Tauna Alcorn and SJR Diamond Metalica have had a historic two days inside the Lazy E at the 2024 Riata winning $140,800 between the #12.5 and #10.5.

Alcorn and the 7-year-old mare by CD Diamond out of SJR Missin Metallica won first and fourth in the #12.5 Thursday, Sept. 26, and followed it up with the #10.5 win for $109,600 with Taylor Pettigrew on Call Me Mr Jonez Sept. 27.

“There are no words,” New Mexico’s Alcorn said. “All I can say is it’s on everybody’s time and when it’s your day, it’s your day and hopefully mine just continues to go.”

SJR Diamond Metalica is the first CD Diamond baby Alcorn has had in her herd, and they purchased her off of Facebook as a 2-year-old on track for the Snaffle Bit. Alcorn credits her husband, Travis, for the foundation he put in the mare.

“If it wasn’t for Travis’s Foundation and the foundation that she got started on, I don’t think I’d be where I’m at today,” Alcorn said. “My husband’s done a great job with her, keeping her athletic for me and keeping her behind my hand.”

Pettigrew’s 5-year-old gelding by Travelin Jonez out of Last Drop O Rocky MC also won the 6-year-old heel horse incentive for $8,000. Like SJR Diamond Metalica, Call Me Mr Jonez was a Facebook buy. Pettigrew bought him as a 4-year-old, and he’s spent the last year and a half getting where he is today.

“I just worked on getting him broke and getting soft,” Pettigrew said. “Just lots of miles. I’ll breed some mares to [Travelin Jonez] next year though. I like him—he’s big and he’s fast. This horse is also fast.”

That speed also makes Call Me Mr Jonez a solid head horse, making him versatile in Pettigrew’s lineup.

“He’s a nice head horse,” Pettigrew said. “He’s fast, and that’s good to head on. He’s broke good, likes to stop—he’s just a good horse.”

Familiar partners

Alcorn and Pettigrew came back second high call, and their 8.87-second run in the short round sealed the deal on their win putting them 34.87 seconds on four steers. The team lives just an hour apart in New Mexico, so they have some prior experience roping together.

“There really wasn’t a plan, I don’t think,” Alcorn said with a laugh. “We both made the short go in the # 12.5 yesterday, so we were kind of just like, let’s do it again.”

Call Me Mr Jonez will be able to make another roper’s $100,000 dreams come true as he will be in the Dec. 8, Riata Showcase Horse Sale in Las Vegas.

“I’ve got a 4-year-old at home and I’ve got a bunch of colts, and I’m just getting older and can’t ride as many,” Pettigrew said. “I’ve just been camped out on him and, now, I’m going to have to camp out on the next one.” 

#10.5 Total Payoff: $645,600