The Rundown August 25: The One With Ruby Buckle and Another Record

Cassie Morton and SS I Am Misty generated $59,376 in Ruby Buckle payouts at Perry, Georgia, Kathy Grimes ran a 16.31 at Burley, Idaho, and Makenzie Mayes climbed five spots clear of the NFR bubble, all recapped on this week’s episode of The Rundown on The Money Barrel.

• 2026 Ruby Buckle East Results

From Blaise Wheeler and Gimme All DaMoney winning the Ruby Buckle Derby average to Andrea Busby’s $14,443 week out of Caldwell and Hallie Hanssen sweeping the THM Productions Megabucks Slot Race in Rapid City, South Dakota, this week’s episode of The Rundown, presented by Chewy, breaks down the biggest results and what they mean moving forward. Listen to the full episode below.

The sections below run in the order the episode covers them, so they read as a companion while it plays.

The Rundown is presented by Chewy.

Chewy carries the everyday wellness list for warm-weather rides and weekends on the road: electrolytes, joint support, hoof care, grooming essentials and more. Whether the week runs to an event or down the trail, trusted products for every part of the routine are on the site and delivered to the barn. The equine store is at chewy.com/equine, or in the Chewy app.

Ruby Buckle East (Perry, Georgia)

Ruby Buckle East wrapped up in Perry with Derby, Futurity and Open championships across the week, and one horse-and-rider pair took a run at nearly all of it.

• Cassie Morton and SS I Am Misty won Round 1 of the Futurity in 14.821 and held on to win the 1D Futurity Average in 29.734. Misty is a 2022 gray mare by RR Mistakelly out of MCM Shes Slick, by Slick By Design.
• That same 14.821 also won the 1D Rookie Ruby and Round 1 of the Open, and the 29.734 won the 1D Open Average. Across the Futurity, Open and Rookie Ruby, the pair generated $59,376 in Ruby Buckle payouts, with $47,500 of it going to the owner/rider.
• Blaise Wheeler and Gimme All DaMoney put together the winning Derby week, taking Round 1 in 14.844 and the 1D Derby Average in 29.810 for $24,095 in payouts. He is by Tres Seis out of Damoney, by Mr Eye Opener.
• Lilli Hayes and KB Tres Times French were third in both Derby rounds and second in the average at 29.860, generating $18,750. She is by Tres Seis out of KB Talents Frenchgal, by Frenchmans Guy.
• Taylor Langdon had two horses in the top five of the 1D Derby Average and picked up six checks between them for $23,097 in Derby payouts.
• Ceri Ward and Slick Swingin Gypsy won the second round of the Derby in 14.538, the fastest run of the Derby.
• Jordan Harrell and OE Bachelor Pad had the fastest Futurity run of the event, winning Round 2 in 14.698, and finished fourth in the average for $20,250.
• Joy Wargo and Chasin Tres Cans went from 10th in Round 1 to third in Round 2 and finished second in the 1D Futurity Average at 29.831 for $21,000.
• The Futurity 2D Average came down to two thousandths, with Dustin Angelle and Epic Perks winning at 31.248 over Ashtin Locke and Five L Bugsnthedark at 31.250.
• Each of the five Open Average divisions paid $15,000 in all: $12,000 to the owner/rider and $1,500 each to the stallion and the breeder. The episode runs the full list of Open, Youth and Breeders Open champions.

ProRodeo Recap: Caldwell, Canby and Gooding

There were 25 ProRodeo barrel races and $274,120 paid out during the week, and the NFR bubble tightened considerably. Nos. 13-17 are now separated by just $10,926, with Austyn Tobey holding the No. 15 spot.

• Makenzie Mayes made the biggest move inside the top 20. She won Canby in 16.25 and added checks at Caldwell and Gooding for a $14,617 week, jumping five spots from 15th to 10th with a projected $105,964.
• Sydney Graham won the most money of anybody on the week at $14,911. She took the first round at Caldwell in 16.71, placed fourth in the average and added checks at Canby and Gooding, holding sixth in the world with a projected $143,042.
• Andrea Busby and Benny had a huge Caldwell. Busby placed third in Round 1, tied Tricia Aldridge for the finals win with a 16.76 and won the average in 33.74 on two head. Her $11,906 at Caldwell alone and $14,443 for the week moved her from 24th to 20th at $79,095.
• Carlee Otero won Gooding in 16.54 on Sly Blingolena for $7,432 and also placed at Canby for an $8,628 week. She now sits at a projected $179,109, just $3,496 behind world leader Hayle Gibson-Stillwell at $182,605.
• Emily Beisel moved past Kassie Mowry into third.
• Loralee Ward is still very much in the NFR conversation at 17th with $87,679.

Kathy Grimes’ 16.31 Standard Pattern Record

Grimes turned the NFR bubble into a real fight, and she did it with the fastest run of her season.

• Kathy Grimes won Cassia County at Burley, Idaho, in 16.31 on KG Just Money, “Showie,” a new USA record on a standard pattern.
• She finished second at Canby and also cashed at Moses Lake and Gooding for $13,398 on the week, moving to 16th with $90,557.
• Grimes is now just $1,305 behind Tobey for the last NFR spot. That gap was $11,110 only a week ago.

THM Productions Megabucks Slot Race (Rapid City, South Dakota)

THM Productions ran its one-day Megabucks Slot Race at Rapid City, a $200 entry with a $300 high-stakes sidepot over the top of it.

• Hallie Hanssen got the win across the board with a 15.229 for $6,695.
• Jenny Belkham and Melvins Mellow Yellow won the 2D for $2,415.
• Rebecca Mur and My Bud Is Streakin cashed for $1,610.

Fall Barrel Horse Sale Schedule

The fall sale season starts in September, and four dates are already on the calendar.

• Zerlottis, Sept. 12.
• Myers Performance Horse Sales, Sept. 15-16.
• The Vault, Sept. 19.
• Pink Buckle, Oct. 7, a sale-graduate offering with x-rays available and the catalog online.
• The full schedule lives on the BarrelRacing.com barrel horse sales calendar.