Cornbread and Pancakes Come in Clutch as the NFR Barrel Racing Intensifies

If Round 6 had a theme in the barrel racing, it might have been comfort food under pressure. With horses named Cornbread and Pancakes topping the round, the jokes came easy,but the runs behind those names were anything but lighthearted. They were fast and crucial in shaping the world title race as the finals move into their last three nights.

Kassie Mowry, already regarded by many as the greatest of all time, reminded the arena crowd exactly why she carries that label. She won Round 6 aboard Cornbread, a horse she had never ridden until this year's NFR. 

The partnership came together unexpectedly. Mowry watched Cornbread’s owner, Mindy Holloway on the gelding at a jackpot. The run caught her eye immediately, enough for her to consider him as a much needed backup after leaving her superstar Jarvis home due to the EHV-1 outbreak.

Round 6 proved that her instincts were spot-on. Mowry not only made a flawless, fast run, she did it after her belt buckle hooked over her saddle horn in the alley. This can cause a moment of panic that would rattle most, but not Kassie. Her patience and ability to adapt shined through yet again, giving her another key win and keeping her firmly atop both the world standings and the average race. 

Kassie and Will won the first round, and Cornbread won the 6th. This alone is something to be praised. Two rounds wins, two different horses, and going after her second consecutive gold buckle. 

This is what the greats do, they figure it out. And Kassie continues to prove she can win on anything. 

Right behind Kassie in Round 6 was Halyn Lide, who has been fighting through her own set of challenges. Her main mount Keeper,recently named the WPRA Horse With the Most Heart, is at home battling the virus himself. That left Halyn scrambling to adapt at the biggest rodeo of the year. 

In round 2 she jumped on Pancakes, Kappie Bryant's Smooth as Rico Suave, an eye-catching 14.1 hand buckskin who has stepped up in a major way to help keep Halyn competitive. The duo has now cashed two checks, both second-place finishes. 

Through very unfortunate challenges, Halyn is proving she belongs on this stage, and Pancakes continues to rise to the challenge with her. Pancakes is forming a fan base himself too. All the fans are waiting for the newly formed pair to get a round win. 

With three rounds remaining in the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Kassie Mowry has charge. She still leads the world standings and is dominating the average too. Katelyn Scott and Peanut Seed remain right on her heels in the average. Hailey Kinsel, has a hit barrel knocking her down in the average and is playing catch-up, but is still very capable.

The titles are far from decided. Anything can happen with three rounds to go.

1. Kassie Mowry, 13.42 
2. Halyn Lide, 13.47
3. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, 13.49
4. Hailey Kinsel, 13.52
5. Lisa Lockhart, 13.53
 6. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 13.62
7. Katelyn Scott 13.69
8. (tie) Emily Beisel and Andrea Busby, 13.72 each
10. Julie Plourde, 13.76
11. Carlee Otero, 13.78
12. Wenda Johnson, 13.79
13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.86
14. Tayla Moeykens, 15.53
15. Tricia Aldridge, 18.43.

1. Kassie Mowry, 82.11 seconds on six
2. Katelyn Scott, 82.32
3. Julie Plourde, 83.98
4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 84.15
5. Hailey Kinsel, 86.99
6. Tricia Aldridge, 87.12
7. Emily Beisel, 87.54
8. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 87.61
9. Andrea Busby, 88.64
10. Lisa Lockhart, 91.75
11. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, 91.92
12. Halyn Lide, 93.83
13. Carlee Otero, 96.74
14. Wenda Johnson, 98.88
15. Tayla Moeykens, 88.99 on five 

1. Kassie Mowry, $316,352
2. Hailey Kinsel, $292,719
3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $261,492
4. Carlee Otero, $251,830
5. Emily Beisel, $251,050
6. Lisa Lockhart, $236,243
7. Tricia Aldridge, $222,153
8. Halyn Lide, $209,025
9. Katelyn Scott, $208,777
10. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, $208,583
11. Megan McLeod-Sprague, $198,577
12. Anita Ellis, $156,992
13. Tayla Moeykens, $152,561
14. Andrea Busby, $149,013
15. Wenda Johnson, $148,428