James Payne and Jazlyn may have left Tulsa without the official Breeder’s Invitational Classic Challenge Open title, but the mare’s latest 228 in the Finals performance added another chapter to an accomplished career.
Payne and Jazlyn tied Kenny Platt and LBR Hangem atop the leaderboard at Tulsa Expo Square. They forwent a runoff and broke their tie using the five judges’ cumulative score. Platt got the title and prizes, and they split the No. 1 and No. 2 payout evenly, each receiving $19,575
Payne said leaving without the title didn’t bother him — he was looking at the numbers. The win pushed Jazlyn (Hashtags x MK Cats Kitty x Spots Hot) closer to the $500,000 milestone. According to QData, the win puts the mare at $498,914 in lifetime earnings.
With a record that includes 2024 wins in the NCHA Superstakes Derby Open, NCHA Derby Open, Horse of the Year honors in 2024 and now the Breeder’s Invitational Classic/Challenge win, the mare owned by Kathleen Moore has continues maturing as a competitor.
Another Gear as a 6-Year-Old
Jazlyn has been with Payne nearly from the beginning. Moore purchased the mare as a yearling through Western Bloodstock and Payne developed her throughout her career.
Together they built one of the sport’s strongest résumés, and Payne believes the mare has found yet another level this year.
“I feel like she’s just gotten consistent and pretty spectacular as a six-year-old,” Payne said.
That consistency showed throughout the Breeder’s Invitational where Jazlyn marked a 225 in the first go, a 221 in the second and capped the week with her 228 finals performance.
Payne felt his fourth draw position in the second set played a critical role in the finals, particularly with the difficult group of cattle.
“I thought I had the perfect draw,” Payne said. “There were three softer cattle in there and I was able to cut them.”
Still, Payne said great cattle selection only matters if the horse can capitalize. What separates Jazlyn? Something that’s hard to teach.
“She’s just gritty,” Payne said. “She’s kind of a true blue cow horse. The elite horses just have that natural ability to read a cow.”
As Jazlyn approaches the final stretch of her aged-event career, Payne admitted the thought is already difficult.
“I’m going to want to cry when she turns seven, I guess,” he said.