Tyler Rivette and Slingin Firewater changed the leaderboard in a big way at draw 127, and never let go during Round 1 of the 2024 Ruby Buckle Central Race’s Derby in 16.794 seconds.

That blazing time ultimately earned Rivette, aboard the 2019 bay roan gelding by A Streak Of Fling and out of Firewater Traffic by Firewater Ta Fame the $5,100 aggregate win for owner Rosemary Harrison, plus an addiitonal $638 each for Harrison as the breeder and stallion A Streak Of Fling.

“Every (A Streak Of Fling) I’ve ridden has been easy to train,” Rivette said. “When I put (Slingin Firewater) on the barrels, it was like he already knew what to do.”

The closest athlete to Rivette on day one was Jodee Miller and M R On Fire Guys (psst….we’ve been talking about her over on The Rundown a LOT in 2024) who turned in a 16.821-second run to earn $3,400 for herself as the owner and $425 each for breeder Stacey Dunn and stallion French Streaktavegas. For full Ruby Buckle Results from the Derby, click here.

Slingin Firewater is one of multiple A Streak Of Fling crosses that Rivette and Harrison have taken to the winner’s circle through their winning owner-trainer partnership. For Slingin Firewater, his Ruby Buckle Central earnings will only add to the 5-year-old’s already loaded resume. Prior to the Guthrie race, he’s already surpassed $163,000 in lifetime earnings in QData.

• A Streak of Success: Tyler Rivette Finds His “Mojo” on Yet Another ASOF
• Daddy’s New Home: $9.2 Million Sire A Streak Of Fling Moves to Lazy E Ranch

Rivette is no stranger to winning inside the walls of the Lazy E Arena, so he shared a few tricks to mastering the indoor standard pattern.

Set up for success.

Tyler Rivette: I’d say your takeoff is the trick to a great first barrel here. I try to stay kind of to the middle of the left-hand side of the alleyway (on a right-handed horse). That way, I can get a good, straight line to the first barrel. You don’t want to come too far out, or get yourself tight and come in too straight. You won’t get it right every time, but it helps when you nail that starting line.

Confidence helps.

TR: I like my horses to go where they need to go without me having to do everything for them. I lope circles a lot one-handed. I like them to be able to get through the pattern one-handed. Obviously, I guide them with two hands between the barrels, especially when I’m training, and if I have to help them, I can. But it’s faster when you don’t have to pull on them.

Space is a good thing.

TR: Everybody has their own style, but in my opinion, it’s harder on horses when they get so close to the barrels coming into them. So I want to run a straight line to it, then give them room coming to it, and the horses can make a big move on the backside.

You’ve got to go fast.

TR: (Slingin Firewater) was really running today. I mean, on a standard pattern, you can’t have a slow horse. You just can’t substitute speed.