The Rundown May 5: The One Over Derby Weekend

The 2026 Ruby Buckle Central, the American West Final Contender Regional and Derby Days Ocala headline this week’s episode of The Rundown on The Money Barrel, covering one of the biggest payout weeks of the year in Guthrie alongside the next round of American Rodeo qualifiers and a packed weekend of futurity, derby and ProRodeo movement.

From Heidi Gunderson and Wonder If Im Lucky’s Derby and Open sweep at the Lazy E to Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi’s Futurity 1D Average on her family’s homebred Blazzin The Way, Devon Brown’s Open Only sweep on Iknowimblazinfast and Katie Chism’s Cheyenne-clinching American Royal win, this week’s episode of The Rundown, presented by Chewy, breaks down the biggest results from the Lazy E and beyond.

Listen to the full episode below.

• Heidi Gunderson Pushes Through Loss, Wins Ruby Buckle Central Derby Average with Wonder If Im Lucky
• 2026 Ruby Buckle Central Barrel Race: How to Watch

Riding season is in full swing, and Chewy has what your horse needs to roll through it. From fly control and grooming essentials to electrolytes, joint support and first-aid must-haves, plus AutoShip on the products you use most. Shop chewy.com/equine or in the Chewy app.

Ruby Buckle Central (Guthrie, Oklahoma)

$1.31 million paid out across the week at the Lazy E Arena, with the Derby, Open, Futurity, Youth, Owner/Rider, Sale Grad and 5D averages plus the Ruby Buckle Sale all running through the same week.

Derby & Open Champion (16.693, fastest of the meet): Heidi Gunderson & Wonder If Im Lucky
Futurity 1D Average: Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi & Blazzin The Way
Open Only Average (back-to-back 16.9s, 1,200+ entries): Devon Brown & Iknowimblazinfast
Youth Average: Macey Rae Moore & JD Jackson Kandyman
Owner/Rider Round 1 (16.799): Carlee Otero & AM Regina George
Owner/Rider Round 2 (16.711): Taylor Miniat & Love Lane
Sale Grad Average: Kinsley Swepston & Same Girl Same

5D average breakdown:

2D ($12,000 to rider + $1,500 each to breeder and stud owner): Morgan Bagnell & Sir Epic
3D: Shari Taggert & Lethal Sis
4D: João Leão & BR Gals Last Leader
5D: Elisabeth Geisler & Tyme Flies
Derby Round 1 pedigree note: the top 12 came from 12 different sires and 12 different broodmare sires, the deepest split the race has shown.
High Sale ($250,000): BPH Theskyisthelimit, by Dash Ta Fame out of Silky French Pie (FG), to buyer Josh Andrews from seller Taylor Necaise.
Ruby Buckle South Jordan entries are due May 11.

American West Final Contender Regional

71 barrel racers competed for five spots into The American Rodeo, with two go-rounds plus a redemption round.

Round 1: Jana Bean & Vizion
Round 2: Taylor Armenta & Hes Got Cat Style
Average Champion ($4,175): Blake Molle & Wildchildsgotcashuno
Redemption Round:
Hailey Krahenbuhl & Saaul Good — $2,200
Autumn Snyder & Frenchmen Returns — $1,320
Jordynn Knight & Dashing French Belle — $880
Wildchildsgotcashuno and Frenchmen Returns (trained by Joy Wargo) advance to Finals Night.

Derby Days (Ocala, Florida)

$88,000-added at Brandon Perdue’s three-day production, with the $1,000-added Limited Rider 4D running Friday for riders under $25K in lifetime earnings.

Christine DeRenezo & My Flashy Jess: Open Average + Derby Average + $5K Triple Crown sidepot win, second in the $25K Future Fortunes sidepot, $10K+ on the weekend.
Saturday Open Champion (486 horses): Jordan Harrel & DP Blazin Jess
Sunday Open Champion (358 horses, 13.890): Blaise Wheeler & Felice Seis
Limited Rider 4D (176 entries):
1D — Laura DeSilva Brown & Guysrealstreaknfling — $1,108
2D — McKenna Carson & Smartys Diablo — $831
3D — Ellen Lassere & Squirrels Stl Rally — $554
4D — Deena Lowery
ProRodeo Roundup

American Royal (Kansas City, Missouri) — Cheyenne Frontier Days qualifier:

Katie Chism & MF Aces Famous Fling — $3,487
LaTricia Duke — $2,790
Alona James — 3rd
Other rodeo movement:
Mineral Wells, Texas (Fort Smith qualifier): Sissy Winn & Scoop
Clovis, New Mexico: Sydney Graham & Trump
Guymon, Oklahoma: Alyssa Urbanek-Wade & FeelinWillieWicked — $4,286
Devon Brown and Otis backed up the Ruby Buckle Open Only sweep with a 2nd at Clovis and 3rd at Guymon earlier in the week.