Pozzi Tonozzi, coming off the NFR Open title in Colorado Springs, won the semifinals in Calgary aboard Bobby (Cashen In The Fame) in a time of 16.97, meaning she was the first one out in the finals. A downed first barrel cost her finishing with a 22.095. Ellis was second out and laid down a beautiful run stopping the clock in a time of 16.956, but she would have to wait to see what the reigning world champion duo of Kassie Mowry and Jarvis would get done before she could head to the champions stage. A slip on the first barrel for Jarvis cost that duo the title ending with a 17.145-second run.
Ellis was riding a 5-year-old grey on Sunday that she calls Rico (registered SGL Rico). For those that don’t follow the breeding pedigree of these top barrel horses something to note is that both Jarvis and Rico’s sire is The Goodbye Lane.
All totaled Ellis will add $71,000 to her 2025 WPRA earnings and will jump from No. 32 to easily inside the top 5 once standings are updated this week. The Blackfoot, Idaho, cowgirl had earned $34,651 at 19 rodeos prior to the Calgary Stampede windfall. She was the only barrel racer to run four sub-17 second times aboard two different horses.
“It is so amazing,” stated Ellis when announcer Wayne Brooks noted that she would be leaving with $71,000. “I have to thank the committee for the awesome ground that kept our horses safe and to Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi for being our advocate, I appreciate it.
“I am grateful for my awesome horses, I decide to run Rico today as Axe has run a lot this week at other rodeos, so I wanted to give him a break and Rico stepped up for me in a big way here.”
