoHouston

Houston, Texas — What’s the price of one one-hundredth of a second? The slimmest fraction in Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) barrel racing is one of the most expensive commodities on the market. On the final Saturday at the 2018 edition of RodeoHouston, each one hundredth of a second was worth $15,000 for California cowgirl and reigning WPRA World Champion Nellie Miller.

RodeoHouston began way back in 1932 and has donated more than $450 million in scholarships in its history. Many cowboys and cowgirls competing in the rodeo have experienced life changing moments thanks to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s efforts as well. Forty competitors began their journey here two weeks ago, working their way through three rounds of Super Series competition as well as a semi-finals and, for a couple, a Wild Card Round, to arrive in the two-part Championship Round which delivers the big payouts.

Wild Card Round

Before the finals could begin, the field had to be completed with the qualifiers from Friday night’s Wild Card Round.

The Wild Card Round is almost always a shootout and 2018 was no different. The round began with Cayla Small posting her best run of the rodeo at 14.71 seconds, a time that would have won all but two of the 17 previous rounds this year.

Unfortunately, only the top two times advanced from this round and Small watched as she was bumped to the wrong side of the bubble for a second night, finishing third.

Southeastern Circuit Champion Sabra O’Quinn took the lead first on a wild and crowd pleasing run aboard her horse Chaos. The run was a little chaotic as the big gelding cut into the third barrel tightly and O’Quinn dropped her rein, reaching over to steady the barrel. She saved it from falling, leaning precariously out of the saddle as the horse stretched for home. Their time of 14.61 was the fastest time ran in RodeoHouston in 2018.

That was until two runners later when Kelly Bruner took her pass around NRG Stadium. Bruner and the gelding called Suzy went tight and flawless around the pattern, stopping the clock at 14.54 seconds, raising the bar on the new longer pattern established this year.

While six ladies ran underneath fifteen seconds, no one was able to push Bruner and O’Quinn out of the final qualifying positions into the Championship Round.

Championship Round

There were probably more than a couple sleepless nights prior to the Championship Round on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2018. The $50,000 check distributed to the final round winner could make the whole season for the cowgirl able to grab it.

The field was stacked—the reigning WPRA World Champ Nellie Miller was there as was the reigning Reserve World Champ Hailey Kinsel, the current WPRA World number one Amberleigh Moore, last year’s Rookie of the Year Taci Bettis and three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) cowgirl Carley Richardson, who had won third here in each of the last two seasons. WPRA World Champ Fallon Taylor, the only barrel racer in the finals to have a RodeoHouston championship on her resume, was also in the mix, riding a hot streak into the Championship.

Joining that group were the hopefuls . . . ladies who have not yet made a trip to the WNFR but for whom a big day on Saturday could make that dream a reality. Among this group is Ram National Circuit Finals Champ Carmel Wright, Circuit Champs Tracy Nowlin and Sabra O’Quinn, and veterinarian and veteran barrel racer Kelly Bruner.

The Championship Round is a two-run, full out sprint to the title. All ten cowgirls compete in one round with the four fastest returning less than an hour later to compete in yet another sudden death round, this time with the big money on the line.

Wright kicked off the day but tipped the first barrel aboard her mare Luna. Taylor drew second and Babyflo brought her smooth style to NRG Stadium again, stopping the clock at 14.70 seconds to take the early lead.

Riding high with confidence from the previous night’s performance, Bruner was next, posting another sub-fifteen run, 14.89 seconds after a stumble on the second pushed her a bit wide. Nowlin and Dolly Jo took their shot, also breaking into the 14’s at 14.98 to sit third as the heart of the order was set to run.

Miller, Kinsel, Moore and Bettis would run back-to-back-to-back-to-back right in the middle of the draw.

The reigning World Champ was first and her homegrown roan mare Sister did not disappoint, taking the lead at 14.69 seconds. Kinsel’s Sister took the Texan around the pattern in 14.72 seconds as the next to run.

With four to run, the top three ladies were separated by just four one-hundredths of a second and the girl on the bubble was Bruner.

Moore and her great mare Paige took their shot, but a wide first barrel would end their hopes of a Shootout position. Bettis and Smash blew down the alley next, putting another run right in the same tracks they’d been laying since Super Series I. On Saturday, the run was worth 14.79, putting her on the edge of qualifying for one more run.

Competing in her third straight RodeoHouston Championship Round, Richardson and the ever consistent Radio needed a 14.78 to move to fourth and a 14.71 to make darn sure they would return to the Shootout. This dynamic duo did even better. At 14.59 she ran the second fastest time of the whole rodeo, moving to the top of the leaderboard with one left to run.

Richardson shoved Kinsel to the chopping block with O’Quinn waiting as the final to run. O’Quinn had run a 14.61 just twenty-four hours prior but could her good black horse Chaos do it again?

After another pretty run, O’Quinn fell short, her run of 14.90 just a bit shy in a super tough Championship Round where eight cowgirls ran fourteen second runs.

Championship Shootout

Many of the WPRA’s most lucrative events feature a format similar to Houston’s insomuch as the final day is comprised of two rounds. That can be a challenge, to ask a horse for a tough enough run to qualify for another and lay it all on the line again about sixty minutes later for the championship.

The ones who succeed, the gritty ones, are those who win WPRA World Championships and make appearances at the WNFR.

The fabulous Final Four of the WPRA prepped for another run for glory. Richardson would run first as the winner of the 10-woman round and the West Texas cowgirl was no doubt running against history.

In 2017, Richardson won the Championship Round here but Radio stepped on himself in the opening run and Richardson chose to run her back-up Boy in the Shootout to ensure Radio’s safety until the injury could be further evaluated. She ended up winning third, matching the result she posted in 2016.

Miller would follow with Taylor next. Kinsel would have the chance to serve as spoiler as the final lady to run.

As it turned out, Richardson would make a fast run at 14.61 seconds but she dragged the second barrel over leaving it, costing her a five second penalty.

Miller was next and came barreling down the alley. Though Sister would leave some room on the backside of the first, and rub the third on the entry, Miller left them all standing, taking the top spot with a 14.86.

Taylor came in as the only lady with the chance to win RodeoHouston for a second time and had looked unstoppable in the early rounds. She won two rounds of her Super Series as well as tying for the win in her semi-finals. She was the high money earner to this point with $9,500 in the bank already.

But she too suffered a penalty on the second barrel after Babyflo stuck a hind leg in an odd way at the first corner, throwing off the rhythm of the run. She would cruise out with 21.33 seconds.

So next came the golden girl and her jockey Kinsel. Already ranked second in the WPRA World standings after winning the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, Kinsel and Sister had a chance to topple the World Champ from her perch atop the Houston leaderboard. She blew through NRG with Sister’s trademark free-wheeling style and fans watching on Fox Sports and live wondered where would the clock stop.

When the boards lit up with 14.88 seconds, Miller knew she’d claimed her first RodeoHouston title. The tight battle echoed the entire winter, a further illustration of the ultra high level of competition within the WPRA. This was the fourth major winter rodeo to have its championship determined by two one-hundredths of a second or less.

The difference in the paycheck from first to second? $30,000. That makes each one hundredth here in Houston worth $15,000.

Call it Sister Act 2. After Miller and her Sister claimed the WPRA World title in December and Kinsel and her Sister took second, the two Sisters were on top of the World again at RodeoHouston.

Miller earned $58,750 in Houston. She was ranked just 51st in the standings prior to Houston after running in just four rodeos in 2018. With the big win here, she will climb to third behind new World leader Kinsel and Moore, who slips to second.

Miller spoke to announcer Boyd Polhamus on the arena floor immediately following the win.

“She’s just such a consistent horse,” Miller said after telling a joking Polhamus he didn’t have enough money to buy Sister from her. “She stays strong however many runs I ask her to make. She’s so honest and willing.”

Miller noted that Houston was just her second rodeo since the WNFR.

“I’ve been at home most of the time,” she laughed. “I just like to save the runs on my horse.”

“This is a big one,” she replied when Polhamus asked where the RodeoHouston ranks in her resume of rodeo accomplishments. “It’s life changing. I love Houston and I’m so thrilled to be standing here right now.”

Later, she posted to Facebook.

“Dreams come true in Houston! I am amazed every time I come here and I am so proud to be this year’s champion at RODEOHOUSTON; it is a first class rodeo all the way around and I want to thank a special blue roan horse for taking me to places like this. Congrats to all the champions.”

Just for good measure, Miller and Sister returned to NRG on Sunday, winning the unsanctioned Super Shootout while competing for the team from the Reno Rodeo. That win was worth another $25,000, bringing her south Texas haul to nearly $84,000.

Kinsel earned $27,000 in Houston, bumping her season total to a very comfortable $85,332.

“RODEOHOUSTON, what a ride! Thank you for the amazing hospitality and consideration for the contestants!” Kinsel posted to social media. “Sister and I made it to the 4-man shootout and finished 2nd for $20k! Big congrats to Nellie Miller and her “Sister” on winning the $50k! I have had an incredibly blessed winter thanks to my Lord & Savior, my family, friends, and the fans, and especially this gritty little horse. Thanking God for every part of it!”

Despite not claiming the big prize, Richardson had a great RodeoHouston in 2018 — she got engaged to WNFR pickup man Chase Cervi, whose family produces RodeoHouston, during the rodeo’s run. She picked up $18,000 in earnings, enough to drop her into the top five of the WPRA World standings and giving her an impressive three year total at NRG Stadium of $49,500.

Taylor’s $15,000 moves her near the top 10 from 83rd.

For more information on Rodeo Houston, visit them on-line at www.rodeohouston.com.


Results

Wild Card Round

Name, Super Series, Horse, Time, Money Won

1. Kelly Bruner, SSI, Suzytresseis, 14.54, $3,000*

2. Sabra O’Quinn, SSI, Alive with Chaos, 14.61, $2,000*

3. Cayla Small, SSV, Shameon U, 14.71, $1,000

4. Emily Miller, SSIV, Namgis D, 14.82, $750

5. Kellie Collier, SSII, Sierra Hall of Fame, 14.86, $500

6. Lisa Lockhart, SSV, An Okie with Cash, 14.91, $500

7. Sherry Cervi, SSIII, Rare Dillion, 15.03, $500

8. Ericka Nelson, SSI, Goodfrenchmanfriday, 15.30, $500

9. Tiany Schuster, SSIII, Show Mance, 15.36, $500

10. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, SSII, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, $500

11. Ivy Conrado, SSIV, KN Fabs Gift of Fame, 18.18, $500

12. Kelly Tovar, SSIV, A Dash ta Glamour, 20.11, $500

*Advance to Championship Round

Championship Round

1. Richardson, SSIV, Doda Flit, 14.59*

2. Miller, SSV, Rafter W Minnie Reba, 14.69*

3. Taylor, SSV, Flos Heiress, 14.70*

4. Kinsel, SSII, DM Sissy Hayday, 14.72*

5. Bettis, SSI, Bogie is a Smash, 14.79, $1,250

6. Bruner, SSI, Suzytresseis, 14.89, $1,250

7. O’Quinn, SSI, Alive with Chaos, 14.90, $1,250

8. Nowlin, SSIII, DJG Madison, 14.98, $1,250

9. Moore, SSII, CP Dark Moon, 15.72, $1,250

10. Wright, SSIII, Fortunes Last Xtrem, 24.91, $1,250

*Advance to Shootout Round

Shootout Round

1. Miller, 14.86, $50,000

2. Kinsel, 14.88, $20,000

3. Richardson, 19.61, $10,000

4. Taylor, 21.33, $5,500

Total Money Won

Miller, $58,750

Kinsel, $27,000

Richardson, $18,000

Taylor, $15,000

Bettis, $10,750

Bruner, $7,250

O’Quinn, $7,250

Nowlin, $7,000

Moore, $7,000

Wright, $6,750

Cervi, $5,500

E. Miller, $5,250

Lockhart, $4,500

Tonozzi, $4,500

Conrado, $4,000

Schuster, $3,500

Tovar, $3,500

Nelson, $2,875

Collier, $2,500

Small, $2,000

Courtesy of WPRA

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