Veteran header David Key and 17-year-old heeler Matt Leavitt roped four steers in 26.91 seconds to win the Lawley’s #15.5 Shootout average at the 2025 Cinch USTRC National Finals, earning $32,840.
The Texas cowboys were consistent in all four runs turning in times of 7.74, 6.71, 5.84 and 6.62.
“This win feels great, it feels really good,” Key, who roped at nine NFRs between 2000 and 2010, said. Key’s won the Windy Ryon Memorial, and he’s placed at every major jackpot across his multi-decade career, but this is his first US Open win.
Leavitt, a 17-year-old junior in high school, already has a long-game mindset.
“I plan on saving all this money,” Leavitt said. “I’ll spend it to buy a horse when I see one I like.”
In the short round, both partners executed, turning in a time of 6.62 to come out on top.
“I just left when I felt like I was going to be out,” Key said. I tried to rope that steer as fast as I could and put a good handle on him. I could tell whenever I turned him, he had him up.”
“Yeah, David, he got it on in,” Leavitt said. “I knew he was going to handle the steer good, and I saw my shot, so I took it. It ended up working out perfectly.”
Key was riding a palomino horse with a full-circle story.
“I trained him and sold him to Chris Pomeroy a while ago,” Key said. “The horse ended up getting crippled, so Chris just gave him back to me. My wife worked really hard to get him sound again, and we’ve been able to keep him sound enough to go win on.”
Key originally started the gelding on the heel side for another friend before transitioning him over to the head side. After making his rounds, the gelding ended up back with Key at just the right time.
Leavitt was on a buckskin mare owned by Randon Adams. Registered as WSR Buckskin Pony, the mare is a sister to Riata Stallion WSR Hesa Dunofa Lena, aka “Rooster” and NFR Average Champion, WSR Hesa Alive, aka “Transmission.”
“She’s just really good and solid,” Leavitt said. “I’m so thankful Randon gave me the opportunity to ride her.”
