The Final Field

THE FINAL FIELD By Callie McCarthy-Boevers • Photography by Primo Morales

The second set of eight riders qualified for The Run For A Million Cow Work Challenge while at the DT Horses Western Derby.

Out of a 77-horse field, it took a 439 composite score to earn the final invitations to The Run For A Million Cow Work Challenge, which will be held August 17-20 at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Todd Bergen, riding Smartly Starstruck, who is owned by the McSpyder Ranch, topped the field with a 443 and earned a check for $8,265.

“Coming into the qualifier, you knew it was going to be deep and it was going to be tough, just by looking at the horses and the riders competing here,” said Bergen a National Reined Cow Horse Association Two Million Dollar Rider. “I felt very fortunate to be able to put together two good runs and qualify for Vegas this year. It is great to see events like this putting up big money for the bridle horses.”

Just like the qualifier held during the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes in Las Vegas last March, the cow work concluded with a tie for the eighth qualifying spot. This time, the tie was between Cara Hencratt riding Playing One Time, owned by the Rocking BS Ranch, and Chris Dawson aboard Reyzinette, owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses. Dawson marked a 224 in the fence work run-off to win the tie breaker and secure the final spot for The Run For A Million.

The eight riders who qualified in Scottsdale are Brad Barkemeyerm Scottsdale, Arizona; Todd Bergen, Eagle Point, Oregon; Chris Dawson and his wife, Sarah Dawson, Perrin, Texas; Matt Koch, Elizabeth, Colorado; Kelby Phillips, Weatherford, Texas; Erin Taormino, Dennis, Texas; and Justin Wright, Santa Maria, California.

“Once again, The Run For A Million qualifier proved to be a draw, enticing our top horseman to bring their best bridle horses to the DT Horses Western Derby and compete for their chance at a spot in Las Vegas,” said Anna Morrison, NRCHA executive director. “With all of the qualifying spots settled we’re ready to set our sights on August when we’ll cheer on 16 of our sport’s best in the Cow Horse Challenge!”

The 16 riders qualified for The Run For A Million Cow Horse event are (in score rank):

NICK DOWERS, 444 TODD BERGEN, 443 BRAD BARKEMEYER, 442.5 JUSTIN WRIGHT, 441.5 KYLE NOYCE, 441 LUKE JONES, 441 TODD CRAWFORD, 441 ERIN TAORMINO, 441 RANDY PAUL, 440.5 COREY CUSHING, 440.5 SHAWN HAYS, 440.5 MATT KOCH, 440.5 PHILLIP RALLS, 440 SARAH DAWSON, 440 KELBY PHILLIPS, 439.5 CHRIS DAWSON, 439

Tickets for the event are on sale now. For more information, visit trfam.com.

The Run For A Million Qualified Riders

1. TODD BERGEN, Eagle Point, Oregon

4. ERIN TAORMINO, Dennis, Texas 2. BRAD BARKEMEYER, Scottsdale, Arizona 3. JUSTIN WRIGHT, Santa Maria, California

5. MATT KOCH, Elizabeth, Colorado 6. SARAH DAWSON, Perrin, Texas

7. KELBY PHILLIPS, Weatherford, Texas 8. CHRIS DAWSON, Perrin, Texas

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The front is smooth and inviting. And it’s got a bold middle flavor that I love but can’t really describe. The finish is warm honey-almond with a smokey tinge on the very back end. It’s damn good.

— Kory Pounds, Professional Cowboy, Cutting Horse Champion, Whiskey Advocate

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2022 VOLUME 27, NO. 4

DOMINANT DERBY

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