Ashley Schafer dominated the Royal Crown Derby, winning Round one and the average on two different horses, Chrome Plated Fame and Fiesta By Design, collecting a total of $22,759.

Schafer won Round 1 aboard Fiesta By Design with a 16.905, earning $5,202, but hit a barrel in Round 2, keeping the pair out of the average. Chrome Plated Fame, however, remained consistent, placing fourth in Round 1 with a 17.211 and second in Round 2 with a 16.919. Chrome Plated Fames performances secured the Royal Crown Derby average title with a combined time of 34.130, earning a total of $17,557.

Bread and owned by Charlie Cole and Jason Martin, Chrome Plated Fame is a 2018 mare by Dash Ta Fame out of Rods Last Ladybug who is by Sharp Rodney.

The Run Breakdown

After their first-round success, Schafer had two goals for Round 2: ride less defensively and stay more confident.

“I was really proud of her (Chrome Plated Fame) second-round run,” Schafer said. “Her first barrel was pretty much flawless, and she was very correct in her footwork. Going to my third barrel, I really tried to focus on riding less defensively because I rode a little too defensively on both derby horses in Round 1. I focused on staying confident that she was going to find her spots, and she did. I can’t fault her anywhere—it was a great run.”

Seeking Redemption

Chrome Plated Fame thrives on a big pattern, but she hasn’t had many opportunities to compete on them during her futurity and derby years.

“We don’t get to run the futurity and derby horses on many standard patterns,” Schafer said. “Really, the standards we get to run on are at the Pink and Ruby Buckles, but since she (Chrome Plated Fame) is a Dash Ta Fame, she isn’t eligible. I was really excited to bring her back here to Buckeye this year because she loves bigger patterns.”

During her futurity year, Schafer and Chrome Plated Fame knocked over the third barrel in Round 2 at the Royal Crown in Buckeye, costing them the average title. This year’s win was especially meaningful.

“Her futurity year, she placed in the first round, but a down barrel in Round 2 cost us the average,” Schafer said. “It was really fun to bring her back here this week and run on a standard again. It was nice to get a little redemption, too.”

ProRodeo Plans

Schafer has her sights set on rodeos this summer with Chrome Plated Fame.

“I think she will do really well at some of the bigger outdoor rodeos,” Schafer said. “I’m going to take her to some over the summer and just feel it out to see how she does. I think both her and my other derby horse (Fiesta By Design) will love the rodeos, but we will see.”