It was an emotional and historic moment at the Teton Ridge Absolute Dispersal Sale in Weatherford, Texas, when 18-time NFR qualifier and 3-time world champion Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi purchased her former standout mare, “Babe On The Chase”, known as Birdie, for an incredible $500,000.

This sale marked the complete dispersal of Teton Ridge’s TR9 breeding program, bringing some of the biggest names in Western performance horse bloodlines to the auction ring, from finished performance horses to embryos. Teton Ridge sold 28 million dollars of horses in one day. One of the biggest moments of the sale was Birdie’s return to ZZI.

Birdie, who was cataloged as Hip No. 54, is a 2011 mare by Chasin Firewater and out of Streakin Six Babe. Originally bred, trained and run by Tonozzi, Birdie became one of the most successful mares of the past decade, earning more than $550,000 in her barrel racing career. The pair achieved five NFR qualifications and numerous major rodeo and futurity wins before Birdie was sold to Teton Ridge. Even then, Tonozzi continued to ride the mare under Teton ownership until an injury led to Birdie’s early retirement this year.

Following her retirement announcement, Brittany shared that although Birdie’s time in the arena had ended, her influence would continue through her offspring, who have already racked up more than $777,000 in earnings.

During the sale, Brittany and Garrett Tonozzi secured Birdie’s return. The hammer dropped at $500,000. Tears and a big smile from Brittany made it clear that Birdie was back where she belongs, home again.

Shortly after the big sale, Tonozzi expressed her gratitude on social media, saying, “A huge thank you to Keith Nellesen for partnering with us to make today possible. We are grateful and excited for the years to come with Birdie back at ZZI producing winners and carrying on the Streakin Six Babe legacy.”

Birdie’s impact on the sport comes twofold, first as an incredible athlete herself and now as a producer. Her foals, many carrying the ZZI brand, are already earning on major stages, carrying forward that Streakin Six Babe maternal legacy that has become recognizable for consistent speed and trainability. There is a big future with these babies, with proven genetics of both athleticism and heart, the traits that Birdie exemplified throughout her career.