Ashley Parks and MP Lead Me To Hay were the fastest of the day at The Patriot Reno’s Open 4D barrel race with a 16.478 to win $6,069—besting a field filled with NFR qualifiers and top futurity talent as well as barrel racers of every level.
By Amy Wilson
MP Lead Me To Hay, a 9-year-old PC Frenchmans Hayday daughter out of Hum Dash Special by Special Effort, originally came from the Potter Ranch.
“I bought her five years ago from a girl in Ocala, Florida,” Parks, from Dania Beach, Florida, explained about the horse she calls ‘Bindi.’ “She just was really catty and I love red mares.”
- “Magic” Horse of the Year Crosses: Sun Frost x Casey’s Ladylove
- A Goat Tyer and a Pole Bender Earned $120,500 in The Hooey Junior Patriot Finals
Parks likes to buy young horses that are started and put her finishing touch on them.
Fast forward to Tuesday morning in Reno, where Parks and Bindi made the winning 1D run that started with Parks doing a leg-lift all the way around the first barrel, even rocking it a little.
“The ground was great,” Parks said. “She just was really smooth, and I trusted her and stayed out of her way, and it just went good.”
The 15-hand mare likes big or small pens and hard or deep ground.
“I think she just really, really likes to run, especially on our way home,” Parks said. “She sticks her tail up and just runs.”
Parks is currently going to the ProRodeos, including Reno Rodeo, so the Reno Patriot was a welcome opportunity.
“I loved it. I really did,” she said. “It was really nice to be able to go do something that paid a lot.”
With $20,000 added, the Patriot Reno Open 4D Barrel Race provided an impressive payout to the top 5 in each division. Held at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center, it ran smoothly with safe ground, thanks to T.C. Long, the Director of the Patriot, flying in Chuck Dunn to ensure the best ground possible.
- Also cashing a big check was Madison Camozzi on Rockin Fire To First with a 16.987 to win the 2D which paid $5202.
- Winning the 3D was Vonnie Nunues on Im An Honory Guy with 17.518 worth $3468.
- A great story came with the 4D winner, Monique Hannekan, who won her first barrel racing buckle at The Patriot Reno. Hannekan has only been running barrels for a couple years and ran an 18.009 to win $2,600 on her horse, Heavens View.
Stay tuned for full results at www.PatriotEvent.com
