The fall show season is fully underway, with a bulk of Western performance horse events complete at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, a concentration of cutters at the Brazos Bash in Weatherford, Texas, and the NRCHA’s Snaffle Bit Futurity ready to begin later this week.
Big headlines include Casey Deary and Spooks Gotta Whiz mare Upgrayed winning more than $180,000 at the Congress thanks to a chart-topping 224.5-point run and the lion’s share of the Oswood Stallion Station incentive.
In the ranch horse pen, Bud Lyon and Sumac Gunnabeflashy swept the Senior and Open divisions for Leslie Vagneur Lange. In Weatherford, Texas, the Brazos Bash locked in its 15 qualifiers for the 2027 Run For A Million Cutting Challenge and moved into Open finals.
What Happened September 28–October 4
All-American Quarter Horse Congress Wraps Up
Reining: Futurity Finals Crown Their Champions
Columbus, Ohio | September 26–October 24 | Ohio Expo Center
The Congress Open Futurity finals ran this week, and the biggest check went to Casey Deary and Upgrayed. Upgrayed won the Level 4 final with a 224.5, good for $50,000 in the All Star Reining Stakes, another $50,000 in the NRHA Open Reining Level 4 Futurity and $83,214 in the Oswood Stallion Advantage, a combined $183,214.
Kaci Jo O’Rourke and Im Gunna Bee, Cade McCutcheon and Spooky Booo and Kole Price and Bad Companyy tied for second on a 223.5.
Jordan Larson and Sixty Six Stops won Level 3 on a 223.5 for $40,941 between the All Star and NRHA classes, with Brandon Brant and Smokin Enterprise (David R Schlabach) second.
The Non Pro Futurity belonged to a pair of horses. Sweet Baybe James (Bundy Lane) and Emma Lane won Levels 1 and 2 on a 220 and added the Oswood Level 3 for $26,532, while Ronny Colston and Dust (Kevin Colston) won Level 3 and tied for the Level 4 title with Mandy McCutcheon and Suzy Que (Tom and Mandy McCutcheon) on a 220.5. Suzy Que then took the Oswood Level 4 for $55,476.
2026 Congress Reining Champions: Futurities, September 26–October 4
| Class | Champion | Rider | Owner | Score | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Futurity Level 4 (All Star, NRHA, Oswood) | Upgrayed | Casey Deary | Jose Fernando Fagundes | 224.5 | $183,214 |
| Open Futurity Level 3 (All Star, NRHA) | Sixty Six Stops | Jordan Larson | Ixtul Quarter Horses LLC | 223.5 | $40,941 |
| Open Futurity Level 3 (Oswood) | Eight Oh Five | Jack Daniels | Peter A Morgan | 221.5 | $39,798 |
| Open Futurity Level 2 (All Star, NRHA, Oswood) | All Cocoa No Cream | Joe Schmidt | Vaughn Zimmerman | 218.5 | $45,264 |
| Open Futurity Level 1 (All Star, NRHA, Oswood) | Gunna Vodoo You | Valentino Guinovart | Buckshot Farms | 217 | $21,199 |
| Open Futurity Prime Time (three-way tie) | TLC Dun Whiz Em | Shawn W Flarida | Tracy Cole | 218.5 | $672 |
| Open Futurity Prime Time (three-way tie) | All Cocoa No Cream | Joe Schmidt | Vaughn Zimmerman | 218.5 | $672 |
| Open Futurity Prime Time (three-way tie) | Baileys After Dark | Tom McCutcheon | Turnabout Farm Inc | 218.5 | $672 |
| Non Pro Futurity Level 4 (All Star, NRHA; tie) | Dust | Ronny Colston | Kevin Colston | 220.5 | $23,880 |
| Non Pro Futurity Level 4 (All Star, NRHA; tie) | Suzy Que | Mandy McCutcheon | Tom & Mandy McCutcheon | 220.5 | $23,880 |
| Non Pro Futurity Level 4 (Oswood) | Suzy Que | Mandy McCutcheon | Tom & Mandy McCutcheon | 220.5 | $55,476 |
| Non Pro Futurity Level 3 (All Star, NRHA) | Dust | Ronny Colston | Kevin Colston | 220.5 | $15,477 |
| Non Pro Futurity Level 3 (Oswood) | Sweet Baybe James | Emma Lane | Bundy Lane | 220 | $26,532 |
| Non Pro Futurity Level 2 (All Star, NRHA, Oswood) | Sweet Baybe James | Emma Lane | Bundy Lane | 220 | $23,702 |
| Non Pro Futurity Level 1 (All Star, NRHA, Oswood) | Sweet Baybe James | Emma Lane | Bundy Lane | 220 | $12,076 |
| Non Pro Futurity Prime Time (All Star, NRHA) | Dun Girlz Got Fire | Monica A Hicks Mathison | Monica A Hicks Mathison | 217.5 | $2,781 |
Find full Congress results here.
Ranch Events: Sumac Gunnabeflashy Sweeps the Open and Senior Classes
Columbus, Ohio | September 26–October 24 | Ohio Expo Center
The Congress ranch classes wrapped up with Bud Lyon and SUMAC Gunnabeflashy (Leslie Vagneur Lange) at the top of nearly every board. The 2017 gelding won the Open Ranch Trail Stakes ($6,119) and the Open Ranch Riding Stakes ($4,777), swept the Senior Ranch Riding, Senior Ranch Trail and Senior Working Western Rail classes, and was reserve in the Open Working Western Rail Stakes. That is eight wins across the AQHA and NSBA classes.
Jimmy Daurio and David Renier’s Cowpuncher Cadillac won the Open Working Western Rail Stakes ($5,790) and the Open Ranch Riding Stakes Limited ($3,184).
Lyon also won the 3-Year-Old Open Ranch Riding Futurity aboard his own Mis American Pie ($5,403) and the 4 & 5 Year Old Open Ranch Riding Stakes on CBK Lyle Loves It (Kalyn Sanders), with Whiskey Glassus (Colleen D Kurtz) second. Shannon Quinlan Hill, who tied Lyon at the World Equestrian Center’s Championship Show, won the Junior Ranch Riding on Daytona Five Hundred (Debbie Kuffer). For the sire angle, see Emily Carey’s Gunnatrashya, Wimpys Little Step Lead Money-Earning Sires in Congress Ranch Classes.
2026 Congress Ranch Riding Champions
| Class | Champion | Rider | Owner | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Ranch Riding | Sumac Gunnabeflashy | Bud Lyon | Leslie Vagneur Lange | $800 |
| Level 1 Senior Ranch Riding | Time For A Reckoning | Steve Meadows | Katie Mae Green | $800 |
| Junior Ranch Riding | Daytona Five Hundred | Shannon Quinlan Hill | Debbie Kuffer | $800 |
| Level 1 Junior Ranch Riding | A Freeze Warning | Matt Gouthro | Erika Collins Sterling | $800 |
| Open Ranch Riding Stakes | Sumac Gunnabeflashy | Bud Lyon | Leslie Vagneur Lange | $4,777 |
| Open Ranch Riding Stakes Limited | Cowpuncher Cadillac | Jimmy Daurio | Jimmy Daurio/David Renier | $3,184 |
| 3-Year-Old Open Ranch Riding Futurity | Mis American Pie | Bud Lyon | Bud Lyon | $5,403 |
| 3-Year-Old Open Ranch Riding Futurity Limited | Lil Vintage Grace | Noel Meadows | Valerie Bostick | $3,602 |
| 4 & 5 Year Old Open Ranch Riding Stakes | CBK Lyle Loves It | Bud Lyon | Kalyn Sanders | $5,882 |
| 4 & 5 Year Old Open Ranch Riding Stakes Limited | Unquestionably Smokn | Jimmy Daurio | Rebecca L Bunting | $3,921 |
| Non Pro Ranch Riding Stakes | Ss Walk The Line | Lane Kail | Jason & Jennifer Knight | $7,698 |
| Amateur Ranch Riding | Gunna Be First | Eric Mendrysa | Eric Mendrysa | $400 |
| Level 1 Amateur Ranch Riding | Iscream For Icecreme | Sean Garrett McGinley | Red Roan Ranch | $400 |
| Amateur Select Ranch Riding | Katie Chex Your Gun | Jenny W Honey | Jeff & Jenny Honey | $400 |
| Level 1 Amateur Select Ranch Riding | Whizkeys Shining Gun | Valerie Fites Sturgeon | Caleb Sturgeon | $400 |
| Youth Ranch Riding 14-18 | Lil Ruf N Tuf | Sarah Rose Jons | Sotol Investments LLC | $200 |
| Level 1 Youth Ranch Riding 14-18 | Revolving Cash Flow | Arielle Elise Boyette | Arielle Elise Boyette | $200 |
| Youth Ranch Riding 13 & Under | Time For A Reckoning | Katie Mae Green | Katie Mae Green | $200 |
| Level 1 Youth Ranch Riding 13 & Under | Cc Valentino | Addison Stanley | Jeffrey T Stanley | $200 |
| NYATT Ranch Riding | Inferno Joe | Sarah Rose Jons | Sotol Investments LLC | $200 |
| Small Fry Ranch Riding | Banderro | Knox Everlee Weakly | Knox Everlee Weakly | $200 |
2026 Congress Working Western Rail Champions
| Class | Champion | Rider | Owner | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Working Western Rail | Sumac Gunnabeflashy | Bud Lyon | Leslie Vagneur Lange | $800 |
| Junior Working Western Rail | Whiz A Chicolena | Matt Gouthro | Amanda McGinley | $800 |
| Open Working Western Rail Stakes | Cowpuncher Cadillac | Jimmy Daurio | Jimmy Daurio/David Renier | $5,790 |
| Non Pro Working Western Rail Stakes | LC Whiskey Man Do | Karen M Johnson | Karen M Johnson | $6,316 |
| Amateur Working Western Rail | Ss Walk The Line | Lane Kail | Jason & Jennifer Knight | $400 |
| Amateur Select Working Western Rail | LC Whiskey Man Do | Karen M Johnson | Karen M Johnson | $400 |
| Youth Working Western Rail | Trick Me Out | Quincy Clagg | Quincy Clagg | $200 |
2026 Congress Ranch Trail Champions
| Class | Champion | Rider | Owner | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Ranch Trail | Sumac Gunnabeflashy | Bud Lyon | Leslie Vagneur Lange | $800 |
| Level 1 Senior Ranch Trail | Time For A Reckoning | Steve Meadows | Katie Mae Green | $800 |
| Junior Ranch Trail | Runningoutofboonlite | Steve Meadows | Kathryne K Zachrich | $800 |
| Level 1 Junior Ranch Trail | Lil Ruf N Tuf | Sarah Rose Jons | Sotol Investments LLC | $800 |
| Open Ranch Trail Stakes | Sumac Gunnabeflashy | Bud Lyon | Leslie Vagneur Lange | $6,119 |
| Non Pro Ranch Trail Stakes | Inferno Joe | Sarah Rose Jons | Sotol Investments LLC | $5,593 |
| Amateur Ranch Trail | Ss Walk The Line | Lane Kail | Jason & Jennifer Knight | $400 |
| Level 1 Amateur Ranch Trail | Iceforthechics | Olivia S Stoudmire | Olivia S Stoudmire | $200 |
| Amateur Select Ranch Trail | Cowpuncher Cadillac | David Renier | Jimmy Daurio/David Renier | $400 |
| Youth Ranch Trail | Lil Jfk | Sarah Rose Jons | Sotol Investments LLC | $200 |
| Level 1 Youth Ranch Trail | Mymap | Caysie Troutman | Secota Horses LLC | $100 |
Cutting: Brazos Bash Run For A Million Qualifier
Weatherford, Texas | September 28–October 13 | Bosque Ranch Headquarters
The Brazos Bash was the only place to earn a spot in the 2027 Run For A Million Cutting Challenge, and 15 riders punched their tickets with the highest first go-round scores in Weatherford, Sept. 28–Oct. 2.
The top mark came in the 4-Year-Old Open, where Adan Banuelos scored a 227 on Reyzin Hotty Toddy (Reyzin The Cash x Cats Red Rosita x High Brow Cat) for owner Booner M Beck.
| Rider | Horse | Score | Owner | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adan Banuelos | Reyzin Hotty Toddy | 227 | Booner M Beck | 4-Year-Old Open |
| James Payne | Nice Work Babe | 226 | Kathleen Moore | 7 & Up Open |
| Cass Tatum | Boomer Cat | 225 | VP Cutting Horses LLC | 7 & Up Open |
| Russ Westfall | Ripp Tide | 224 | Ripp Tide LLC | 7 & Up Open |
| Kenny Platt | Lbr Hangem | 224 | Shotty Syndicate | 5/6-Year-Old Open |
| Boyd Rice | Von Katness | 224 | Weatherby Ranch | 5/6-Year-Old Open |
| Cookie Banuelos | Shezsomethinsweet | 224 | Cookie Banuelos | 5/6-Year-Old Open |
| Lance Cooper | Stevies Best Bet | 224 | Stevies Best Bet Partners | 5/6-Year-Old Open |
| Tarin Rice | Call Me Stevie | 224 | Julie & Mike Magness | 4-Year-Old Open |
| Geoffrey “Spud” Sheehan | Deluxe Style | 223 | Geoffrey & Rebecca Sheehan | 7 & Up Open |
| Brandon Westfall | Spookys Honey Badger | 222 | KT Ranch LLC | 7 & Up Open |
| Grant Setnicka | Zigzagg | 222 | Gregory S Williamson | 7 & Up Open |
| Monty Buntin | Jae Zee | 222 | Bitterroot Ranch LLC | 7 & Up Open |
| Michael Cooper | Lil Sue Von | 222 | E J & Audrey Huntley | 5/6-Year-Old Open |
| Lloyd Cox | Sho Boat | 221.5 | Carpenter Farms | 7 & Up Open |
Horse credits are Horse&Rider’s best match from the published first go-round results and have not been confirmed by The Run For A Million.
This Week October 5–11
Cutting: Brazos Bash Open Finals and Non Pro Week
Weatherford, Texas | September 28–October 13 | Bosque Ranch Headquarters
James Payne won two of the four Open finals for owner Kathleen Moore. Payne and Victoreyas Secreyt won the 4-Year-Old Open with a 223 for $30,000, edging Ryan Rapp and Graceful Mvp (Henrietta Armstrong) by a point, and came back to win the 7 & Up Open on Nice Work Babe with a 231 for $31,000, a $61,000 day.
Kenny Platt and LBR Hangem (Shotty Syndicate) won the 5/6-Year-Old Open on a 231 for $30,000, three points clear of Boyd Rice and Von Katness (Weatherby Ranch). Both horses were among the RFAM qualifiers. In the 3-Year-Old Open, Ryan Rapp and Stopp And Stare (Beechfork Ranch) won on a 221 for $21,000, and the horse added the 3-Year-Old Open Chrome Cash for $2,705.
2026 Brazos Bash Open Finals Champions
| Class | Champion | Rider | Owner | Score | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 & Up Open | Nice Work Babe | James Payne | Kathleen Moore | 231 | $31,000 |
| 5/6-Year-Old Open | Lbr Hangem | Kenny Platt | Shotty Syndicate | 231 | $30,000 |
| 4-Year-Old Open | Victoreyas Secreyt | James Payne | Kathleen Moore | 223 | $30,000 |
| 3-Year-Old Open | Stopp And Stare | Ryan Rapp | Beechfork Ranch | 221 | $21,000 |
| 5/6-Year-Old $200K Limited Open | Lbr Hicapoo | Jimmie Annot | Charles Burger | 222 | $7,000 |
| 4-Year-Old $200K Limited Open | Dmac Triple Threat | Cade Denton | David & Stacie McDavid | 216 | $7,000 |
| 3-Year-Old $200K Limited Open (two-go total) | Wooodya Stevie | Tyson R Benson | Jeff Kenny | 433.5 | $1,842 |
Reined Cow Horse: NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity
Fort Worth, Texas | October 9–24
The NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity presented by Metallic Cat opens Friday in Fort Worth, with hundreds of 3-year-olds expected over the two-week run. The Western Bloodstock sale runs alongside, finals tickets are on sale through the NRCHA, and Big Guns in Cowtown follows on October 21.
Stay tuned for more information about the Snaffle Bit Futurity, including schedules, what we’re keeping an eye on, and full results coming soon.
Looking Ahead
Ranch Sorting: Cinch RSNC Congress Super Sort
Jackson, Ohio | October 16-18 | Henderson’s Arena
A $15,000 added event with cash, prizes, and All American Quarter Horse Congress medallions up for grabs, running three days with Gold Shootout action and livestreamed on Ride TV.
Ranch Events, Reined Cow Horse: Stock Horse of Texas World Show
Abilene, Texas | October 27–November 1
The Western Horseman Stock Horse World Championship, Stock Horse of Texas’s marquee year end event, combining reining, cow work, trail and rail patterns into a single stock horse format. Entry and scratch deadline is October 2, with late entries accepted through October 9 for a $100 fee.
Ranch Events, Reining, Reined Cow Horse: AQHA World Championship Show
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | October 29–November 21 | OKC Fairgrounds
The Markel AQHA World Championship Show runs alongside the Adequan AQHA Select World Championship Show, Adequan Level 2 Championships and AQHA Level 1 Champion of Champions. Technically an all-around event, but keep coverage to the ranch and reining classes.
The Weekly Performance Report is published at the beginning of each week on HorseandRider.com.