Miles Baker and Relentless Again hold a slim lead after three rounds of the Pre-Futurity Heading at the Old West Futurity’s Gamble at Guthrie, sitting on a 679.93 with a tight pack stacked behind them.

The short round is set for Saturday, April 11, and the leaderboard remains close.

“I really don’t think there’s a big spread,” Baker, 33, of Decatur, Texas, said. “Everything was pretty tight.” 

Relentless Again

Relentless Again—”Gigi”—is by Genuine Masterpiece and out of Taras First Note, a mare that has already made a mark on the futurity scene with the Relentless Remuda.

Taras First Note is the dam of Boomboom Firecracker, one of Trevor Brazile’s early standout futurity head horses.

“Gigi is a first-place kind of horse,” Baker said. “That’s what I expect out of everything out of that mare. They’re rope horses.” 

Relentless Again fits that pattern. Baker has had her since her 2-year-old year—when they bought her from Lari Dee Guy and Ty Benson started her—and he has brought her along with the expectation she would show up at this level.

“These 4-year-olds haven’t had much hauling, but they’ve had a lot of roping,” he said. “I’ve known that mare was good. The scoring and running makes all the difference here. It’s a big arena, so the horses that can really run shine, but you can’t just have one that’s fast—you’ve got to have one that does its job. She’s got a lot of gas, but when you back in the box, she’s amazing. She scores every time and runs—they feel like they’re meant to be head horses.” 

Taras First Note

Taras First Note also ties directly into the relationship between Baker and Brazile.

In high school, Baker was riding the mare when Brazile first noticed her on Facebook. That led to a phone call and ultimately a deal, with Brazile trading for the mare with Baker—the first time the two had ever talked.

The mare later sold to Lari Dee Guy, continuing a path that has kept her program producing at a high level.

Now, one of her daughters leads Guthrie with Baker—another full-circle moment for the Relentless Remuda.

Old West Sale Tie: Relentless Southpaw

The timing adds another layer.

A 3-year-old maternal sibling to Relentless Again—Relentless Southpaw, by Show Me The Buckles—will sell Saturday night at Lot 22 in the Old West Horse Sale, following the short rounds of the Futurity and Pre-Futurity.

“That mare’s a producer,” Baker said. “That 3-year-old in the sale—he’s a freak. For a 3-year-old, he’s so good already.” 

The marepower shows up differently depending on the cross, and Baker says Relentless Again leans toward the hotter side of it.

“She’s a lot like her mama,” he said. “She’s got a lot of gas. Not always the most fun to warm up, but when you back in the box, she’s amazing.” 

That’s where the Show Me The Buckles cross comes in on Relentless Southpaw. The 3-year-old is a product of the first foal crop Brazile and Baker designed themselves when they bought Show Me The Buckles.

“The Buckles cross on that mare is awesome,” Baker said. “You still get all the run and foot speed, but they’re a little more chill than she is.” 

Between the two, it gives a clear picture of what the program is producing—speed and intensity on one side, with enough mind and control on the other to make them last.

Full Old West Results

Pre-Futurity Heading — 3 Head Standings (Top 20)

1. Relentless Again (S: Genuine Masterpiece x D: Taras First Note) — Breeder: Lari Dee Guy — Owner: Relentless Remuda LLC — Rider: Miles Baker — 679.93 — $2,000
2. Miss Pyc Semper Fi (S: Its Mr Pyc To You x D: Rey Dual Lena) — Breeder: Justin and/or Megan Janda — Owner: Justin and/or Megan Janda — Rider: Billie Jack Saebens — 678.12
3. Runnnin Winners (S: Winners Version x D: Running Corona) — Breeder: A C Racing and Roping — Owner: Taylors Farms LLC — Rider: Rhen Richard — 677.69
4. Drs Gotta Gun (S: Spooks Gotta Gun x D: Xtra Lady Shiner) — Breeder: Anita Daggett — Owner: Tyler Thomas — Rider: Clyde Bolejack — 677.22
5. My Guys Got Proof (S: A Guy With Proof x D: Streaking Is Easy) — Breeder: Garrett or Brittani Tonozzi — Owner: Relentless Remuda LLC — Rider: Trevor Brazile — 676.90 — $2,500
6. Reys Version (S: Reys Smokin Dually x D: Heavys Version) — Breeder: Chad Richard — Owner: Chad Richard — Rider: Rhen Richard — 676.20
7. Shining Thru Fire (S: Shiners Suduko x D: Ima Amore La Blue) — Breeder: Wade or Layne Billadeau — Owner: Wade or Layne Billadeau — Rider: Britt Williams — 675.64
8. Crosby Ray Von (S: Stevie Rey Von x D: Ma Crosby) — Breeder: Fults Ranch Ltd — Owner: Cracklin J Ranch — Rider: Trevor Brazile — 675.56
9. Df Stolen Documents (S: Cfour Stokely x D: Seven S April Fool) — Breeder: Dixon Flowers Quarter Horses — Owner: Brett Telford — Rider: Billie Jack Saebens — 675.50
10. Fortunes Tuf (S: Frenchmans Fortune x D: Weavers Tuf Pine) — Breeder: Joe Goetz — Owner: Kaleb E Driggers — Rider: Kaleb Driggers — 673.24
11. Frenchmans Buddy (S: Frenchmans Fortune x D: Tia B Girl) — Breeder: Joe Goetz — Owner: Kaleb and/or Nicole Driggers — Rider: Kaleb Driggers — 672.78
12. Her Sues Blazin (S: Blazin Jetolena x D: Becaco Lady Cd) — Breeder: Shane Phifer — Owner: Shane Phifer — Rider: Justin Johnson — 672.52
13. First Prize Petie (S: First Prize Diver x D: Picks Petie) — Breeder: Flag Ranch LLC — Owner: Baker Performance Horses — Rider: Kaleb Driggers — 671.72
14. My Amarillo Rose (S: One Time Pepto x D: Jennys Spark) — Breeder: Jim Gauthier — Owner: Alexandre Candido De Paula — Rider: Shay Carroll — 668.43
15. Lf Hell On Wheels (S: Smooth Star x D: Dash Ta Hulu) — Breeder: Lynch Farms — Owner: Lynch Farms — Rider: Braden Pirrung — 666.57
16. Cgs Smart Cat (S: Savanah Cat x D: Shes My Paycheck) — Breeder: C Graig Griffin — Owner: Joseph Hubbard — Rider: Reed Boos — 665.75
17. Seven S Huckleberry (S: Metallic Malice x D: Bar M Real Sugar) — Breeder: RJ Stuart Ranch LLC — Owner: Colton and Preslea McCarley — Rider: Colton McCarley — 664.91
18. Opal Knight (S: Knight Wrangler x D: Zans Opal Parity) — Breeder: Patzke Family Cattle & Equine — Owner: Patzke Family Cattle & Equine — Rider: Andy Holcomb — 664.71
19. Goin Once Goin Twice (S: Boon Beamer x D: Plentydinahleeswhine) — Breeder: Gina Fantaskey — Owner: Lamar Troyer — Rider: Johnnyron Foster — 664.00
20. Corona Makes Me Purr (S: Cat Man Do x D: Brooks Corona Gal) — Breeder: Redgie Probst — Owner: Tres Amigos — Rider: Andy Holcomb — 662.52