It was a battle of the brothers to the final round in the Platinum Medal Rope Horse Futurity in the Open 6 & Under heeling when The Notorious B I G and The Darkk Side, both out of the iconic mare DT Sugar Chex Whiz placed both first and second on Aug. 23, 2024.
Trevor Brazile was aboard The Darkk Side, a 2019 stallion by Once In A Blu Boon. For The Notorious B I G, a 2018 stallion by CD Lights, it was Billie Jack Saebens on top. The first round bragging rights went to Saebens, but Brazile answered back with the high score in Round 2. Saebens had to fight a leg in Round 3, but his judge’s markings helped compensate and he managed to enter a tough Platinum short round in the No. 4 position, behind Brazile aboard The Darkk Side, Time To Glo and Gunna Wanna, respectively.
When the dust settled, it was The Darkk Side who defended his No. 1 position with a 228.18 to bring his total score to a 903.15 on four runs, worth the $8,700 aggregate win. Notorious B I G marked a stellar 229.48 to raise his score to a 901.21 on four and earn the reserve finish, worth $7,200.
“This stallion’s great on both ends,” Brazile said. “It doesn’t matter what we do on him. And he’s just a kind horse. His temperment is outstanding, and he just wants to be good.”
The siblings put on an electric performance in Rapid City all weekend long. Brazile noted that the showdown represented the draw of the Platinum Medal Futurity and Elite Breeders Incentive program.
“We go to a lot of stallion incentives,” Brazile said. “But at the Platinum Medal, it’s unique. Stallions are great, but having this breeding program incentive does a lot for the mares. And it proves that there’s something in the marepower when you see maternal brothers winning first and second in the heeling. I already knew that, which is why we’re out here beating up the road and proving both the great stallions and mares that we have.”
The Darkk Side wasn’t just a standout in the Open heeling in Rapid City, he also earned the Elite Breeders Incentive win for the class, worth $4,500 for his scores on two runs. On the day prior, The Darkk Side won the $8,000 reserve Open Heading victory behind Saebens and Bonny Freckles T 4, plus another $4,500 Elite Breeders check, bringing his total earnings on the weekend to a cool $25,700. With his $139,000 previously recorded in QData, the week will push the 5-year-old officially over the $165,000 mark.
- Dixon Flowers’ DT Sugar Chex Whiz Adds Purina Heel Horse of the Year Title to Already Impressive Resume
- Horse of the Year DT Sugar Chex Whiz Set to Make NFR Debut With Worley in Round 7
- The Darkk Side & Miles Baker Reign Supreme in Heading at Houston ARHFA
- Dixon Flowers Quarter Horses
- The Notorious B I G is the 2024 Red Bud Spectacular ARHFA Heeling Champ with Billie Jack Saebens Aboard
The Notorious B I G boasts lifetime earnings over $100,000, while “Sugar’s,” third money-earning foal, DT Hickory Blu Steel has banked over $140,000. Combined with The Darkk Side’s earnings, the three athletes bring the mare’s progeny LTE to over $405,000 and climbing.
Owned by Dixon Flowers, the 2019 AQHA/PRCA Horse of the Year beneath Billie Jack Saebens DT Sugar Chex Whiz also earned the title of 2015 AQHA Junior World Champion in 2015 with J.D Yates. “Sugar,” DT Hickory Blu Steel is an earner of over $140,000. The Notorious B I G has notched multiple futurity titles and earned nearly $100,000.
From Solo Select Horses’ Mel and Ty Smith seeing The Darkk Side’s early potential, to the time in the saddle Chris Littlefield and Miles Baker put into the athlete, to the entire team at events and home supporting the Relentless Remuda crew, the dedication is an exemplary example of the work that goes into many of the great training and breeding programs represented at the Platinum Medal futurity.
The Platinum Medal format
The 6 and Under class in both heading and heeling was paid on three sections: the Silver division consisting of short round qualifiers No. 12 through No. 9, the Gold division representing No. 8 to No. 5, and the Platinum division, made up of No. 4 to No. 1. Each set of four competed solely against their section within the short round. See full results below.
The 3D format of both Open 6 and Under classes gave ropers mixed reviews of the event. Producer and Platinum Medal founder, Billy Myers weighed in.
“(The 3D format) worked great last year when we were trying to grow the industry,” Myers said. “The idea was to create more chances for middle numbered enthusiasts and trainers to compete and win. But the quality of horses gotten so good in such a small amount of time, and this format didn’t end up working out the best in the Open class. Next year, we will make changes to the limited heading and heeling to add even more opportunities for those middle numbered ropers in a more controlled environment, while still allowing the higher numbered trainers on outstanding horses to make money on the most deserving horses in the Open.”
Platinum Medal Open Heeling 6 and Under results
Platinum Division
- Trevor Brazile and The Darkk Side, 903.15 on four, worth $8,700
- Billie Jack Saebens and The Notorious B I G, 901.21, $7,200
- Trevor Brazile and Gunna Wanna, 900.5
- Trevor Brazile and Time To Glo, 896.67
Gold Division
- Dakota Kirchenschlager and DT Hickorys Eyecandy, 890.63, $5,700
- Billie Jack Saebens and DF Probablytheticket, 887.71, $4,150
- Dakota Kirchenschlager and Mayhemm, 886.69
- Trevor Brazile and Not White At All, 671.03 on three
Silver Division
- Billie Jack Saebens and Diamond Eve, 889.16, $2,700
- Dakota Kirchenschlager and CR Pepto Tuff Lena, 888.54 $1,500
- Nick Pullera and XXotic, 885.25
- Roper Goodsen and Dont Stopp Trackin, 881.6
4 and Under
- Trevor Brazile and Gunna Wanna, 673.12 on three, $3,000
- Billie Jack Saebens and DF ProbablyTheTicket, 664.72 on three $2,000
Elite Breeders Incentive
- Trevor Brazile and The Darkk Side, $4,500
