The Royal Crown kicked off its first event of 2026 with big payouts in Buckeye, Arizona, February 11-15, and we’re recapping the derby, futurity, high stakes and more.
Click here for FULL Royal Crown and SVE class results.
Table of contents
Royal Crown Derby
Round 1
HP Hotrod, a 2021 stallion by Dash Ta Fame out of Rods Last Ladybug (Sharp Rodney), won the first round of the Royal Crown Derby beneath Sherry Cervi in 16.887. The run paid $5,644 to owners Charlie Cole and Jason Martin, $1,018 to stallion Dash Ta Fame and $436 back to Cole and Martin as the breeders. HP Hotrod also won the first round of the SVE Derby for $2,638 in rider pay, and that same 16.887 carried over to top the open and senior divisions while standing as the fastest time in the High Stakes Slot Race, adding nearly another $15,000 in earnings from a single performance.
Kuhl Dark Whiskey, a 2020 Royal Crown stallion by Paddys Irish Whiskey out of Fairlight Okelly (Darkelly), topped the 2D with a 17.643 for Lacey Kuhlmann. The effort paid $1,881 to Kuhlmann, $339 to the stallion and $145 to the breeder.
Round 2
Amberleigh Moore answered in Round 2 aboard Tres Dark Tigress, her 2021 mare by Roarr out of CP Dark Moon (Darkelly), stopping the clock in 16.865. The win paid $5,644 to Moore as owner and rider, along with $1,018 to stallion Roarr and $436 back to Moore as breeder.
Wolverrine, a 2020 Royal Crown stallion by The Goodbye Lane out of Rosas Cantina CC (Corona Cartel), finished second in Round 2 of the Royal Crown Derby before returning to win the second round of the SVE Derby beneath Kit Johnson in 16.894, earning $2,638 in rider pay.
Lola Pickhardt rode Plain Blazin Fame to the 2D win in Round 2 of the Royal Crown Derby.
Average
Top 5 (1D)
- Terri Wood Gates – TFour Epic Love – 34.142
$11,287 rider | $2,036 stallion | $873 breeder - Lora Nichols – Blissful Version – 34.334
$9,401 rider | $1,698 stallion | $728 breeder - Brittany Tonozzi – ChitiChitiBangBang – 34.515
$7,989 rider | $1,443 stallion | $619 breeder - Kathy Grimes – KG Just Money – 34.580
$6,103 rider | $1,102 stallion | $473 breeder - Kelli Thouvenell – KT Mama Said – 34.636
$4,688 rider | $846 stallion | $363 breeder
TFour Epic Love, a 2018 gelding by Epic Leader out of Gateway Ta Love (Dash Ta Fame), secured the Royal Crown Derby average and the SVE Derby average beneath Terri Wood Gates with a 34.142 two-run total. In the Royal Crown Derby, the average championship paid $11,287 to Gates, $2,036 to stallion Epic Leader and $873 to the breeder, while the SVE Derby average added another $5,277 in rider earnings, pushing the average-day total to more than $19,000.
Blissful Version and Lora Nichols finished reserve in the Royal Crown Derby average, with Brittany Tonozzi aboard ChitiChitiBangBang rounding out the top three.
Brandon Stokes won the 2D Royal Crown Derby average aboard TrafficSUE, a 2021 gelding by Traffic Guy out of TMJ Valentino Sue (Rios Barred Boy), with a 35.663 two-run total, earning $3,762 to the rider, $679 to the stallion and $291 to the breeder.
Royal Crown Futurity
Round 1
Flinging Goodbyes, a 2021 mare by The Goodbye Lane out of Blue Moon Fling (A Streak of Fling), won the first round of the Royal Crown Futurity beneath Ceri Ward in 16.997. The run paid $5,566 to owners Shawn and Rickki Moyer, $1,004 to stallion The Goodbye Lane and $430 back to the Moyers as breeders, and the pair also captured the first round of the SVE Futurity for $2,597 in rider pay.
A Speedy Goodbye, a 2021 gelding by The Goodbye Lane out of Alluringly Speedy (Specially Alluring), topped the 2D with a 17.767 for Paige Camp, earning $1,855 to the rider, $335 to the stallion and $144 to breeder Paige Belle Wiseman.
Round 2
JS Night Moves, a 2021 gelding by Winners Version out of Judging Julie (Judge Cash), won Round 2 of the Royal Crown Futurity beneath Payton Johnson in 16.811. That run, combined with a 17.387 from Round 1, secured the Royal Crown Futurity average championship.
Average
Top 5 (1D)
- Payton Johnson – JS Night Moves – 34.198
$13,743 rider | $2,098 stallion | $899 breeder - Ceri Ward – Flinging Goodbyes – 34.219
$11,453 rider | $1,748 stallion | $749 breeder - Tyler Rivette – Adios Ameegos – 34.393
$9,735 rider | $1,486 stallion | $637 breeder - Kelli Thouvenell – KT Edward – 34.514
$7,444 rider | $1,136 stallion | $487 breeder - Cheyenne Wimberley – HP Valentino – 34.601
$5,726 rider | $874 stallion | $375 breeder
Johnson and JS Night Moves earned $13,743 in rider pay for the Royal Crown Futurity average, while stallion Winners Version collected $2,098 and breeder Jeffrey Steadman received $899. The 16.811 from Round 2 also held to win the 1D of the open on Day 2.
Ceri Ward and Flinging Goodbyes finished reserve champions, while Tyler Rivette rode his 2022 mare Adios Ameegos, by The Goodbye Lane out of StreakinFlinginDisco, to a third-place finish.
First Moonrae, a 2021 mare by Eddie Stinson out of Sailor Rae (First Moonflash), claimed the 2D Futurity championship beneath Cody Hyde, earning approximately $5,500 across her checks.
Darla Hoover and CT Sassy Traffic, a 2021 gelding by Traffic Guy out of BC Sassy Dash (Dash Ta Fame), won the 3D Royal Crown Futurity average with a 36.699 two-run total. The championship paid $1,200 in rider earnings.
High Stakes Slot Race
Sherry Cervi and HP Hotrod won the 1D of the High Stakes Slot Race in 16.887, earning $6,426 from the $35,700 payout. Kit Johnson and Wolverrine followed in 16.894 for $5,355, with Kelli Thouvenell and KT Edward third in 16.906 for $4,552.
Youth/Open Recaps coming soon