Weatherford, Texas, is known as the Cutting Horse Capitol of the World and with the Brazos Bash bringing in some of the brightest cutting horse prospects, proven champions, and top trainers vying for huge payouts, the name certainly sticks. This year’s event paid out more than $900,000 in the open divisions alone.
Results
5/6-Year-Old $400K Open
Hottish Link (Hottish × Dooney Boonsmal), ridden by Alex Billingsley, set the pace in the first round of the 5/6-Year-Old $400K Open with a 220, tying with Randall West aboard Two Step Steve (Stevie Rey Von × Ballereyna) for the top spot. During the finals, the 2020 gelding held the lead with a 219 to collect $5,000 for owners Judd & Sarah Sherman. Hottish Link’s NCHA lifetime earnings are more than $19,000.
| Place | Score | Money Earned | Horse Name | Rider Name | Owner Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 219.0 | $5,000.00 | Hottish Link | Alex Billingsley – Yelm, WA | Judd & Sarah Sherman – Grandview, TX |
| 2 | 215.5 | $3,950.00 | A Lil Moore Spice | Alex Billingsley – Sacramento, CA | Ken Schultz – Grandview, TX |
| 2 | 215.5 | $3,950.00 | Dmac Joan Of Arc | Ella Blazek – Fort Worth, TX | David & Stacie McDavid – Fort Lupton, CO |
| 4 | 214.5 | $3,300.00 | Ziggy Rey Von | Trever Bullock – Willow Park, TX | Courtney Hurt – Gainesville, TX |
| 5 | 213.0 | $3,000.00 | Reyzin The Kitty | Alex Billingsley – San Antonio, TX | Cow Bayou Cattle Company LLC – Grandview, TX |
$400K Challenge: Designed for riders with less than $400,000 in lifetime earnings, this special division gives more competitors a shot at big payouts. The Challenge is offered in the 4- and 5/6-year-old divisions, each with $10,000 added.
4-Year-Old $400K Open
In the first round of the 4-Year-Old $400K Open, Clay Carter and 2021 gelding Gangstaa Of Love (Badboonarising x Biscuit Love) found themselves with a 218.5 to tie with Michael Baker and Royal Pepto Style (Smooth Talkin Style x Royal Red Pepto) in second place, behind Garrett Hampton and Gotcha Boo (CR Gotcha Covered x CR Tuff Boo Bear), whose 221 secured them the round lead.
In the finals, a score of 220 earned them the top spot for owner Carol Anderson Ward and $5,000 for winning the class. Gangstaa Of Love also won an extra $1,374.45 through the Gelding Incentive and $1,842.40 through the APHA Chrome Cash Incentive.
| Place | Score | Money Earned | Horse Name | Rider Name | Owner Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 220.0 | $5,000.00 | Gangstaa Of Love | Clay Carter – Weatherford, TX | Carol Anderson Ward – Rancho Murieta, CA |
| 2 | 219.5 | $4,200.00 | Xtra Hott | Eric Magby – Wilburton, OK | Ellen Carter – Dallas, TX |
| 3 | 215.5 | $3,400.00 | Shez Spooky Lookin | Alex Billingsley – Grandview, TX | Jeff & Kay Barnes – Wilton, CA |
| 4 | 214.0 | $3,000.00 | Gotcha Boo | Garrett Hampton – Weatherford, TX | Cheyenne B Johnson – Ramer, AL |
| 5 | 213.5 | $2,700.00 | Thee Painter | Billy Foster – El Dorado, AR | Ironrock Ranch LLC – Millsap, TX |
3-Year-Old Open Futurity
With three rounds in the 3-Year-Old Open Futurity, the pressure was on Michael Cooper and My Chix Bad (Badboonarising x Angel N Disguise 016). A 217.5 in round one pushed them to the second go where a 218.5 tied them with James Payne and Victoreyas Secreyt (Dual Smart Rey x Ginger Pepto) for the round win.
In the finals, Cooper and the 2022 mare edged out the competition with a 224 to take home $26,500 for 00 Ranch.
| Place | Score | Money Earned | Horse Name | Rider Name | Owner Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 224.0 | $26,500.00 | My Chix Bad | Michael Cooper – Weatherford, TX | 00 Ranch – Alvarado, TX |
| 2 | 221.0 | $21,500.00 | Irr Spring Fling | Adan Banuelos – Jacksboro, TX | Iron Rose Ranch – Carbondale, CO |
| 3 | 216.5 | $16,500.00 | Smooth Flying Rollz | Lance Cooper – Weatherford, TX | Lori L. Maling – Phoenix, AZ |
| 4 | 215.5 | $11,000.00 | Victoreyas Secreyt | James Payne – Overbrook, OK | Kathleen Moore – Madill, OK |
| 5 | 214.0 | $9,500.00 | Notjustatrophywife | Bear Davis – Weatherford, TX | The El Dorado, LLC – Granbury, TX |
4-Year-Old Open
The 4-Year-Old Open was a stacked class with over 120 entries vying the top spot. After a 216 and 217 in rounds one and two, respectively, Hott Abra (Hottish x Metallilac) and William Moore bested the field with a 226 in the finals, earning $30,000. Owned by WR Diversified Holdings, LP, the 2021 stallion’s lifetime earnings are now more than $68,000.
| Place | Score | Money Earned | Horse Name | Rider Name | Owner Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 226.0 | $30,000.00 | Hott Abra | William C. Moore – Deport, TX | WR Diversified Holdings, LP – Hulbert, OK |
| 2 | 221.0 | $25,000.00 | Stevie Likes It Hott | Matt R. Miller – Poolville, TX | Kimberly & Dave Joerger – Aberdeen, SD |
| 3 | 220.0 | $21,000.00 | Reyzin The Limit | Adan Banuelos – Jacksboro, TX | Kate Gaughan Banuelos – Las Vegas, NV |
| 3 | 220.0 | $21,000.00 | Lil Sue Von | Michael Cooper – Weatherford, TX | E.J. & Audrey Huntley – Weatherford, TX |
| 5 | 218.0 | $14,500.00 | Catahoochie Mom | Cullen Chartier – Brenham, TX | Nancy & Steve Martin – Weatherford, TX |
5/6-Year-Old Open
Some of the top cutting horses were entered in the 5/6-Year-Old Open, making this class one to watch. After a 219.5 in round one and 216.5 in round two, Bella Louella (Metallic Rebel x Catty Louella) and Michael Cooper stepped into the finals ready to leave it all in the pen. They marked a 225 to take home $30,000 and through the APHA Chrome Cash incentive, the duo also took home an additional $3,234 in this class.
The 2020 mare, owned by Michael and Jennifer Cooper, previously knocked the cutting world off their feet when she won the 2025 Run For A Million Cutting Horse Challenge with a 226 to earn $50,000. She now boasts more than $200,000 in lifetimes earnings.
| Place | Score | Money Earned | Horse Name | Rider Name | Owner Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 225.0 | $30,000.00 | Bella Louella | Michael Cooper – Weatherford, TX | Michael & Jennifer Cooper – Weatherford, TX |
| 2 | 223.5 | $27,000.00 | Red Sparrow | Tarin Rice – Weatherford, TX | T Bar K Cutting Horses LLC – Poolville, TX |
| 3 | 223.0 | $24,000.00 | Rebellicious | James Payne – Madill, OK | Kathleen Moore – Overbrook, OK |
| 4 | 222.5 | $21,000.00 | CR Miss Mayzie | Tarin Rice – Lincoln, NE | Ray & Brenda Lipsey – Poolville, TX |
| 5 | 222.0 | $18,000.00 | Mui Fuego | Beau Galyean – Amarillo, TX | Fults / Jackpot Partnership – Fort Worth, TX |
7Up Open
High scores were all over the board in the 7Up Open. With a 219 in round one needed to qualify for the finals, Summer Time Fun (Metallic Cat x Hey Georgy Girl) and James Payne moved on with a 221. The duo then topped the field in the finals with a 222 to earn $31,000 for owner Ty Moore.
The 2015 mare has dominated the cutting pen for years and has $524,264 in lifetime earnings, according to QData.
| Place | Score | Money Earned | Horse Name | Rider Name | Owner Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 222.0 | $31,000.00 | Summer Time Fun | James Payne – Madill, OK | Ty Moore – Overbrook, OK |
| 2 | 220.0 | $26,000.00 | Late Night Hustler | Kody Porterfield – Weatherford, TX | Stanford Ranch Performance Horses – Brownfield, TX |
| 3 | 219.5 | $21,000.00 | Kat Play | Monty Buntin – Reno, NV | Dacole Investment Company – Lincoln, CA |
| 4 | 216.0 | $14,000.00 | Fancy Meteles | Cody Hedlund – Lipan, TX | Cody Hedlund – Lipan, TX |
| 5 | 216.0 | $14,000.00 | Reyzin Smooth Cash | Geoffrey Sheehan – Carbondale, CO | Iron Rose Ranch – Weatherford, TX |