The Royal Crown in Waco, Texas, kicked off on May 9 with the Zesterra 6-and-under, and the win went to Rhen Richard aboard One Smart Pistola.

Richard turned in a total score of 540.34 to earn $5,050 in the aggregate and best himself in the No. 2 position aboard Whiskey Gotta Gunner.

“She’s real stingy and tough. I think she’ll make a rodeo horse,” Richard said. “She’ll never mess up trying to be bad—it would be trying too hard. I just try to get her to where she’s confident and doesn’t feel like she has to give it everything, every single time.”  

Full Results from the Royal Crown in Waco, Texas

Richard won the second round, worth $1,500, and placed second in the third round on One Smart Pistola, worth $1,000, bringing his total earnings on the mare to $7,550.

Cowboys N Indians and Richard Nab Royal Crown Open Heeling Win
Richard and SJR Diamond Bond, Rice and First Class Vintage Claim Royal Crown 4-Year-Old Titles
Richard and Chics Magic Corona, Davison and CR Deeva Win Royal Crown Maturity
Richard and Hankies Version Add ARHFA Sun Circuit Heading Title to Resume

“Denim,” as Richard calls the grey mare, is by BR Best Asset, out of Una Pistola by Playgun. The mare isn’t eligible for the Royal Crown incentive, so Richard capitalized on the opportunity to enter the open roping.

“I feel like the cow crossed with run is a good thing for what we’re trying to do in the end. You can sometimes find the odd, straight cow-bred horse that can run hard enough to make a living roping, but most of the time you’ve got to add some run. That’s what I try to do,” Richard said.

This win adds to Richard’s already impressive 2022 futurity resume, which also includes the Buckeye 4-Year-Old Royal Crown Futurity title on SJR Diamond Bond, the Buckeye Royal Crown Maturity Heading title on Chics Magic Corona, the Buckeye Royal Crown Open Heeling title on Cowboys N Indians and the Scottsdale Sun Circuit American Rope Horse Futurity Association heading on Hankies Version. 

WATCH: Roping.com Launches New Training Video Series with Leading Futurity Trainer Rhen Richard

As for the rest of the week, Richard brought eight more on the trailer, so he will be staying plenty busy throughout the remaining classes.

Results-Heading

Aggregate

1. Rhen Richard on One Smart Pistola, 540.34 points on four, worth $5,050
2. Rhen Richard on Whiskey Gotta Gunner, 535.13 points on four, worth $3,030
3. Miles Baker on Tuckin Away Buckles, 534.82 points on four, worth $2,020

Round 1

1. Rhen Richard on Hankies Version, 142.78 points, worth $1,500
2. Miles Baker on Tuckin Away Buckles, 140.2 points, worth $1,000

Round 2

1. Rhen Richard on One Smart Pistola, 142.16 points, worth $1,500
2. Miles Baker on Tuckin Away Buckles, 141.4 points, worth $1,000

Round 3

1. Trevor Brazile on Relentless Glory, 136.99 points, worth $1,500
2. Rhen Richard on One Smart Pistola, 133.71 points, worth $1,000

Short Round

1. Rhen Richard on Whiskey Gotta Gunner, 137.05 points
2. Trevor Brazile on Abracadabra Cat, 131.58 points, worth $1,000 bonus