WACO, TEXAS – The 2023 WPRA World Finals at Extraco Events Center in Waco came to a close on the morning of November 12 with the Boot Barn Cardholder race and permit race. 

Skyla Peters won the Boot Barn cardholder race and added nearly $12,000 to her 2024 WPRA ProRodeo standings getting a great jump start on the year. Peters of Sublette, Kansas, placed in all three rounds winning the second round in a time of 15.708 seconds, the fastest of the weekend. 

Peters placed fourth in the first round in a time of 15.849, won the second round and then finished second behind NFR qualifier Wenda Johnson in the final round in a time of 15.806. 

Abby Phillips was second in the average in a time of 47.584, while Johnson was third in a time of 47.618 seconds.

BarrelRacing.com fast facts: Peters and Pistol Whistle earned an exemption to RodeoHouston 2024 with the WPRA World Finals win. They are also the same duo who broke the Cornhusker Breeders Futurity and Open arena record in McCook, Nebraksa, this September, which was previously held by Samantha Flannery and Promise Me Fame Guys, “Levee.”

Pistol Whistle is a 2015 gelding by PC Frosty Bid and out of Whistle N Skip by No Whistle.

Cardholder race: First round: 1. Ashley Castleberry, 15.745 seconds, $3,255; 2. Abby Phillips, 15.818, $2,790; 3. Kalli McCall, 15.822, $2,325; 4. Skyla Peters, 15.849, $2,015; 5. Jordan Driver, 15.850, $1,550; 6. Paige Dove, 15.870, $1,240; 7. Preslie Reid, 15.950, $930; 8. Liz Pinkston, 15.952, $620; 9. Shelley Morgan, 15.988, $465; 10. Cheyenne Wimberley, 16.015, $310.

Second round: 1. Skyla Peters, 15.708 seconds, $3,254; 2. Kassie Mowry, 15.710, $2,790; 3. Jymmy Kay Cox, 15.772, $2,325; 4. Abby Phillips, 15.774, $2,015; 5. Millie Marquart, 15.809, $1,550; 6. Kaiden Ayres, 15.847, $1,240; 7. Wenda Johnson, 15.851, $930; 8. Ari-Anna Flynn, 15.886, $620; 9. Sadie Miller, 15.905, $465; 10. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.931, $310.

Final round: 1. Wenda Johnson, 15.741 seconds, $2,411; 2. Skyla Peters, 15.806, $1,808; 3. Alishea Broussard, 15.826, $1,206; 4. Lana Merrick-Bailey, 15.837, $603.

Average: 1. Skyla Peters, 47.363 seconds on three runs, $4,882; 2. Abby Phillips, 47.548, $4,185; 3. Wenda Johnson, 47.618, $3,487; 4. Ashley Castleberry, 47.710, $3,022; 5. Kassie Mowry, 47.716, $2,324; 6. Millie Marquart, 47.898, $1,860; 7. Preslie Reid, 47.975, $1,395; 8. Lana Merrick-Bailey, 47.991, $930; 9. Kaiden Ayres, 48.006, $697; 10. Tiany Schuster, 48.070, $465.

WPRA Permit Race

Emily Ward of Miles, Texas, didn’t waste any time filling her WPRA permit. She purchased her permit in October and entered the WPRA World Finals Permit Only Race. She won the final round and average title and will now be faced with the decision to extend her permit or embark on her rookie year in 2024. Due to her school schedule, she will more than likely be extending her permit. Ward finished eighth in the first round in a time of 16.461, was third in the second round in a time of 16.264 and won the final round in an event best time of 15.902 to land atop the average leaderboard in a time of 48.627.

BarrelRacing.com Fast Facts: Ward competes on the Cisco College Rodeo Team as a freshman. Her partner in crime is FrenchmansNVousAngel, or “NV,” a 2012 mare by PC Frenchmans Hayday and out of Angel Of Honor by Blue Darter Jet. Ward took to social media after her win, thanking NV for pulling through and helping to land her not only at the top of the permit results, but for rolling over to the Open and collecting a sixth-place check there, as well.

Permit race: First round: 1. Avery Ledesma, 15.962 seconds, $758; 2. Ashton Padon, 16.242, $659; 3. Nisse Flaten, 16.318, $560; 4. Shelby Vick, 16.382, $461; 5. Catherine Rhodus, 16.396, $362; 6. Alissa Flores, 16.437, $264; 7. Sarina Landers, 16.450, $165; 8. Emily Ward, 16.461, $66.

Second round: 1. Emma Ricke, 16.223, $758; 2. Catherine Rhodus, 16.230, $659; 3. Emily Ward, 16.264, $560; 4. Jancie Shelburne, 16.302, $461; 5. Sarina Landers, 16.321, $362; 6. Ashton Padon, 16.457, $264; 7. Casi Guess, 16.519, $165; 8. Sara Redden, 16.540, $66.

Final round: 1. Emily Ward, 15.902 seconds, $628; 2. Ashton Padon, 16.231, $471; 3. Catherine Rhodus, 16.254, $314; 4. Sarina Landers, 16.337, $157.

Average: 1. Emily Ward, 48.627 seconds on three runs, $1,082; 2. Catherine Rhodus, 48.880, $941; 3. Ashton Padon, 48.930, $800; 4. Sarina Landers, 49.108, $659; 5. Nisse Flaten, 49.386, $518; 6. Casi Guess, 49.615, $377; 7. Shelbi Anders, 49.661, $235; 8. Sara Redden, 49.712, $94.

WPRA Junior Finals

Kara McDonald won the Junior World Champion title after finishing the year with $15,061. McDonald of Brunswick, GA, outdistanced fellow Southeastern Circuit racer Makayla Maddie of Auburndale, FL with $12,470.

BarrelRacing.com Fast Facts: Recognize the name “McDonald,” from Georgia? Kara McDonald is the younger cousin of barrel racing phenom and NFR qualifier, Sarah Rose Waguespack (McDonald) who also grew up in Brunswick.

WPRA World Finals Derby Results

BarrelRacing.com Fast Facts: The 2023 WPRA World Finals derby champions are Abby Phillips on VF Expensive Taste, the same pair recently earned a title in the WPRA Wilderness Circuit and punched their ticket to the NFR Open.

Derby – First Go

1. Abby Phillips “VF Expensive Taste” 15.818   $1,489.95   (50.0)

2. Jordan Driver “TRHeavensIlluminated” 15.850   $1,219.05   (45.0)

3. Shelley Morgan “Bucky Wonder Horse” 15.988   $1,083.60   (40.0)

4. Cheyenne Wimberley “Fast Flingin Dash” 16.015   $948.15   (35.0)

5. Carlee Otero “Blingolena” 15.999   $812.70   (30.0)

5. Wenda Johnson “Steal Money” 16.026   $812.70   (30.0)

6. Emily Beisel “Ivory On Fire” 16.062   $677.25   (25.0)

7. Kassie Mowry “Force The Goodbye” 16.081   $541.80   (20.0)

8. Acey Pinkston “Boon French Angel” 16.084   $0.00   (15.0)

9. Cheyenne Wimberley “A Streak Ta The Moon” 16.104   $0.00   (10.0)

10. Quincy Sullivan “Judge JB Cash” 16.119   $0.00   (5.0)

Derby – Second Go

1. Kassie Mowry “Force The Goodbye” 15.710   $1,489.95   (50.0)

2. Abby Phillips “VF Expensive Taste” 15.774   $1,219.05   (45.0)

3. Wenda Johnson “Steal Money” 15.851   $1,083.60   (40.0)

4. Cheyenne Wimberley “Fast Flingin Dash” 15.931   $948.15   (35.0)

6. Fonda Melby “RF Back For The Cash” 16.011   $677.25   (25.0)

7. Quincy Sullivan “Judge JB Cash” 16.017   $541.80   (20.0)

7. Ashton Padon “Tex Walka” 16.017   $0.00   (15.0)

9. Ericka Nelson “Flying Wonder” 16.123   $0.00   (10.0)

10. Grace Gardiner “VQ Nonstop Stinson” 16.130   $0.00   (5.0)

Derby – Average

1. Abby Phillips “VF Expensive Taste” 31.592   $1,986.60   (50.0)

2. Kassie Mowry “Force The Goodbye” 31.791   $1,625.40   (45.0)

3. Wenda Johnson “Steal Money” 31.877   $1,444.80   (40.0)

4. Cheyenne Wimberley “Fast Flingin Dash” 31.946   $1,264.20   (35.0)

5. Quincy Sullivan “Judge JB Cash” 32.136   $1,083.60   (30.0)

6. Shelley Morgan “Bucky Wonder Horse” 32.387   $903.00   (25.0)

7. Acey Pinkston “Boon French Angel” 32.403   $722.40   (20.0)

WPRA World Finals Futurity Results

Wenda Johnson climbed aboard the HighPoint Barrel Horses owned Inspired Drifter to get the WPRA World Finals futurity win on two runs.

Futurity – 1st Go

1. Fonda Melby “RF Bugin For Cookies” 16.020   $1,185.19   (50.0)

2. Wenda Johnson “Inspired Drifter” 16.083   $948.15   (45.0)

3. Amy Grey “Pantz On Fire” 16.174   $853.34   (40.0)

4. Tristan Parrish “Fame Fire N Desire” 16.212   $711.11   (35.0)

5. Ashley Gray “DD Blazin Hard Cash” 16.226   $568.89   (30.0)

6. C.J. Vondette “Zsa Zsa” 16.237   $474.08   (25.0)

7. Jennifer Sharp “KN Dash Ta Fabulous” 16.271   $0.00   (20.0)

8. Skyla Peters “VF Rock Em Stinson” 16.305   $0.00   (15.0)

9. Kristi Cole “So Tres Mojitos” 16.342   $0.00   (10.0)

10. Heidi Gunderson “JD Jackson Kandyman” 16.376   $0.00   (5.0)

Futurity – 2nd Go

1. Jordon Briggs “KN Bam Shake Da Room” 15.956   $1,185.19   (50.0)

2. Tillar King “Caught At The Disco” 16.054   $948.15   (45.0)

3. Wenda Johnson “Inspired Drifter” 16.068   $853.34   (40.0)

4. Emma Charleston “TFour Slicks On Fire” 16.069   $711.11   (35.0)

5. Tiany Schuster “Admire My Fame” 16.121   $568.89   (30.0)

6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi “ChitiChiti BangBang” 16.126   $474.08   (25.0)

7. Skyla Peters “VF Rock Em Stinson” 16.144   $0.00   (20.0)

8. Layna Kight “CE All Eyes On Me” 16.169   $0.00   (15.0)

9. Ashley Schafer “Chrome Plated Fame” 16.205   $0.00   (10.0)

10. Jodee Miller “TMM Hi Do Man” 16.222   $0.00   (5.0)

Futurity – Average

1. Wenda Johnson “Inspired Drifter” 32.151   $1,580.25   (50.0)

2. Fonda Melby “RF Bugin For Cookies” 32.305   $1,264.20   (45.0)

3. Jordon Briggs “KN Bam Shake Da Room” 32.425   $1,137.78   (40.0)

4. Skyla Peters “VF Rock Em Stinson” 32.449   $948.15   (35.0)

5. Tristan Parrish “Fame Fire N Desire” 32.455   $758.52   (30.0)

6. Ashley Gray “DD Blazin Hard Cash” 32.603   $632.10   (25.0)