Mowry Goes Back-To-Back, Lockhart Becomes All-Time Career Earnings Leader in WPRA History

By Ann Bleiker

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Kassie Mowry enjoyed her eighth-round win at the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge so much, she decided to make a repeat appearance in the winner’s circle in the ninth round.

Mowry of Dublin, Texas, and her five-year old gelding Force The Goodbye that she calls Jarvis stopped the clock in a time of 13.37 seconds to get their second consecutive round win at the NFR. Tonight’s time was just a few ticks off the time turned in during the eighth round which was 13.30 seconds, the fastest time through nine rounds.

            “I am just blown away by this little horse,” said an excited Mowry following the win. “I feel like I am just there for the ride. Normally I feel like I am more of a jockey and having to help them but right now I am just giving him the reins and he is just making the right moves and I am just trying to stay out of the way.”

            Mowry added $30,706 to her earnings, moving to second in the world with $272,076. She is just so pleased at how well Jarvis is handling his third rodeo ever and on professional rodeo’s biggest stage no doubt.

            “I am just trying to keep this a good experience for him,” noted Mowry. “I really want to thank everyone like the ground crew it has been a good experience for him, and he is getting confident. And they have been amazing in the back…I don’t feel rushed, and everything is really calm back there which sets us up for success.”

            Always planning and looking ahead we asked her about her confidence and excitement for 2024 with her band of horses.

            “This is incredible for him,” said Mowry about the confidence Jarvis is gaining winning at the Thomas and Mack. “Will (CP He Will Be Epic) really grew through this experience last year and came out and did well at the winter rodeos, so starting 2024 makes it a tough decision to for me of which horse to ride.”

Taking second in the round was fan favorite and 17-time NFR qualifier Lisa Lockhart who stopped the clock in a time of 13.41 seconds. She added $24,268 to her bank account but more historically she has now surpassed four-time world champion Sherry Cervi on the all-time career earnings list with $3,408,613. Cervi has $3,388,790 and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi is right on her heels with $3,284,271 now.

Speaking of Pozzi Tonozzi, while the race for the world title is over there are still many accolades left to finish for her in 2023. She finished sixth during the ninth round and leads the average with 122.66 on nine runs. She only needs a 14.16-second run or better to set a new NFR average record. The old record was set in 2021 by Jordon Briggs with a total time of 136.83 seconds.

            Pozzi Tonozzi has now placed in eight out of nine rounds at this year’s Wrangler NFR and is now in the lead for the Top Gun Standings with $162,046. She leap frogged bull rider Ky Hamilton tonight as he sits with $160,313 in NFR earnings.

            Reigning world champion Hailey Kinsel has not had the finals she has become accustomed to over the last six years but on night No. 9 she finally made it to the pay window with a fourth-place finish in the round worth $12,877 after stopping the clock in 13.51 seconds aboard DM Sissy Hayday “Sister.”

            In fact all three world champions in the field in 2023 picked up checks tonight with Jordon Briggs placing third, Kinsel in fourth and Pozzi Tonozzi in sixth.

            The tenth and final round NFR action gets underway, Saturday, December 16 at 5:45 p.m. PT LIVE on the Cowboy Channel.

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Rd. 9 results: https://www.wpra.com/nfr-2023-results-friday-december-15-2023/