March 3, 2022 — FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Things got salty in Performance 3 of The American Semifinals barrel racing as Kellie Collier and Positively Streakin raced to a 13.681 to top the performance and punch their ticket to Friday night’s American Rodeo Contender Round. Collier ultimately finished the Semifinals in the No. 4 position overall at the conclusion of the last Semifinals performance, while Laura Mote’s Perf 1-winning 13.577 held on to win the Semifinals for an $18,987 paycheck (see results below).
“‘Salty’ is an incredible mare. If I stay out of her way, she does her job and does it very well. She really likes this pen; she works better in smaller setups like this, and they keep the ground so good here that I cannot ever complain about that,” Collier said. “I had to lift my leg on the second, and she was really running and stretching out. I have a vet in Amarillo, Texas, Dr. Greg, and he has helped me get her feeling so great. I can’t thank him enough for helping me out with her. She’s firing and she’s stretching out, and her personality and everything is way better. She got pretty tired on the road last year but is a completely different horse now.”
Collier and her Salty have been a team for almost two years. The mare was trained and futuritied as a 4-year-old in 2018 by Ashley Schafer (see her star in Ashley’s training videos here) to more than $35,000 in earnings. Her breeders and former owners Joe and Carla Spitz then sent her to National Finals Rodeo barrel racer Ivy Saebens in 2019 for seasoning. Fellow NFR qualifier Collier purchased Salty from the Spitzes in the latter half of 2020 and took over the reins.
“I loved her when Ashley had her; I think Ashley’s an incredible trainer. I love Salty’s demeanor, her mentality, and every time I had seen her, she was just chill—nothing bothered her. Obviously watching Ashley and Ivy run her, her style is very similar to my mare ‘Lolo’s’ (Streakin Easy April) style—very flat and round and you don’t have to try to get them by the barrels,” Collier explained. “She really loves her job, and I give a lot of credit to Ashley for that. She seems to make them love the barrels instead of resent it.”
The mare has now won more than $70,000 in EquiStat lifetime earnings, and Collier hopes she can add to that at The American.
“She’s working phenomenal. She’s running hard. People are telling me that I’m riding very well, so I’m going to try to keep things the same and just have fun, first and foremost, because not everybody gets to be in this position,” Collier said graciously. “I’m going to enjoy it while I’m here. If it’s my turn, it’s my turn, and if it’s not, it’s not. I thank all my sponsors and my parents for getting me down the road and letting me do what I love to do, but the biggest thanks goes to Salty for putting me in this cool position.”
Collier and the rest of the 10 fastest barrel racers overall from the three Semifinals performances will run against the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association top 10 barrel racers Friday night in The American Contender Round, plus one Exemption contestant. The top eight from the Contender Round advance to AT&T Stadium on Sunday, March 6, for The American Rodeo, where they’ll try to be among the four fastest to qualify for the same-day Final Four Championship.
Performance 3 Pedigrees and EquiStat Earnings
American Semis Barrel Racing Schedule, Draws, TV Info, and Format Explanation
American Prelims and Buy Back Results and Interviews
The American Semifinals Barrel Racing Results/Contender Round Qualifiers
- Laura Mote, Reb Hot Redbull, 13.577, $18,987
- Kassie Mowry, Epic Guy, 13.595, $15,223
- Sarah Rose Waguespack, Roses Roan Ranger, 13.660, $11,641
- Kellie Collier, Positively Streakin, 13.681, $8,995
- Oceane Veilleux, Heavens Guy, 13.683, $8,059
- Rita Cheeney, Smokin Gold Too, 13.700, $7,164
- Marne Loosenort, Lovin Fame, 13.737, $6,268
- Wylee Mitchell, Smokey Gold Jack, 13.769, $5,373
- Charlie Johnson, Phoenixonthecimarron, 13.779, $4,477
- Tasha Welsh, Seis Smashin Fame, 13.792, $3,528
Find complete Semifinals results here.
The American Semifinals Performance 3 Results
- Kellie Collier, Positively Streakin, 13.681
- Ocenae Veillux, Heavens Guy, 13.683
- Brittany Dallaire, Heavenly Harvey, 13.851
- Tandy Meyers, Streakin Dusty Light, 13.893
- Michele Pankiw, Miracle Candy Girl, 13.903
- Summer Shafer, Barvatos, 13.940
- Bayleigh Choate, TJR Stinson Blue, 13.999
- Megan Swint, Bells Lil Bro, 14.093
- Ryann Pedone, JS Milo And Stitch, 18.589*
- Janna Brown, Jets Top Gun, 18.728*
- Jimmy Bryant, Little Bit Of Cowboy, 23.631**
