On Night 1 of the postponed National Finals Rodeo on Dec. 8, 2023, Sissy Winn and A R Dash Ta Flame, “Scoop,” earned a win during a challenging round of NFR barrel racing.
The win marks Winn’s first as an NFR qualifier in her second appearance in Las Vegas. She bested Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, who was first out to clock a 13.75 aboard Jets Top Gun on the footing that proved challenging for multiple horses in the field. Winn challenged that time with her 13.75-second time, worth $30,706.41 from the No. 11 position on the ground, while Tonozzi ended up with the $24,267.97 second-place finish. In the third position, Kassie Mowry and CP He Will Be Epic went 13.90 from No. 6 on the ground to earn $18,324.97
“Scoop was so smooth, he was just on it,” Winn said. “When he came in the alley, he was really hopping and I was trying to keep him soft because he leaves better when he’s level. He knew where that first barrel was, and when he turned it, the feeling—he just snapped back so hard. He was so awesome. I couldn’t believe he did that the first round out, and I was just proud of myself for keeping up with him.”
A R Dash Ta Flame is a 2013 gelding by Dash Ta Fame and out of Discreat Retreat by Mr Jess Perry. He was trained by leading futurity trainer and past NFR qualifier Danyelle Campbell, and after Winn reached out via social media to inquire about the gelding in 2022 and eventually bought the horse, he proved to be the catalyst her professional barrel racing career needed to soar.
“(Scoop) has opened up so many doors for myself and my family. I mean, we’re (at the NFR). I was always striving for this goal but just didn’t have the horse that I connected with to get me there. I just can’t believe it when I look back at all these things.”
Sissy Winn
Winn spent time working with Campbell, who has taken on the role of professional mentor for Winn over the past year on her journey with Scoop. She held Campbell’s technical and mental advice close before running down the alleyway in 2023. Using her rule to focus on just three details for a run, she focused on using her inside body and rein cues going into her first barrel, along with keeping Scoop collected while staying soft. Winn knew that with the pressure on, it was time to rise to the occasion as a jockey and not risk riding safe.
“You’ve got to trust your horse and you have to be tight,” Winn explained. “These barrel racers are so good, you’re not going to place if you’re not going for it.”
- Checked Off the Bucket List: Sissy Winn Clinches Hometown Rodeo in Corpus Christi
- The Sissy Winn Story
World Standings watch
Although it’s early, the world standings race is still going strong. Tonozzi lengthened her $110,000 lead on No. 2 cowgirl, Jordon Briggs with her earnings in Round 1. Briggs kept herself in the conversation with a sixth-place finish on Famous Lil Jet, but Beisel took down two costly barrels on Namgis D 33, “Chongo.” Beisel entered the 2023 NFR in the No. 3 position, just over $2,000 behind Briggs in the No. 2 position. No. 4 cowgirl Taycie Matthews entered her first NFR in the No. 4 position, but took down a barrel on Heavenly Firewater to keep her earnings leveled off at $144,161.40 on the year.
Round 1 NFR Barrel Racing Results
| 1 | Sissy Winn | 13.71 | $30,706.41 |
| 2 | Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi | 13.75 | $24,267.97 |
| 3 | Kassie Mowry | 13.9 | $18,324.97 |
| 4 | Paige Jones | 13.97 | $12,876.88 |
| 5 | Jessica Routier | 14.05 | $7,924.23 |
| 6 | Jordon Briggs | 14.1 | $4,952.65 |
7. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 14.16
8. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 14.17
9. Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla., 18.65
10. (tie) Ilyssa Riley, Hico, Texas, 18.87 Stevi Hillman, Granbury, Texas, 18.87
12. Taycie Matthews, Wynne, Ark., 18.98
13. Summer Kosel, Glenham, S.D., 19.12
14. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 19.18
15. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 23.83
Nightly coverage from the 2023 National Finals Rodeo is made possible with the support from our sponsors at Equinety.
