Otero On Fire: Carlee Otero and AM Regina George Win Round Nine of the Wrangler NFR

LAS VEGAS — DECEMBER 12, 2025 — Carlee Otero has been on fire inside the Thomas and Mack Center Arena. Otero and AM Regina George won Round Nine of the Wrangler NFR with a 13.20 — the fastest time of this year’s NFR thus far. This marks her third round win and has brought her 2025 NFR earnings to $120,004.

“It was an absolute beautiful run. I mean, I feel like I can’t even take any credit. Regina needs to be up here talking about it,” Otero said with a laugh. “It felt good when she turned that first barrel tonight. She was really dialed in. I knew, as long as I stand out of her way, that it was going to be fast. I did not think of 13.20 but I’m going to take it. I’m not going to complain.”

Otero has given “Regina” the not to run in seven of the nine rounds thus far, choosing to step on Cathys Kandy in Round Seven and Blingolena in Round Eight. Regina is a 2018 mare by A Smooth Guy out of Oro Rose by Man In The Money and was bred by Dean and Jessie Domann. The mare’s career started with Dalton Monk and was later campaigned by his sister Brittainý Hill. She spent most of 2024 in the pasture when then owner bull riding legend and Otero’s friend and mentor Gary Leffew asked Otero to take her. Even though she was off the pace for her first two runs, Otero decided to buy RG before the Reno Rodeo. The purchase has proved to be a great match. As of October 1, 2025, Regina had garnered $137,151 in EquiStat reported lifetime earnings — and this week at the NFR has added nearly that same amount to her ledger, plus three NFR go-round wins to her name.

“I’m so excited about the win,” Otero said. “I really wish we could interview the horses. I’m just so grateful for my team of horses. Regina is fantastic, but so is [Blingolena] and so is [Cathys Kandy]. I owe it all to them.”

Carlee Otero and AM Regina George won Round Nine of the Wrangler NFR with a 13.20 — the fastest time of the 2025 NFR thus far. Photo by Kenneth Springer

Otero, who has been to the NFR five times, she has also once been an arena record holder in the Thomas and Mack and she’s come close to the mark again. The 13.20 turned in by Otero and Regina is the fourth fastest time ever run inside the Thomas and Mack. Only nine-hundredths of a second off of Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday’s arena record of 13.11.

Fastest NFR Barrel Racing Runs (inside Thomas and Mack Center)

2017, Round Three: Hailey Kinsel/DM Sissy Hayday/13.11 (arena record)
2017, Round 10: Hailey Kinsel/DM Sissy Hayday/13.17
2024, Round Seven: Kassie Mowry/Force The Goodbye/13.19
2025, Round Nine: Carlee Otero/AM Regina George/13.20
2024, Round Six: Kassie Mowry/Force The Goodbye/13.25
2023, Round Eight: Kassie Mowry/Force The Goodbye/13.30

Not only is Otero a multiple time NFR qualifier, but she’s also earned more than $1.4 million in EquiStat reported lifetime earnings. Over the course of her long and successful career she’s had the pleasure of stepping aboard talented horses, and she says believing in herself and in God’s plan is the simple reason she’s been able to accomplish what she has.

“I think I have a lot of try in me, and I have a lot of belief in myself,” Otero said. “I think everybody needs to have that. Sometimes it’s really hard to believe in yourself, and it’s easy to get down in the dumps and listen to what other people have to say. But if you put your head down and pray about it — God made all of us the same. There isn’t one of us that’s any different, and He loves all of us just as equal as we’re supposed to love each other. So I believe in myself. I believe that I’m great, because God doesn’t make mistakes.”

This year’s NFR has looked different for many of the top 15. Because of EHV-1 outbreak protocols the horses are required to stay onsite at the Thomas and Mack stalls rather than offsite as many of the top 15 barrel racers often choose to do. That means caring for their horses for 10 days in Las Vegas has become even more important to keep them comfortable, sound and happy.

“Regina showed me after the last time that I ran her she was ready for a break. Our setup this year is a little bit different, because we’re in 10 by 10 stalls, rather than staying where we want to stay. They don’t get to get turned out. I think she was just tired and and she was telling me, so I gave her that time off. I brought her back and I think she’s thankful for it,” Otero said. “Generally, when we’re off the grounds, we don’t spend probably as much time with the horses, and so it’s really been good for us, because we’re with our horses most of the time. Our sponsors have been great, not forcing us to be at signings constantly. Everybody’s really worked together this year.”

WPRA Top 15 Bios

WPRA Top 15 Horses

NFR Payout Breakdown

What If? Aggregate Race and World Standings

The races in the aggregate continue to narrow with one round remaining. Yet, Kassie Mowry continues to pull away from the field with more than $50,000 seperating her and No. 2 Hailey Kinsel.

As of Round Nine, Mowry holds onto her lead in the aggregate with 123.24 on nine runs, as well as her lead in the world standings with $359,525.43. The NFR Average plays a major role in the world standings race as it pays $94,036 to win. If the NFR were to end today, that would mean Mowry would add nearly $100,000 to her standings for a total of $435,560.97 and would take home the title for the second consecutive year.

No. 2 in the world, Kinsel is on her heels with $308,095.59. Kinsel came into the NFR in the No. 4 spot and has banked $121,778 to move to the second position. However, Kinsel was not free of hitting a barrel this year and sits only in the No. 7 position in the Average. If the NFR were to end today, she’d pick up $15,968 for seventh place, but that wouldn’t be enough to surpass Mowry. It would leave her in No. 4 with $324,064.

The Cinderella story of the 2025 NFR has been Tricia Aldridge and Adios Pantalones. The All-Time Leading Barrel Racing Stallion has led Aldridge to two round wins and $156,080 in NFR earnings. They also sit No. 4 in the aggregate with 127.97 on nine runs. She’s moved from 11th in the world standings to No. 3 and placed herself in contention for a world title. If the NFR were to end today, the fourth place finish in the average would earn Aldridge $44,356 bringing her world standings earnings to $341,619 which would finish second behind Mowry.

Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi has been quietly picking up checks this NFR. She’s earned $76,239 so far, but more importantly she’s been staying solid around the pattern sitting in the No. 3 position in the aggregate. If the NFR were to end today, the third place in the average would pay $60,325 bringing her world standings earnings to $331,280 for third in the world.

This scenario is of course anything but guaranteed. As barrel racing fans know, anything can happen in Round 10, and with the rounds paying $36,668 to win there are still opportunities to be capitalized on. However, for some it might be more important to stay consistent and clean on the pattern.