“Rootie came in tonight and I just have so much confidence in that horse. We’ve been together for so long, and she’s liking it a lot better this time,” Diaz said, comparing this year’s string of NFR performances to the duo’s 2011 appearance. “We’re not clobbering barrels like we did the last time. She went in there and was spot on. She’s just been really honest and she ran hard through the whole thing and just tries her little guts out every time. I’m just thrilled she’s mine and the run went the way it did.” 
Diaz purchased Rootie, now 14, for $800 as a weanling.
“We just ranched and I had my good mare that I ran in college,” she recalled.
“She was just going to be a horse that we had and probably eventually sold. I took her to colt class with me to break her when I was going to school in Glendive (Mont.). She seemed like she had a lot of spunk, so I just played around with her (around the barrels) and she started to take to it. The first jackpot I took her to, she beat my good college mare, so I knew she was pretty special then. I just didn’t realize how special.”
Diaz, who ran here in 2011 under her maiden name, Britany Fleck, is the first NFR barrel racer from North Dakota. She now resides in Desdemona, Texas, with her husband, Isaac (a multi-NFR qualifier in the saddle bronc riding), but claims the Roughrider state as her home.
“Rootie was born and raised in North Dakota, so it’s pretty special to me to have her down here. We stay in North Dakota throughout the summer because it’s closer to everything we go to. I couldn’t be happier to claim that state. Not many people make it to the NFR from North Dakota, so to be here and for our flag to be flown in the arena during the grand entry is an awesome feeling,” Diaz said with misty eyes.
Tonight’s win boosted her to third in the average race, which also saw a change in the leaderboard when Lisa Lockhart tipped a barrel to concede the lead to Fallon Taylor, albeit by a sliver of a second. The barrel race is indeed keeping things hot here in the cool desert nights in Las Vegas, and Kaley Bass, who led the world standings from the Calgary Stampede in July to the third performance of the NFR, is not giving up without a fight. Her second place finish in tonight’s round aboard AQHA/WPRA Horse of the Year, Wonders Cowboy Dan, moved her up a notch to second in the world title race. Christy Loflin made a strong recovery after last night’s unfortunate round, placing third on Sheza Blazin Move with a 13.91. Fallon Taylor, Trula Churchill and Jana Bean rounded out the top six.
Don’t miss the February issue of Barrel Horse News to read in-depth coverage of all the great stories from the 2014 Wrangler NFR.
Barrel Racing Results – Sixth go-round:
1. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 13.89 led off
2. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 13.90
3. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 13.91
4. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.08
5. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 14.13
6. Jana Bean, Ft. Hancock, Texas, 14.18
7. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 14.28
8. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.29
9. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 14.35
10. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 18.72
11. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 18.86
12. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 18.90
13. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 18.96
14. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 19.00
15. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 19.32
Aggregate Standings – Sixth go-round:
(Rank/Name/Aggregate/Aggregate Prize/Total NFR Earnings
1. Fallon Taylor 89.19/6 $0.00 $72,331.72
2. Lisa Lockhart 89.41/6 $0.00 $51,643.62
3. Britany Diaz 90.02/6 $0.00 $28,656.84
4. Kaley Bass 90.68/6 $0.00 $19,921.88
5. Samantha Lyne 91.49/6 $0.00 $0.00
6. Trula Churchill 94.40/6 $0.00 $31,262.02
7. Michele McLeod 94.60/6 $0.00 $33,407.44
8. Kassidy Dennison 94.84/6 $0.00 $34,020.43
9. Sherry Cervi 95.38/6 $0.00 $24,212.74
10. Jana Bean 95.41/6 $0.00 $15,937.50
11. Carlee Pierce 95.58/6 $0.00 $14,098.55
12. Mary Walker 104.17/6 $0.00 $7,968.75
13. Nancy Hunter 104.18/6 $0.00 $18,082.93
14. Christine Laughlin 114.91/6 $0.00 $0.00
15. Christy Loflin 80.07/5 $0.00 $16,243.99
Windham Weaponry World Rankings – Sixth go-round:
(Rank/Season earnings/NFR earnings/Total world earnings)
1. Fallon Taylor $131,471.13 $72,331.72 $203,802.85
2. Kaley Bass $155,279.55 $19,921.88 $175,201.43
3. Lisa Lockhart $121,617.00 $51,643.62 $173,260.62
4. Michele McLeod $100,645.02 $33,407.44 $134,052.46
5. Britany Diaz $102,946.71 $28,656.84 $131,603.55
6. Kassidy Dennison $92,051.12 $34,020.43 $126,071.55
7. Nancy Hunter $104,289.49 $18,082.93 $122,372.42
8. Sherry Cervi $93,048.33 $24,212.74 $117,261.07
9. Christy Loflin $91,736.41 $16,243.99 $107,980.40
10. Mary Walker $99,712.14 $7,968.75 $107,680.89
11. Trula Churchill $75,874.35 $31,262.02 $107,136.37
12. Carlee Pierce $90,430.58 $14,098.55 $104,529.13
13. Christine Laughlin $93,134.61 $0.00 $93,134.61
14. Jana Bean $70,415.60 $15,937.50 $86,353.10
15. Samantha Lyne $70,577.07 $0.00 $70,577.07
