NRCHA Professional Sarah Dawson and Travelin Miss Jonez win the 2017 Peptoboonsmal Cow Horse Classic Derby Open Championship.

The first champions were named at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Celebration of Champions on Sunday, February 12, in Fort Worth, Texas, as Open competitors in the Peptoboonsmal Cow Horse Classic Derby went one-on-one with the cattle in the all important fence work, the final event in the triathlon for 4- and 5-year old horses.

The Derby Open Champion was Travelin Miss Jonez (Travelin Jonez x Playin With Rubies x Lectric Playboy), shown by Sarah Dawson, Aubrey, Texas. The 2013 mare is bred and owned by Stephen Roseberry. She scored consistently above average in all three events – herd work, rein work and cow work – in an extremely competitive field, earning a 438 composite (145 herd/147 rein/146 cow), to win the Championship by a 1.5-point margin over the Reserve Champion, Maliblu Barbie (Smart Boons x Maliblu x Smooth As A Cat), shown by NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Corey Cushing, Scottsdale, Arizona, for owners Kevin and Sydney Knight.

Dawson and Travelin Miss Jonez earned a big $19,479 paycheck for the win, and a pile of great prizes, including a custom saddle from J&S Saddlery.

The Derby is sponsored by Aaron Ranch, Commerce, Texas, in the name of the ranch’s legendary stallion, Peptoboonsmal (Peppy San Badger x Royal Blue Boon x Boon Bar), an NRCHA Million Dollar Sire. Across all disciplines, the 1992 stallion has sired offspring with earnings in excess of $25 million.

Special thanks to the Peptoboonsmal Cow Horse Classic prize sponsors: J&S Saddlery – JW Brooks Custom Hats – Rod Patrick Bootmakers – Rod Teuscher Custom Spurs – K Bar J Leather Company – Classic Equine – Bob’s Custom Saddles – Clint Haverty – YETI – Western Hauler – CINCH – NUTRENA – Dr. Joe Carter, DVM – Glenn Spradling – Jon Bruner – Durham Trailer Ranch – 2012 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion, CD Diamond.