Keystone Gold: Dan Davis and Chris Morris Win Cinch #13 Gold Shootout at Northeast Regional Super Sort in 2026 

Dan Davis of Gouverneur, New York, and Chris Morris of Culpeper, Virginia, teamed up to win the Cinch #13 Gold Shootout at the 2026 Northeast Regional Super Sort on April 17 at the Keystone Horse Center in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. The pair sorted 28 head over three rounds in 161.23 seconds to claim the championship and earn $5,684 at the annual Cinch RSNC event.

With a challenging set of cattle throughout the weekend, smart strategy and clean execution proved critical. For Davis and Morris, years of riding experience and a lifetime of working cattle helped give them an edge in one of the event’s toughest classes.

“I know cattle, and then obviously it takes a good horse, too, to be able to do the job,” Davis said. “I say it’s 50% horse and 50% the person knowing how to read cattle and get the job done.”

That combination of horsemanship and cattle sense showed throughout the finals, but strong horsepower also played a major role. Davis rode his 2017 mare, Cats Babyrey (High Brow CD x Scooters Rey), known around the barn as “Dolly.” Though she had never worked cattle before joining Davis’ program, she quickly found her calling in the sorting pen.

Results from the 2026 Northeast Regional Super Sort

“She doesn’t look cowy, but, when you go into the pen, she just flips the switch on,” Davis said.

Morris relied on his 2017 gelding, I Gots The Blues (Cat Man Blue x I Gots The Remedy), nicknamed “Blue,” who delivered a standout performance when it mattered most.

“He’s definitely one of my top picks in my string,” Morris said. “He’s reined cow horse trained, but he’s probably the best horse I’ve ever had in my life. He’s so powerful you feel like you’re riding five horses.”

That power came in handy against cattle that gave competitors few easy opportunities. Knowing they needed a plan going into the final round, Davis and Morris leaned on familiarity and trust built from previous rides together.

“We ride so much alike, we kind of knew who could hold the gate or who would go in the herd,” Morris said. “We knew we were good.”

The win marked the first Gold Shootout championship for both riders. In a premier class like the high-rewards Cinch #13 Gold Shootout, where many of the sport’s top competitors enter, the accomplishment marked a turning point in both riders’ sorting careers.

“We were shocked,” Davis said. “In the Gold Shootout classes, you’re not sure because you’re going against what everybody considers some of the world’s best. So, we were very pleased and excited for that win.”