Relentless PYC, the highest-earning futurity mare in rope horse history and the second highest-earning rope horse mare of all time, died Nov.4 in a freak accident during a run at home in the practice pen.
Known as “Nala”, the 2020 mare by First Prize Diver out of Chars Gun by Playgun was owned by the Relentless Remuda, Solo Select Horses and Bob Tonkin.
According to QData, Relentless PYC earned $206,574 in her competitive career—making her the most successful futurity mare on record and the richest 4-year-old in 2024.
Her sudden loss has left a heavy mark on the program.
“I remember going to the Flag Ranch the day I bought her,” Miles Baker, who trained and showed Nala throughout her career, said. “I was looking at some coming 2-year-old fillies. Nala had a big hip and a soft eye—there was just something about her. I can’t explain why I picked her over the others that day, but I told Trevor [Brazile], ‘There’s something special about that mare.’ I couldn’t explain on paper why I picked her over the other ones. but there was just something special about her.”
Baker left that day with multiple fillies, but Nala stuck in his mind—and ultimately became the cornerstone of his early career.
“She was little but real pretty, and just had that look,” Baker said. “Looking back, I think there was some divine intervention. I was just a few years into showing horses, and somehow I ended up with a mare that would take me all the way to the top. God put her in my path… Looking back, in 30 years, I’ll always remember that waas the first one I got to ride who was dominant as long as I did my job.”
Relentless PYC’s show career was marked by dominant, consistent performances in the toughest arenas in the sport. She won seven futurities, including:
“When I asked her for a lot, I felt something in her I’d never felt before,” Baker said. “The way she could run across the line—she was so smooth about it—and the way she could catch up so fast out of the box, I’m just thankful I got to be the trainer.”
She had explosive talent, feel and cow sense—all packaged in a frame that made her seem like an underdog, until she dominated the leaderboard time and again.
“She was the kind of horse that changes everything,” Baker said. “She elevated our program, brought attention to what we were building and helped define the kind of horse we want to ride.”
Beyond her arena success, Nala was poised to become a foundation broodmare for the future of the Relentless Remuda and its partners. Her genetics, athleticism and mind made her a dream producer—and plans were already underway for her next chapter.
“She was the kind of mare you build around,” Baker said. “And we did.”
Solo Select, Relentless and Tonkin bred Relentless PYC to top race horse stallion Cyber Monday and top-earning rope horse stallion Pride And Joyy for 2026 foals.
“We still have her dam, Chars Gun, in our program,” Solo Select’s Melanie Smith said. “And with any luck, we’ll be able to showcase Relentless PYC’s limited foals to the best of our abilities. A mare like this is an incredible loss to everyone she touched, so we’re going to do everything we can to preserve her legacy. None of us throw the word ‘great’ around very often, but for all of us, Nala was.”
—TRJ—
