LAS VEGAS — DECEMBER 8, 2024 — Kassie Mowry and Force The Goodbye top Round Four of the Wrangler NFR with a 13.43, breaking the previous Round Four record, 13.46 set in 2021 by Wenda Johnson. Mowry sits No. 2 in the WPRA world standings after earning just under $100,000 at the 2024 NFR, and is No. 4 in the Top Gun standings. With two second-place finishes in Round Two and Round Three, “Jarvis” continues to find his groove early in the week.
“It took a lot of weight off my shoulders having two second places,” Mowry said. ” I felt like my horse came out here and he showed what he can do last year. He’s gotten in the rhythm of things, he’s won some money and I just feel like the pressure is off, and I’m just here to have fun and enjoy my horse.”
Owned by Mowry’s late fiancé, Michael Boone, Jarvis carried Mowry through an incredible season to her fifth NFR qualification.
“The minute we left Vegas last year, [Mike] just was like, ‘You got to get that horse back to Vegas. He deserves to go,'” Mowry said. “When he passed it kind of turned into a goal of mine. I wanted to do that for him. I really never thought past just getting here, literally, that was just my goal, was to get him here so he had a chance. That’s all we wanted, was for him to have another chance. And so I’ve not tried to overthink this. Every night, I just try to be the best jockey that I can be and have confidence in my horse.”
Running at only 27 rodeos in the regular season, Mowry wasn’t sure she would keep going with various horse injuries and setbacks. Never intending to run Jarvis, a friend encouraged her to give the 6-year-old gelding a shot before she turned out and came home and he proved he was ready, earning $135,288 at 16 rodeos.
“I’ve struggled this year with where I need to be and what I need to be doing, and Jarvis has given me something to look forward to when I didn’t have a lot to look forward to,” Mowry said. “And I’m so grateful for that
horse. He has carried me through this year for sure, the toughest year of my life.”
Jarvis won his first pro rodeo check at the 2023 NFR in Round Seven followed by the fastest time of the 2023 NFR, a 13.30 to win Round Eight. They won Round Nine as well and now he’s back in the Thomas and Mack Center as her main mount.
“He has got a little bit on the muscle in the alleyway,” she said. “I mean, it is Round Four and so I just spent a little time backing him off and just trying to keep him as calm as I can right there. And the minute I let him go, it was basically him. He hit all the right spots, and he just runs as fast as he can. For me, it felt incredible.”
An emotional win for the all-time winningest barrel racer with more than $7 million in career earnings, Mowry also trained Abby Phillips Round Four horse, Epic Guy. “King” was jockeyed by Mowry from 2018 to 2022, earning more than $280,000 in EquiStat reported earnings in his career with her, including a Barrel Futurities of America World Championship and a Better Barrel Races OKC Futurity Championship and now has more than $560,000 in lifetime earnings.
“It’s why I do it. I love the process. I love building these colts and getting them confident,” she added. “And I love seeing other people enjoy them. That is the biggest thing for me, is to hand them over and to get feedback from people that they just enjoy them, love them and have fun with them. It’s a lot of fun for me coming here and getting to see these horses go.”
Tiany Schuster and Famous Mic Guy Ver were top of the ground, running a 13.68 for fourth place and a $14,126 check. They also moved to No. 2 in the average with 54.76 on four runs. Carlee Otero and Blingolena ran a 13.59 to take second place in Round Four and $26,623, their second check of the 2024 NFR.
2024 NFR Barrel Racing Horsepower
Top 10 EquiStat NFR All-Time Leaders
Notable Horse Changes
Four barrel racers changed horses for Round Four. NFR first-timer Abby Phillips stepped off VF Expensive Taste after picking up a check in the first two rounds and ran 2015 gelding Epic Guy (Epic Leader x Frenchilicious x Frenchmans Guy).
Emily Beisel switched from her gray powerhouse, Namgis D 33 to 2016 mare Teasin Dat Guy (Frenchmans Guy x Teasin Jetolena x Blazin Jetolena). “Chewy” is no rookie to the Thomas and Mack Center as she ran down the alley in 2021 with her trainer Molly Otto, claiming the Reserve Aggregate Champion title. Beisel and Chewy ran a 13.82.
Leslie Smalygo changed from Justaheartbeattofame to 2016 stallion Blazin Boss (Blazin Jetolena x Famous Moonlight x Dash Ta Fame). “Boss” has a talented team behind his training including Troy Crumrine and now DaCota Monk.
Dona Kay Rule added 2014 mare NB LadyBird (Shawne Bug Leo x TR Dashing Badger x Mr Illuminator) to her team at the 2024 NFR as a backup to High Valor. Running “Birdie” in Round Four, the pair stopped the clock with a 14.04.
Shelley Morgan ran Bucky Wonder Horse in Round Three and got back on 2022 NFR Aggregate Champion HR Fameskissandtell for Round Four. Morgan and “Kiss” were a 13.75 to split 6th place with LaTricia Duke and DM High Roller, each earning $2,716.
- 2024 NFR Barrel Racing Round One Results
- 2024 NFR Barrel Racing Round Two Results
- 2024 NFR Barrel Racing Round Three Results
2024 NFR Barrel Racing Round Four Results
1. Kassie Mowry/Force The Goodbye/13.43/$33,687.18
2. Carlee Otero/Blingolena/13.59/$26,623.74
3. Hailey Kinsel/DM Sissy Hayday/13.61/$20,103.64
4. Tiany Schuster/Famous Mic Guy Ver/13.68/$14,126.88
5. Halyn Lide/Jettin Ta Heaven/13.72/$8,693.47
6. LaTricia Duke/DM High Roller/13.75/$2,716.71
6. Shelley Morgan/HR Fameskissandtell/13.75/$2,716.71
8. Ashley Castleberry/Skyy Blue/13.79
9. Andrea Busby/Jets Top Gun/13.81
10. Emily Beisel/Teasin Dat Guy/13.82
11. Dona Kay Rule/NB Ladybird/14.04
12. Wenda Johnson/Steal Money/18.87*
13. Lisa Lockhart/Blazin Ta Betty/18.92*
14. Abby Phillips/Epic Guy/19.29*
15. Leslie Smalygo/Blazin Boss/29.28*
*Denotes Penalty
2024 NFR Barrel Racing Aggregate Results
- Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 53.95 on four runs
- Tiany Schuster, Krum, Texas, 54.76
- Andrea Busby, Millsap, Texas, 54.81
- Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, Texas, 55.05
- LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, Texas, 55.61
- Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 58.86
- Carlee Otero, Perrin, Texas, 59.87
- Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 60.04
- Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas, 60.19
- Abby Phillips, Marshall, Texas, 60.56
- Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla., 60.95
- Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla., 65.18
- Halyn Lide, China Spring, Texas, 65.87
- Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 70.24
- Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 56.96 on two runs
2024 WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings (After Round Four)
- Hailey Kinsel/$335,267.72
- Kassie Mowry/$259,217.50
- Leslie Smalygo/$214,057.12
- Ashley Castleberry/$203,055.25
- Tiany Schuster/$193,840.94
- Carlee Otero/$176,136.62
- Andrea Busby/$165,761.38
- Emily Beisel/$164,004.96
- Abby Phillips/$151,036.94
- Lisa Lockhart/$150,887.64
- LaTricia Duke/$150,540.62
- Halyn Lide/$140,659.17
- Dona Kay Rule/$131,480.98
- Wenda Johnson/$127,969.63
- Shelley Morgan/$126,622.72
