Carlee Otero picked up momentum at the National Finals Rodeo in 2025 aboard AM Regina George, and just kept gaining steam as the week rolled on.
One night after winning Round 9, Otero came back in the final performance and clocked a 13.28-second run aboard AM Regina George to win Round 10, giving her back-to-back go-round victories and her fourth round win of the 2025 NFR after her 13.20 in Round 9.
Otero’s Round 10 run was confident and sharp from start to finish. Regina George attacked the pattern with authority, especially on the first barrel— a moment Otero said set the tone for the entire run.
“Regina went in there very confident,” Otero said. “When she nailed that first barrel, I felt like she was telling me, ‘Hey mom, I’ve got this arena figured out.’ I think I was smiling through every barrel.”
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The Round 10 win capped a Finals Otero approached with a different mindset. After experiencing the whirlwind of earlier NFR appearances, she made a conscious decision this year to soak in the experience — highs and lows included.
“I told myself the last two NFRs that I was going to enjoy them,” she said. “Obviously, we all want to win, so those days aren’t ever good. But I’m just so thankful to be here that I can’t allow myself to have a bad day.”
Otero credited Regina George’s maturity and confidence for the late-week surge, noting how the mare seemed to grow stronger and more comfortable with each trip down the Thomas & Mack dirt.
“She’s just incredible,” Otero said. “She’s a champion. I tell her that every day.”
With the Finals complete, Otero is already looking ahead. A short break for the holidays will be followed by winter rodeos, including stops in Denver and San Diego, as she turns her focus toward qualifying for the 2026 NFR.
“I want to lock in my NFR early next year,” she said. “But I also know how important it is to enjoy the ride while you can.”
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