LAS VEGAS — DECEMBER 13, 2025 — Carlee Otero has been on an absolute heater at the 2025 Wrangler NFR. Aboard AM Regina George, Otero won Round 10 with a 13.28 marking the duo’s fourth go-round win. Otero earned a total of $156,672 at the NFR and finished fifth in the world standings with $325,165.75.
Otero gave “Regina” the nod to run in eight of the 10 rounds of the 2025 NFR, 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 even more than that amount to her ledger, plus four NFR go-round wins to her name.
“It felt just as good as last night. I said, my goodness, if I knew that she had 13.2s in her all week, I would have been asking her for that at the beginning,” Otero said with a laugh. “I couldn’t ask for a better week. It’s her first time here; this isn’t an easy setup, and I’m just so blessed. We’re leaving here healthy, happy and sound.”
Otero and Regina also ran the fastest time of this year’s NFR to won Round Nine of the Wrangler NFR with a 13.20. 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.
“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.”
Regina was also awarded the Scoti Flit Bar Rising Star Award, which is give to a first-time NFR barrel horse each year. The award is voted on by the barrel racing competitors for the most-deserving equine athlete. It was created to honor Lana Merrick-Bailey’s late Scoti Flit Bar, a talented, young, NFR barrel horse that died far too soon.
“I think that’s very well deserved, and I’m very thankful that my fellow barrel racers recognized her for that,” Otero said.
- Carlee Otero wins Round Nine
- Tricial Aldridge wins Round Eight
- Hayle Gibson-Stillwell wins Round Seven
- Kassie Mowry wins Round Six
- Carlee Otero wins Round Five
- Tricia Aldridge wins Round Four
- Carlee Otero wins Round Three
- Hailey Kinsel wins Round Two
- Kassie Mowry Wins Round One
2025 NFR Barrel Racing Round 10 Results
Place, Name, Time, Money Won
- Carlee Otero / AM Regina George / 13.28 / $36,667.95
- Tricia Aldridge / Adios Pantalones / 13.43 / $28,979.51
- Lisa Lockhart / Blazin Ta Betty / 13.55 / $21,882.48
- Emily Beisel / Tessin Dat Guy / 13.56 / $15,376.88
- Hayle Gibson-Stillwell / Buncha Dinero / 13.64 / $9,462.70
- Wenda Johnson / Tempting Moon Dash / 15.70 / $5,914.19
- Katelyn Scott / Justa DTF Frenchman / 13.77
- Julie Plourde / Wateverock RC / 13.99
- Andrea Busby / Diamond Center / 14.08
- Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / JL Roc Lost a Sock / 14.09
- Hailey Kinsel / DM Sissy Hayday / 18.22 Kassie Mowry / CP He Will Be Epic / 18.59
- Tayla Moeykens / Heaven Sent Fame / 18.83*
- Megan McLeod-Sprague / Seis Corona / 19.16*
- Halyn Lide / Smooth As Rico Suave / 24.54*
Find full WPRA World Standings, NFR Average results and more here.
