By winning the final WRWC Qualifier in Amarillo, Texas, on March 18, with team roping partner Beverly Robbins, Lorraine Moreno proved that her close-but-no-cigar relationship with the Women’s Rodeo World Championship is about to end. At both previous events, she came within one shot of the $60,000 check. She’s determined to do it different in 2022.

Robbins and Moreno breezed through the first three rounds of the roping, then drew a hard-running steer in the short round. Robbins roped him quickly, but Moreno relied on her instincts to pull off a tricky heel shot after her steer started hopping with its hind legs spread.

“I just threw it as hard as I could and then held it up. I don’t normally hold it up that high, but it must have been muscle memory or something,” Moreno explained. “Thank God I did, because he took a big hop and I thought I was going to lose it, but I ended up pulling it off and came up with two feet. Beverly told me afterwards, ‘What a heel shot!’ She didn’t know how it was going to turn out.”

The catch meant the women clocked an aggregate time of 33.91 seconds of four head to win $5,380 together.

The Mathis, Texas, cowgirl wasn’t quick to accept credit for the win, despite her impressive finish. She had great confidence in Robbins, who punched her WRWC ticket in Jacksonville and currently leads the WRWC Heading leaderboard. Moreno also had full faith in Dollar Fifty Two, her 6-year-old mare whom she calls “Doja,”.

“Doja puts me in position and has good timing every time. She’s quick on her feet and just does her job well,” Moreno said. “It makes my job easier.”

READ: Flashback: 2017 Cinch Ladies Champs Rylea Fabrizio and Lorraine Moreno

Moreno was fired up after her win in Amarillo, and drove all night on Friday after stopping by the pay window to get to San Antonio for the Crawfish Invitational roping, where she had success throughout the weekend. By Sunday evening, Moreno crashed into bed.

“It was a long weekend. When I finally got home, I slept for hours, but it was a great weekend. I wouldn’t take it back,” Moreno said.

Amarillo All-Girl Team Roping

Aggregate

1. Beverly Robbins and Lorraine Moreno, 33.91 on four head, worth $5,380

2. Beverly Robbins and Jessy Remsburg, 34.88 on four head, worth $3,840

3. Kayelen Helton and Lorraine Moreno, 43.26 on four head, worth $2,920

4. Sarah Angelone and Jessy Remsburg, 44.96 on four head, worth $2,150

5. Kenna Francis and Whitney Desalvo, 45.87 on four head, worth $1,070

In the Challenger division, Kinlee Tate and Kersti Passig secured their positions to the WRWC.

READ: The Team Ropers Going for $60K at the 2022 Women’s Rodeo World Championship