Page 71 - Speedhorse, December 2018

Champion Tres Seis, sire of AQHA’s #1 all-time leading money earner in 4-time Champion Ochoa, is an example of an emerging nick. Daughters of Tres Seis qualified three to the Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity and are in demand in both the barrel and racing worlds.
“Identifying emerging ‘nicks’ are just
like currency. If I can go identify a young broodmare sire that looks like he is going to be superior, and I can still go buy his daughters at a reasonable price, then the buyer is going to get rewarded. An example of this is Tres Seis. His daughters had three in the trials to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity last weekend (Nov. 25) and qualify to the Dec. 16 finals. They are in demand in both the barrel racing and racing worlds, and now you have to pay more for them.”
THE PINK BUCKLE INCENTIVE – RACE TO BARRELS
Butch was asked how he decided which stallions to enroll in Pink Buckle. He said, “PYC Paint Your Wagon was a fairly easy decision because he’s had several barrel racing slot race winners, and the owners seem to really like them for barrel racing.”
“Coronado Cartel is a young stallion and we thought it was a great opportunity to start him early and get rewarded later on, since he is in a close race for Leading Freshman Sire this year.”
I also spoke with Butch about the Pink Buckle incentive and how he saw it as a
fit for horses after their racing careers are over. “With a young stallion like Coronado Cartel, it will almost exclusively be, for a while, a second career for his progeny. When they are finished at the race track, they are Pink Buckle eligible, so there will be people wanting to try them for barrel racing.
“Tres Seis and PYC Paint Your Wagon are
in a ‘dual world.’ There is a dimension here for these stallions that is interesting because with them, it depends on which direction the breeder wants to take the foal. Both these stallions have a higher breeding fee, and the breeder will usually have a commitment in mind before breeding. Whether it’s on the race track or the barrel
pen, we are breeding for winners which in turn drives the demand for breedings to our stallions. Ultimately, the breeder dictates the market.”
“Some cooperation and organization is necessary for the barrel racing industry to grow. One of the best ways to get people to come together and to put aside differences is a barrel race with a guaranteed payout of $1.5 million.”
PINK BUCKLE AND LAZY E
“The Lazy E is excited to be a part of the Pink Buckle and also the host for the race,” says Butch Wise. “There is a synergy between Pink Buckle and Lazy E. It all starts with the ground. You live or die by your dirt. In my opinion, our arena is right up there with the best of them. This gives the barrel racers a level of confidence. You’ve spent all this time and effort to get this horse to be at his best, on that day, and you don’t want the dirt to get in the way.
“We are excited that PYC Paint Your Wagon, Coronado Cartel and Tres Seis are a part of the Pink Buckle,” Wise continues. “The Pink Buckle is a phenomenon that has created so much excitement that it’s hard to quantify.”
The Pink Buckle’s success, in only its first year, has created an industry ripple that is gaining momentum. Increased interest in Pink Buckle stallions has been notable on many levels. The Goodbye Lane, who was the Leading
Sire of Money Earners for the Pink Buckle Barrel Race, booked full for the year within a week of the conclusion of the race.
Vauna Walker was the high money earner of the weekend, winning $103,000+ for winning the Futurity and Open 1D Average titles
on a horse owned by Dino Chouest, French Goodbye (by The Goodbye Lane). She nearly beat the world record on a standard pattern
by running a :16.567. The unofficial barrel racing world record on a standard pattern at the Lazy E Arena was :16.457, run by Brandon Cullins on A Cornerstone at the Lance Graves International Barrel Race earlier this year.
In the competitive barrel racing prospect market, Pink Buckle eligibility is quickly becoming a key selling point. Owners of Pink Buckle eligible prospects are seeing an increase in demand for their horses. Next year’s Pink Buckle Barrel Race will have a guaranteed payout of $1.5 million and will grow every year.
There are many stallions enrolled in the Pink Buckle, including . . .
Multiple Champion sire PYC Paint Your Wagon.
The #2 leading freshman sire of 2018 Coronado Cartel with over $1 million in earners as of press time.
“Whether it’s on the race track or the barrel pen, we are breeding for winners which in turn drives the demand for breedings to our stallions. Ultimately, the breeder dictates the market.”
SPEEDHORSE, December 2018 69