TEXAS CIRCUIT: BARRELS Definition of Dominant Riley Wins Texas Circuit Finals Surrounded by Family
By Josie Fladager I lyssa Riley dominated the Texas Circuit Finals. Riley won three of the four rounds inside Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas, and took the average title with a 1.38 second lead on Texas Circuit year-end champion Sissy Winn. Riley’s efforts earned her a ticket to the NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colo. and moved her from 12th to 2nd in the year-end circuit standings. Riley came into the circuit finals as the lowest barrel racer in the standings, so she also came in with a goal to win the average at the finals. She got a good start, placing second in the first round with 15.92 seconds behind Cheyenne Wimberley with 15.73 seconds. What happened the next three days was a week all barrel racers dream about having. “I came in in last place, so I knew I had no chance but to go fast,” Riley said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever teared up after a run and I definitely teared up after that run,” Riley said. “I think that was probably a run that I’ll hold with me for a really long time.” Riley accomplished her goal — all four runs totaled to 62.85 seconds to win the average. Her earnings for the week added up to $11,467, doubling her earnings total coming into the finals. Riley was aboard Mistys Money Blurr, a 6-year-old gelding she purchased from Kassie Mowry as a 4-year-old. Living about an hour from Waco, “Money” got to stay in his own stall each night during the finals. Riley and Money are now a dynamic duo that produces performances like Ilyssa Riley raced her way to the average title at the Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in Waco, Texas. She captured the title with a 1.38 second lead over Sissy Winn, who competed in her first NFR in December. Photo by Rodeobum.com – James Phifer
the show they put on at the circuit finals, and Riley couldn’t imagine Money with anyone else. “He has an attitude as big as he is,” she said. “He scares a lot of people, but he loves me so I’m thankful for that.” Riley’s average win also earned her a ticket to the NFR Open in July. She and Winn will be the only two barrel racers competing from the Texas Circuit, and Riley is thankful for the opportunity to run at an exclusive rodeo
The Hico, Texas cowgirl dominated the next three rounds. She clocked a time of 15.59 seconds in the second round to win by over three-tenths of a second, and put her first in the average. In the third round, Riley pulled even further ahead, stopping the clock at 15.54 seconds to out run every other barrel racer that day by over half a second; this also turned out to be the fastest time of the week. Knowing her horse had a history of hitting barrels, Riley was strategic going into the final round. “I just wanted to have clean run,” she said. “I told myself just to ride hard. I didn’t care if it was sloppy, or if it was fast or not, all I had to do was be clean so I rode really hard.” Riley entered the fourth round with over a second lead in the average — but she wasn’t slowing down. She finished her incredible finals by winning the round with a time of 15.81 seconds. Ilyssa Riley dominated the Texas Circuit Finals winning three out of four rounds to easily cruise to the average title. Riley punched her ticket to the NFR Open in July in Colorado Springs, Colorado and will be joined by year-end champion Sissy Winn in representing the Lone Star State. Photo by Rodeobum.com – James Phifer
After a dominating performance at the Texas Circuit Finals, Ilyssa Riley took home the average title in a total time of 62.85 seconds on four runs. She also moved from 12 th in the final year-end standings to second after winning $11,467 at the circuit finals. Photo by Rodeobum.com – James Phifer
continued on page 34
20 WOMEN’S PRO RODEO NEWS DECEMBER 2022
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker