When Abbie Phillips rode the well-maned Peptos Stylin Time into the main arena of the South Point Equestrian Center on Aug. 15, 2025, the likelihood of unseating reigning champion Kyle Trahern seemed slim, but with a fence work run that grew more exciting by the moment, that’s exactly what she did. Scoring a 447.5—edging Trahern by just half a point—Phillips claimed The Run For A Million championship buckle and $50,000, riding straight into the winner’s circle.
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Winning Runs (+ video)
Wearing back number 12 as she entered the Rein Work class on Thursday, Aug. 15, Phillips and Peptos Stylin Time put down a respectable 219-point run—5.5 points behind Trahern’s lead—which put her in the middle of the pack at the No. 7 spot going into Friday’s Fence Work class. Trahern drew a soft first cow in that class, but he made good on the alternate the judges offered with a 222.
Phillips, who has $330,000 in lifetime earnings, rode into the arena aboard the stud owned by her and her husband Kelby. As the crowd cheered, Phillips called for a red brockle-faced cow that was ready to run.
“She’ll need a 228 to win in,” the commentators stated. “Not impossible, and she’s got the kind of cow and she’s got the kind of horse to go get it.”
With the red roan’s mane flying, Phillips kept the boxing brief and went for the fence, notching the speed up to execute a screaming first turn. She and Peptos Stylin Time never left the cow and by her final circle, the commentators and spectators alike were stoked.
“Kyle’s in danger,” they said as they awaited the judge’s scores: 447.5.
The crowd erupted.
Mister Handsome
Peptos Stylin Time is a 2015 stallion by $24 million stud One Time Pepto and out of Stylin Jewel by Docs Stylish Oak. According to QData, he has more than $200,000 in lifetime earnings—$190,000 attributed to NRCHA earnings and nearly $10,000 from the NCHA.
Combined the winnings from his fourth-place finish at last year’s Cow Horse Challenge and the tie for fourth in 2023 at the event, the 14-hand, 1,200-pound red roan has won $90,000 from The Run For A Million alone. Most recently, though, out of the 10 2025 events QData reports Peptos Stylin Time competed in, he earned either first or second place in eight of them.
Bred by Colorado’s Hanging R Ranch, Peptos Stylin Time now stands at stud with the 6666 Ranch.
Results from The Run For A Million Cow Horse Challenge 2025
| Place | Rider | Score | Horse | Pedigree | Owner | Breeder | Payout |
| 1 | Abbie Phillips | 447½ | Peptos Stylin Time | One Time Pepto x Stylin Jewel | Kelby and Abbie Phillips | Hanging R Ranch | $50,000 |
| 2 | Kyle Trahern | 447 | A Starlights Magnum | Magnum With A Dream x Shiny Starlight | Kyle Trahern | Terry Van Martin | $35,000 |
| 3 | Corey Cushing | 445.5 | WR Iceman | WR This Cats Smart x Lean Irish Playgirl | Eric & Wendy Dunn | Mary Scott Brown | $30,000 |
| 4 | Shadd Parkinson | 443 | CR Tuff Star War | Woody Be Tuff x Shortys Starlight | Laurie M Boaz | Center Ranch | $25,000 |
| 5 | Matt Koch | 442.5 | MPH Voodoo Badger | Shiners Voodoo Dr x JRS Jessie Badger | David Mize | David Mize | $18,000 |
| 6 | Erin Taormino | 442 | Hazardouz Material | Metallic Cat x Scooters Daisy Dukes | Linda A Mars | Taylor Carbo | $14,000 |
| 7 | Zane Davis | 440 | Snapdragons | Gunnatrashya x Cat Naps | Shane Law | Flying V Ranch | $10,000 |
| 8 | Chris C. Dawson | 438 | Wanna Be A Pepto | Pocket Fulla Pepto x Wanna Be Blonde | Kobyn Greathouse | WT Waggoner Estate | $7,000 |
| 9 | Brendon Clark | 436.5 | CR Hes A Tuff One | Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda | Red Arrow Ranch | Center Ranch | $7,000 |
| 10 | Sarah Dawson | 436 | Selvarey | Dual Rey x Shine Smarter | Sheri L Jamieson | Richard and Cheryl Winters | $6,000 |
| 11 | Clay Volmer | 435.5 | Metallic Casanova | Metallic Cat x Dark and Sultry | Pitzer Ranch / Dack Cattle LLC | Kelly Mahler | $6,000 |
| 12 | Boyd Rice | 433 | My Boots Are Royal | Royal Fletch x My Boots Are Tuff | Kit Moncrief | Kit and Charlie Moncrief | $6,000 |
| 13 | Shawn Hays | 427.5 | Cats Tell Secrets | WR This Cats Smart x Secrets Blue Angel | Katalyst Performance Horses | Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC | $6,000 |
| 14/15 | Justin Wright | 427 | Duals Lucky Charm | Dual Smart Rey x TRR MS Pepcid Olena | JB6 LLC | Carolyn and Mark Murray | $5,000 |
| 14/15 | Clayton Edsall | 427 | One Time Melody | One Time Pepto x Reys Stressin Melody | Smith Ranch | Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC | $5,000 |
—H&R—
