Mowry Moves to No. 1 in the World

By Ann Bleiker

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Kassie Mowry and Jarvis made their way to the winner’s circle for the fifth straight night and were joined on the victory lap by Shelley Morgan and Kiss after turning in identical times of 13.45 seconds during the eighth round at the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both cowgirls added $30,155 to their earnings.

“I had a plan until Jarvis got a little ahead of himself and it got a little western and I just had to go with it and try to keep up with him,” said Mowry when describing her run. “He was really running to the first barrel, and I felt a little behind him and I was really proud of him as he got up and by it and kept moving forward and that is something we have really been working on.

            For Mowry she now ties the record of most consecutive round wins in WPRA history matching Jimmie Munroe who won five rounds at the 1984 NFR on Smooth Cadet. Munroe’s wins came in the first five rounds while Mowry has won Rd. 4, 5, 6, 7 and now shared the win in the eighth round.

            “I just can’t believe this,” stated Mowry when asked about tying a 40-year-old record. “This horse is doing the unimaginable.”

            With the fifth round victory Mowry overtakes Hailey Kinsel in the world standings after Kinsel failed to place in the eighth round. Mowry now has $390,435, while Kinsel has $367,325. She also continues to lead the Ram Top Gun standings with $228,152 won thus far at the 2024 NFR.

For Morgan she has qualified for the Wrangler NFR five times but tonight was her first round win. She did win the average in her last NFR in 2022.

            “What an awesome person to share a win with,” stated Morgan when referring to Mowry. “It has been a rough finals so far but Rex (her husband) keeps my head straight and you just have to keep going. Her run felt so snappy tonight, so amazing. It felt like an amazing Kiss run.

            “I have tried all these years and I just really wanted a round win. Tonight I got it!”

            Andrea Busby remained clean on the night as did LaTricia Duke. Both ladies are making their first appearance at the NFR but both have trained numerous horses who have made their way down the alleyway at the Thomas and Mack. These ladies are now 1-2 in the average with Busby leading the way with 108.99 on eight and Duke with 111.01. Mowry moved to third with times totaling 112.18.

            It was another scary night for Dona Kay Rule getting unseated from Valor coming down the alley. Justin Sportsmedicine treated her on-site. Rule suffered a head abrasion, a left ankle sprain and a sacrum contusion. She will be re-evaluated in the morning to determine her status for the ninth round.

The barrel racing field was sporting the color red for Canadian Night with Tiany Schuster bringing the extra sparkle to the dance. Fans can vote nightly at www.wpra.com for the Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award presented by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. The winner will receive a cash bonus of $5,000 prior to the 10^th round.

            Ninth round action gets underway, Friday, December 13 at 5:45 p.m. PT LIVE on the Cowboy Channel.

Average results: 1. Andrea Busby, 108.99 on eight; 2. LaTricia Duke, 111.01; 3. Kassie Mowry, 112.18; 4. Tiany Schuster, 114.56; 5. Ashley Castleberry, 115.32; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 118.25; 7. Emily Beisel, 119.47; 8. Carlee Otero, 119.67.

Rd 8 results: 1. (tie) Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 13.45 seconds, $30,155 each; 3. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 13.47, $20,104; 4. Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, OK, 13.51, $14,127; 5. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.59, $8,693; 6. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.61, $5,433.

Rd. 7 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.19 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.47, $26,624; 3. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.48, $20,104; 4. Abby Phillips, Marshall, TX, 13.60, $1,127; 5. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, OK, 13.61, $8,693; 6. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.63, $5,433.

Rd 6 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.25, $33,687; 2. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.49, $26,624; 3. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.54, $20,104; 4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.72, $14,127; 5. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.73, $8,693; 6. LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, TX, 13.79, $5,433.

Rd 5 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.43 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.51, $26,624; 3. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 13.53, $20,104; 4. (tie) Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, and Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.57, $11,410 each; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 13.59, $5,433.

Rd 4 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.43 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.59, $26,624; 3. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.61, $20,104; 4. Tiany Schuster, Krum, TX, 13.68, $14,127; 5. Halyn Lide, China Spring, TX, 13.72, $8,693; 6. (tie) LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, TX and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 13.75, $2,717 each.

Rd 3 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.48, $33,687; 2. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.58, $26,624; 3. (tie) Tiany Schuster, Krum, TX and Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.65 $17,115 each; 5. LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, TX, 13.67, $8,693; 6. Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook OK, 13.84, $5,433.

Rd. 2 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.48 seconds, $33,687; 2. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.51, $26,624; 3. Tiany Schuster, Krum, TX, 13.53, $20,104; 4. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, TX, 13.62, $14,127; 5. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.65, $8,693; 6. Abby Phillips, Marshall, TX, 13.66, $5,433.

Rd 1 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.38 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.55, $26,624; 3. Abby Phillips, Marshall, TX, 13.63, $20, 104; 4. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, $14,127; 5. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, TX, 13.75 $8,693; 6. (tie) Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, OK and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 13.84, $2,7167 each.