Papers

The Head and Heel Horses of the Puyallup Semifinals 2026
The 16 horses that made it back at Puyallup, with pedigrees.

The 16 horses in this year’s Puyallup Semifinals field back into the box for the Semifinals on Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Cinch Playoff Series Finale in Puyallup, Washington, with the top four teams advancing to the Finals the same day.

CD Diamond—the NRCHA Futurity Champ in 2012—is the only horse with two offspring in the semifinals. The San Juan Ranches stud is the sire of SJR Diamond Billy, ridden by Cody Snow, and SJR Diamond Len, ridden by Hunter Koch. Both horses are rope horse futurity graduates.

The two oldest horses in the field—Clint Summers’ WSR Hesa Alive, 22, and Trey Yates’ Romancing The Chics, 20—both have an NFR aggregate title to their names and stand as some of the top two highest earning rope horses of all time.

Kadabra King, Jade Corkill’s mount, is the most decorated heel horse in history as well with over $1 million in documented earnings, an NFR aggregate title with Patrick Smith, a world title with Wesley Thorp and an American title with Corkill.

Head Horses

Six of the eight head horses are registered. Clint SummersWSR Hesa Alive, foaled in 2004, is the oldest in the field at 22. Cody Snow’s SJR Diamond Billy, foaled in 2018, is the youngest at 8. The average across the six registered head horses is 14.7.

Running blood shows up on the head side. Luke Brown’s DM Jet Off is out of an Easy Jet mare. Kaleb Driggers’ BHR Super Shake is by BHR Super Frost, a son of Frenchmans Guy, and out of a Shake It Special mare—barrel breeding top and bottom. Driggers bought the gelding back from Riley Minor and owns him.

Ketch Kelton’s 16-year-old Peaches is the only mare in the field, though she’s grade.

RoperHorse (Registered Name)Foaled (Age)BreederSireDamDam’s Sire
Luke BrownDM Jet Off2009 (17)Dillon D MundorfHand Off BoyRocket JetsEasy Jet
Clint SummersWSR Hesa Alive2004 (22)Western States RanchesHesa Sonofa DunSmokes AliveSmokin 45
James ArvisoTrauado Lena (“Chili Dog”)2014 (12)Alberto Moreira LealMifillenaQR Travelen BabeTravalena
Cody SnowSJR Diamond Billy2018 (8)San Juan RanchCD DiamondBillies Smooth CatSmooth As A Cat
Kaleb DriggersBHR Super Shake (“Frosty”)2012 (14)Broken Heart RanchBHR Super FrostBHR Special Shake UpShake It Special
Ketch Kelton“Peaches” (grade mare)
Garrett TonozziRiley Kittle’s grade gelding
Dustin EgusquizaCajun Treat2011 (15)Robert or Vicky HenryCajun Perks On FireMis Leo DunPepper Star Buck

Heel Horses

All eight heel horses are registered. Trey Yates’ Romancing The Chics, foaled in 2006, is the oldest at 20. Hunter Koch’s SJR Diamond Len, foaled in 2017, is the youngest at 9. The average across the eight is 13.3.

Lane Mitchell’s Oz Ona Hot Streak is by A Streak Of Fling, the barrel racing sire, out of a One Hot Jose mare — the only heel horse in the field by a running-bred stallion. Nate Osentowski bred him and still owns him, and the horse won an AQHA World Championship.

Denton Dunning’s LZM Pick Jaden, a blue roan stallion by LZM Whipps Jaden, is owned by Jake, Tamara and Denton Dunning. Levi Lord’s San Jo Deacon, by San Jo Lena out of a Playgun mare, is the horse Paul Eaves rode in 2020. JC Flake’s A Mini Brownie, a 2013 brown gelding by Playdox out of a Smart Mouth mare, was bred by Jack R and Pam Shields; and came through Dustin Davis and Junior Nogueira.

RoperHorse (Registered Name)Foaled (Age)BreederSireDamDam’s Sire
Hunter KochSJR Diamond Len2017 (9)San Juan RanchCD DiamondAmanda StarlenaSmart Little Lena
Jade CorkillKadabra King2010 (16)Wayne C or Carolann HodgesAbrakadabracreQuixote JessieHolidoc
Levi LordSan Jo Deacon (“Little Blackie”)2009 (17)Pete and/or Sally LowrySan Jo LenaPlay FoxPlaygun
Lane MitchellOz Ona Hot Streak2015 (11)Nate OsentowskiA Streak Of FlingOz One Hot MommaOne Hot Jose
Junior NogueiraSons Of Stoli2016 (10)Copie DicksonStoli CowboyCNF Sons Leona TeSons Shriner
Denton DunningLZM Pick Jaden2016 (10)Victoria L AverillLZM Whipps JadenLZM Vics PickIma Bed Of Cash
Trey YatesRomancing The Chics2006 (20)Kurt and Angie HarrisChic PleaseRS Lilly StarlightGrays Starlight
JC FlakeA Mini Brownie (“Chupapi”)2013 (13)Jack R & Pam ShieldsPlaydoxMini MouthSmart Mouth
Source: AQHA records via quarterhorseresource.com, pulled Sept. 13, 2026. Ages are age-class years.
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