December 6, 2020 – Arlington, Texas— On a fast track of barrels in Round Four of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the reigning world champions Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday sprinted to the top of the field with an impressive 17.09-second run on the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association standard pattern in Globe Life Field.
The 9-year-old mare by PC Frenchmans Hayday out of Royal Sissy Irish, an Equi-Stat earner of more than $1.6 million, and her two-time WPRA world champion jockey had a big task ahead of them following Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi‘s 17.12-second run aboard Ima Famous Babe (Dash Ta Fame x Streakin Six Babe x Streakin Six). As Globe Life Field erupted in applause for the No. 2 ranked cowgirl in the world standings, it was soon overcome by roars of cheers when the dream team of Kinsel and “Sister” sped across the field.
“It definitely felt good,” Kinsel said. “She hesitated a bit on the backside of the first and the backside of the third in the same spots she slipped in yesterday, but she’s so gritty. She’ll hesitate, but she’s not going to cheat me and she’s not going to not work. I had to take ahold of her on the backside of the first, like ‘It’s OK, I promise it’s OK.’ Some horses come back after a slip and might be a little short, but she comes back and is going to put in the same effort. She’s going to be smart and adaptable about it, but it’s the same effort and that’s something you can’t train.”
After two substantial slips in Round Three, Kinsel said it took her longer to mentally overcome the obstacle than it did Sister. While Kinsel made every effort to make sure Sister was feeling her best through vet checks and massages, she knew she had to put the Round Three run behind her and focus on Round Four—part of which she said was due to the extra work the ground crew did after Round Three.
“I had knots in my stomach last night afterwards. The ground guy called us, the girls, reached out to us and said, ‘I watched the barrel racing and that was not good.’ He apologized for it, and it’s not his fault, it just happens,” Kinsel said. “Whether it was too much water after the tractors and they overturned it and it got heavy underneath, who knows, but he knew what to watch for. Just hearing that confirmation from a guy who knows his stuff and is going to step up and improve it the next day is awesome. That gave me the confidence that my horse is fine and I’m good to go.”
Kinsel keeps her lead in the world standings with $161,653.17 as well as her lead in the aggregate. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi is close on her heels with $153,840.22 in the world standings and second place in the aggregate after picking up $20,730.77 for second in Round Four.
Jessica Routier and Fiery Miss West also made a big showing in Round Four, turning in a 17.22 in the second position out on the ground to earn third-place money. That time boosted Routier from seventh in the aggregate to fifth.
ROUND FOUR RESULTS
Rank, Name, Horse, Time, Money Won
- Hailey Kinsel, DM Sissy Hayday, 17.09
- Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Ima Famous Babe, 17.13
- Jessica Routier, Fiery Miss West, 17.24
- Stevi Hillman, Cuatro Fame, 17.30
- Jimmie Smith, Lena On The Rocks, 17.32
- Lisa Lockhart, Tres Movidas, 17.33
- Jessie Telford, Famous Cool Whip, 17.34
- Emily Miller Beisel, Biddin On Fame, 17.39
- Jill Wilson, Lean Mean Blue Dean, 17.41
- (tie) Shelley Morgan, HR Fameskissandtell, 17.52
- (tie) Ryann Pedone, JS Milo And Stitch, 17.52
- Wenda Johnson, Macgyver Moonflash, 18.22
- Cheyenne Wimberley, Dash Ta Suz, 18.23
- Brittany Barnett, Chicks Keen O Pocopoo, 22.59*
- Tiany Schuster, Show Mance, 22.85*
*denotes penalty
AGGREGATE ON FOUR RUNS
Rank, Name, Time on four runs
- Hailey Kinsel, 68.99
- Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 69.21
- Stevi Hillman, 69.46
- Shelley Morgan, 69.50
- Jessica Routier, 52.64
- Jill Wilson, 70.06
- Jessica Telford, 70.32
- Cheyenne Wimberley, 70.33
- Emily Miller Beisel, 70.34
- Jimmie Smith, 70.59
- Ryann Pedone, 71.23
- Wenda Johnson, 71.44
- Lisa Lockhart, 73.87
- Tiany Schuster, 75.29
- Brittney Barnett, 75.31
WPRA WORLD STANDINGS
Rank, Name, Hometown, Earnings,
- Hailey Kinsel, $161,653.17
- Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $153,840.22
- Jimmie Smith, $108,022.06
- Shelley Morgan, $98,613.42
- Tiany Schuster, $96,791.15
- Stevi Hillman, $91,157.92
- Lisa Lockhart, $88,134.91
- Cheyenne Wimberley, $79,039.3
- Dona Kay Rule, $77,453.54
- Jessica Routier, $77,024.78
- Jill Wilson, $63,370.97
- Brittney Barnett, $53,796.10
- Ryann Pedone, $52,580.60
- Emily Miller, $52,388.19
- Wenda Johnson, $49,953.14
- Jessie Telford, $48,477.2
* No. 16-ranked Jessie Telford replaced No. 3-ranked Dona Kay Rule at the Wrangler NFR
